The Biological Bases of Behavior Chapter

The Brain

Module 07

Phineas Gage

• Play “The Frontal Lobes and Behavior: The Story of Phineas Gage” (12:03) Module #25 from The Brain: Teaching Modules (2nd edition).

Lower-Level Brain Structures:

The Brainstem

Module 7: The Brain

Brainstem

• The oldest part and central core of the brain;

• It begins where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull

• Is responsible for automatic survival functions

Brainstem

Medulla

• Located at the base of the brainstem

• Controls life-supporting functions like heartbeat and breathing

• Damage to this area can lead to death.

Medulla

Brain Structures - Brainstem/Medulla

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Brain Structures - Brainstem/Medulla

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Reticular Formation

• A nerve network in the brainstem that plays an important role in controlling wakefulness and arousal

• Extending up and down the spinal cord into the brain

• Controls an organism’s level of alertness

• Damage to this area can cause a coma.

Lower-Level Brain Structures:

The Thalamus

Module 7: The Brain

Thalamus

• Sits atop the brainstem

• The brain’s sensory switchboard –

• Directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex

• Thalamus is Greek for “inner chamber.”

Thalamus

Brain Structures - Thalamus

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Brain Structures - Thalamus

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Lower-Level Brain Structures:

The Cerebellum

Module 7: The Brain

Cerebellum

• Latin for the “little brain”

• Attached to the rear of the brain

• Helps coordinate voluntary movements and balance

• If damaged, the person could perform basic movements but would lose fine coordination skills.

Cerebellum

Cerebellum

Brain Structures - Cerebellum

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• Instructions for importing the video file can be found in the ‘Readme’ file on the CD-ROM.

Brain Structures - Cerebellum

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• Instructions for importing the video file can be found in the ‘Readme’ file on the CD-ROM.

Lower-Level Brain Structures:

The Limbic System

Module 7: The Brain

Limbic System

• A ring of structures at the border of the brainstem and cerebral cortex

• Helps regulate memory, aggression, fear, hunger, and thirst

• Includes the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala

Brain Structures – Limbic System

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• Instructions for importing the video file can be found in the ‘Readme’ file on the CD-ROM.

Hypothalamus

• A neural structure lying below the thalamus

• Regulates the body’s maintenance activities such as; eating, drinking, body temperature, and it linked to emotion

• Plays a role in emotions, pleasure, and sexual function

Hypothalamus and Aggression

• Play “Aggression, Violence, and the Brain” (7:17) Module #24 from The Brain: Teaching Modules (2nd edition).

Hippocampus

• A neural center located in the limbic system that wraps around the back of the thalamus

• Helps processing new memories for permanent storage

• Looks something like a seahorse

– Hippo is Greek for “horse.”

Amygdala

• Two almond shaped neural cluster in the limbic system

• Controls emotional responses such as fear and anger

Brain Structures – Lower Brain

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Brain Structures – Lower Brain

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The Cerebral Cortex

Module 7: The Brain

Cerebral Cortex

• The intricate fabric of interconnected neurons that form the body’s ultimate control and information processing center

• Covers the brain’s lower level structures• Contains an estimated 30 billion nerve

cells• Divided into four lobes

Corpus Callosum

• The large band of neural fibers that connects the two brain hemispheres and allows them to communicate with each other

• Is sometimes cut to prevent seizures

Corpus Callosum

Corpus Callosum

• Play “Severed Corpus Callosum” (10:00) Segment #7 from Scientific American Frontiers: Video Collection for Introductory Psychology (2nd edition).

Longitudinal Fissure

• The long crevice that divides the cerebral cortex into left and right hemispheres

• This and other fissures in the brain create major divisions in the brain called lobes

Frontal Lobes

• The portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead

• Is involved in planning and judgments

• Includes the motor cortex

The Frontal Lobe

• Play “The Frontal Lobes: Cognition and Awareness” (9:05) Segment #7 from The Mind: Psychology Teaching Modules (2nd edition).

Parietal Lobes

• The portion of the cerebral cortex lying on the top of the head and toward the rear

• Includes the somatosensory cortex and general association areas used in processing information

• Regions available for general processing, including mathematical reasoning

• Designated as the association lobes• Behind the frontal lobes

Occipital Lobe

• The portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head

• It includes the primary visual processing areas of the brain

Temporal Lobes

• Includes the auditory (hearing) areas of the brain

• Where sound information is processed

• Located roughly above the ears

Brain Structures – Cerebral Cortex

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Brain Structures – Cerebral Cortex

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Brain Structures – Cerebral Cortex

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Brain Structures – Cerebral Cortex

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Motor Cortex

• The strip of brain tissue at the rear of the frontal lobes

• Controls voluntary movement• Different parts of the cortex control

different parts of the body.• The motor cortex in the left hemisphere

controls the right side of the body and visa versa.

Somatosensory Cortex

• The brain are located in the front of the parietal lobes

• Registers and processes body sensations

• Soma is Greek for “body.”

Motor and Sensory Cortex

• Play “Image-Guided Surgery” (13:07) Segment #6 from Scientific American Frontiers: Video Collection for Introductory Psychology (2nd edition).

Differences Between the Two Hemispheres

Module 7: The Brain

Hemispheric Differences

• “Left-brained” and “right-brained” debunked

• Brain is divided into two hemispheres but works as a single entity.

• Both sides continually communicate via the corpus callosum, except in those with split brains.

Split Brain Patient

• Play “The Divided Brain” (6:46) Module #5 from The Brain: Teaching Modules (2nd edition).

Differences Between the Two Hemispheres:Language and Spatial

Abilities

Module 7: The Brain

The Brain’s Left Hemisphere

• For most people, language functions are in the left hemisphere.

• For a small percentage of people, language functions are in the right hemisphere.

Broca’s Area

• The brain area of the left frontal lobe

• Directs the muscle movements involve in speech

• If damaged the person can form the ideas but cannot express them as speech

Language and the Brain

• Play “Language Centers in the Brain” (3:39) Segment #16 from Psychology: The Human Experience.

Wernicke’s Area

• A brain area of the left temporal lobe

• Involved in language comprehension and expression

• Our ability to understand what is said to us

• Usually in the left temporal lobe

The Brain’s Right Hemisphere

• Houses the brain’s spatial abilities

• Our spatial ability allows us to perceive or organize things in a given space, judge distance, etc.

• Helps in making connections between words

Broca’s and Wernicke’s Areas

• Play “Language and Speech: Broca’s and Wernicke’s Areas” (7:44) Module #6 from The Brain: Teaching Modules (2nd edition).

Brain Specialization

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Split Brain Research

Split Brain Research

Split Brain Research

Split Brain Research

Split Brain Research

Split Brain Research

Split Brain Research

The End

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