Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
CHAPTER 2:
Behavioral Neuroscience
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
Behavioral Neuroscience
The Body’s Communication Networks
The Neuron
The Brain
Prospects for the Future
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
The Body’s Communication NetworksThe Nervous System
Central Nervous System(CNS) The network of nerves contained within the
brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System(PNS) The PNS comprises the somatic and
autonomic nervous systems
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
The Body’s Communication Networks Divisions of the Nervous System
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
The Body’s Communication Networks The Endocrine System
Endocrine system: Ductless glands that regulate growth, reproduction, metabolism, mood, and some behavior.
Hormones: Chemical messengers secreted into the bloodstream.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
The Neuron
Neurons Nerve cells that serve as the building blocks of the
nervous system
Sensory Neurons Neurons that send signals from the senses, skin,
muscles, and internal organs to the CNS
Motor Neurons Neurons that transmit commands from the CNS
to the muscles, glands, and organs
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
The Neuron
The Withdrawal Reflex
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
The Neuron The Structure of a Neuron
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
The Neuron The Neuron in ActionAction Potential
An electrical impulse that surges along an axon, caused by an influx of positive ions in the neuron
Threshold The level of stimulation needed to trigger an
action potential
Neurotransmitters Chemical messengers that transmit information by
crossing the synapse from one neuron to another
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
The Neuron How Neurons Communicate
Impulse releases neurotransmitter from axon terminals.
Neurotransmitter enters synaptic gap.
Neurotransmitter binds to receptors on the receiving neuron.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
The NeuronNeurotransmitters
Acetylcholine (ACh)DopamineEndorphinsNorepinephrineSerotoninGamma amino butyric acid (GABA)
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
The BrainTools of Behavioral Neuroscience
Clinical Case StudiesExperimental InterventionsElectrical RecordingsBrain-Imaging Techniques
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
The BrainTools of Behavioral Neuroscience
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
•An instrument used to measure electrical activity in the brain through electrodes placed on the scalp
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
The BrainTools of Behavioral Neuroscience Positron Emission Tomography
A visual display of brain activity, as measured by the amount of glucose being used
Radioactive isotopes (small amounts) are placed in the blood.
Sensors detect radioactivity.Different tasks show
distinct activity patterns.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
The BrainTools of Behavioral Neuroscience
Magnetic Resonance Imaging A brain-imaging
technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce, clear three-dimensional images
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
The Brain
Regions of the Brain
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
The BrainRegions of the Brain
The BrainstemMedulla Vital involuntary
functions
Pons Sleep and arousal
Reticular formation Sleep, arousal,
attention
Cerebellum Motor coordination
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
The BrainRegions of the Brain
The Limbic System Thalamus Sensory relay station
Amygdala Fear, anger, and
aggressionHippocampus
Memory formationHypothalamus
Regulates glands, autonomic NS
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
The BrainRegions of the Brain The Cerebral Cortex in Animals
•The outermostcovering ofthe brain, largelyresponsible for higher-ordermental processes
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
The BrainRegions of the Brain The Four Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
The BrainRegions of the Brain
Within the Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex Are:The Somatosensory Cortex
Receives sensory information
The Motor Cortex Sends impulses to voluntary muscles
The Association Cortex Houses the brain’s higher mental processes
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
The Somatosensory and Motor Areas
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
The BrainRegions of the Brain
Language ProcessingBroca’s Area
Located in the left hemisphere, directs the muscle movements in speech production
Wernicke’s Area Located in the left
hemisphere, involved in the comprehension of language The brain operates as
an integrated system.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
The BrainThe Split Brain
The Corpus Callosum
A bundle of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres
If surgically severed for treatment of epilepsy, hemispheres cannot communicate directly.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
The BrainThe Split Brain
Visual ProcessingBoth eyes send
information to both hemispheres.
Images in the right half of the visual field go to the left hemisphere.
Images in the left half of the visual field go to the right hemisphere.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
The BrainThe Split Brain
Sperry’s Split-Brain Experiment
Split-brain subjects could not name objects shown only to the right hemisphere.
If asked to select these objects with their left hand, they succeeded.
The left hemisphere controls speech, the right does not.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
The BrainThe Split Brain
The Talking Left HemisphereBrighter areas
indicate higher activity levels.
When hearing words, for example, auditory cortex and Wernicke’s area are the most active.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
The BrainThe Split Brain
Neglect SyndromeA patient with a stroke
in the right hemisphere was asked to copy the drawings.
Typical of neglect syndromes, the left side of the model is almost completely ignored.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
Prospects for the FutureThe Brain’s Capacity for Growth & ReorganizationPlasticity
A capacity to change as a result of experience
Richer environments lead to heavier, thicker brains, more synapses, and better learning.
The cost of plasticity is the case of the phantom limb.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin ©2004 Prentice Hall
Prospects for the FutureThe Brain’s Capacity for Growth & Reorganization
Neurogenesis The production of new brain cells
Neural Graft Technique of transplanting healthy tissue
from the nervous system of one animal into that of another