Physiological Nature

Chapter 5

• Physiological Nature of intelligence is:

a) Biological platform of cells, circuits and chemicals with unlimited capacity

b) Mind-Body connectedc) High maintenancebrain demands

both quantity and quality of nutritional care and environmental experience

d) Neural networks in the brain are modified by experience and plasticity

throughout a lifespan

• How to approach this new neuroscience information:– Thirst for knowledge– Go to all available information – Be selective

DS

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IQ

Approach to study intelligence:

Productive way of organizing information

Natureessential characteristics andqualitiesGist basic general informationEssencesummation ofessential characteristicsImplicationsapplicationto leadership behaviors

• The Physiological Nature of Intelligence

1. The Gist of it:

* 78% water/fat/proteinslippery

* connected to the entire human physiology

* in order to understand how the brain

works, it is important to understand each

of the components, functions, regions,

structures, etc.

In a review of 37 imaging studies related to intelligence, including their own, Haier and Jung (1998) have uncovered evidence of a distinct neurobiology of human intelligence.  Their Parieto-Frontal Integration Theory (P-FIT) identifies a brain network related to intelligence, one that primarily involves areas in the frontal and the parietal lobes.

Anterior

Corpus Callosum (medial sulcus) Communication between two hemispheres

Posterior

– Frontal lobe• Executive skills• Reflective mediation orbifrontal cortex (emotions)• Broca’s areaFace, tongue,

jaw movements language• Motor cortex

– Occipital lobe• Visual information

– Parietal lobe• Sensory information from

both sides of the body• Somasensory

cortexinformation about pain, pressure, touch and temperature

• Motor cortex

– Temporal lobe• Hearing, memory and

learning• Wernicke’s

areacomprehension of speech, reading and writing

Wernicke’s area

Brocaarea

Medulla Cerebral Cortexouter grey matterlanguage, logic and creativity6 vertical columns in the folders of the brainNeurons are undedicated, just waiting to process information

Motor cortex

SensoryCortex-Visual information

Decisionmaking

Meaning making

• Are there any questions that you have regarding what we have discussed up to now?

• Write 2 questions…

Cingulate Gyrus

Cingulate Gyrus

Thalamus

Hypothalamus

Forebrain

Midbrain

Spinal Cord

Cerebellum

Pituitary Gland

Amygdala

Hyppocampus

Pons

Hindbrain

Medulla

RAS

Below the Surface

• Who does what?– Hindbrain

• Emerges from the spinal cord• Composed of:

– Medullarespiration, blood pressure, swallowing, vomiting and defecation

– Ponsassist in controlling autonomic functions relays information between cerebrum and cerebellum

– Cerebellummovement, balance and memoryautomaticity

• Reticular formationregulate involuntary body movementsReticular Activating System (RAS) focus on relevant information filters out trivial information

– Midbrain• Mediate visual reflexes • Coordinate head and eye movements• Structures that mediates sensation, movement, thinking and

consciousness

Evolutionarydevelopment

– Forebrain• Thalamusreceives information (except olfatory) and relays it

to the appropriate areas of the brain• Hypothalamus

– Relays information about what is happening within the body to other areas of the brain

– Sends information to the medulla area of the brain stem to control autonomic nervous system

• Pituitary glandregulated by the hypothalamic neurons to promote or inhibit the release of hormones, these secretions engage the endocrine system

• Hyppocampusshaped like a seahorse– Indexes information throughout the brain enabling learning and

formation of memory• Amygdalaalmond shaped structure above the hypocampus

– Process sensory information to integrate emotion with memory– Initiates reflective emotional behavior

• Cingulate gyrus– Functions as an integral part of the limbic system, which is involved

with emotion formation and processing, learning, and memory– Also, executive control needed to suppress inappropriate

unconscious priming is known to involve the anterior cingulate gyrus

Previous experiences that influence behavior

The activity of this system is crucial for maintaining the state of consciousness. It is situated at the core of the brain stem between the (medulla oblongata) and (midbrain).It is involved with the circadian rhythm; damage can lead to permanent coma. It is thought to be the area affected by many psychotropic drugs. General anesthetics work through their effect on the reticular formation.experience. The reticular activating system controls our sexual drive

ReticularActivating System

• Your Brain’s Time Clock

– Circadian Rhythms• 24hr solar-lunar cyclesregulated by the hypothalamus,

influenced by solar exposuresmelatoning is secreted when sun goes down

– Seven Day Cycle• Blood pressure, pulse rate, neurotransmitter

levelsinfluence memory, accident rate, immunology, physical growth and reaction time

– Bio-cognitive Cycles• Physical strength and temperature are high in the pm

– Mood Cycles• Every two hours hormones are released in our

bloodstream = impacts on learning– Ninety minutes Hi/Low Cycles

• Sixteen ninety-minutes cycles/24 hr. period, including light and deep sleep rhythms

• Another way to see it….– Evolution of brain stem and cerebellum (500m

years ago)reptile brain– Mammalsthalamus, hyppocampus and

amygdala = limbic systemcapacity for learning, memory and emotional response

– Survival needsdevelopment of a large cerebrum covered by folded and multilayered cortex

– Now, progressive evolutionary

development = the human brain

Grey matterneurons—>6 layers

White mattermyelin that coats axons

Corpus CallosumconnectionR/L brain

Amygdala

Thalamus

Hypothalamus

• What are the functions of the neurons?– They receive, integrate and transmit electrochemical

signals that produce body movement and mental activity

• Dendrite input fibers receive neurotransmitters• Information receive triggers electric energy to be interpreted

in the cell body– Inhibitory inputcell rests– Excitatory inputaction potential from the interaction of positive

and negative charges ions of sodium, potassium, calcium and chloride across cell membrane

• Axon conducts this electrical input to release neurotransmitters stored in sacs in its terminal ports

• Synapse floats these neurotransmitters to the dendrites from another neurons

100 billionneurons

30,000 neurons in head of pin

Synapse

Glial cells provide the physical structure for the movement and organization in the brain

Myelin shields covers the axons while protecting and enhancing the

communication between neurons a

Neurotransmitters •Are the chemical agents that relay the communication•Majority are amino acids

Epinephrinecommunication of stress response throughout the bodyNorepinephrinearousal of alertness and fight or flightDopaminebody movement and positive moods or pleasureSeratoninrelaxation and the regulation of mood and sleep (depression)Acetylcholinemuscular movement and memory formation

•Neuropeptides are also neurotransmitters •Produced in other parts of the bodyGut instinctEndorphinsnatural opiates

Local Blood Flow

• Maintaining the System– Brain consumes 20% of the energy

8-10 glasses/day

Avoid :

Sugar, alcohol,

caffeine, fast foods,

Additives, & drugs