Thinking About Psychology

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Thinking About Psychology

The Science of Mind and Behavior 3e

Charles T. Blair-Broeker & Randal M. Ernst PowerPoint Presentation Slides

by Kent Korek

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The Brain

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Module Overview

• Studying the Brain

• Lower Level Brain Structures

• The Cerebral Cortex

• Differences Between the Brain’s Two Hemispheres

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Studying the Brain

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Studying the Brain:

Case Studies

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Case Study

• A research technique in which one

person is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles.

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Studying the Brain:

Scanning Techniques

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Computerized Axial Tomography

(CT or CAT)

• A series of X-ray

photographs taken from different angles and

combined by computer into a composite

representation of a slice through the body.

• Reveals the brain’s

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Magnetic Resonance Imaging

(MRI)

• A technique that sues

magnetic fields and radio waves to produce

computer-generated

images that distinguish

among types of soft tissue;

• this allows us to see

structures within the brain.

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Electroencephalogram (EEG)

• An amplified recording of the

waves of electrical activity

that sweep across the brain’s surface;

• these waves, measured by

electrodes placed on the scalp, are helpful in

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Positron Emission Tomography

Scan (PET scan)

• A visual display of brain activity.

• Injection of a radioactive glucose • Reveals the brain’s functioning

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Lower Level Brain

Structures

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Lower-Level Brain

Structures:

The Brainstem

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Brainstem

• The oldest part and central core of

the brain;

• it begins where the spinal cord swells

as it enters the skull and

• is responsible for automatic survival

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Medulla

• Located at the base of the brainstem, • it controls basic life-supporting

functions like heartbeat and breathing.

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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

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Lower-Level Brain

Structures:

The Thalamus

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Thalamus

• The brain’s sensory switchboard,

located on top of the brainstem;

• it directs messages to the sensory

receiving areas in the cortex.

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Lower-Level Brain

Structures:

The Cerebellum

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Cerebellum

• The “little brain”, attached to the

rear of the brainstem;

• it helps coordinate voluntary

movements and balance.

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

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Lower-Level Brain

Structures:

The Limbic System

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Limbic System

• A ring of structures at the border of

the brainstem and cerebral cortex;

• it helps regulate functions such as

memory, fear, aggression, hunger, and thirst, and

• it includes the hypothalamus,

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Hypothalamus

• A neural structure lying below the

thalamus;

• it helps 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

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Hippocampus

• A neural center located in the limbic

system that wraps around the back of the thalamus;

• it helps processing new memories for

permanent storage.

• Looks something like a seahorse – Hippo is Greek for “horse.”

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Amygdala

• An almond shaped neural cluster in

the limbic system that controls

emotional responses such as fear and anger.

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The Cerebral Cortex

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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

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Corpus Callosum

• The large band of neural fibers that

connects the two brain hemispheres and

• allows them to communicate with each

other.

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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

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Frontal Lobes

• The portion of the cerebral cortex

lying just behind the forehead that is involved in planning and judgment;

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Parietal Lobes

• The portion of the cerebral cortex lying on

the top of the head and toward the rear;

• it 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

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Occipital Lobe

lying at the back of the head;

• it includes the primary visual

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Temporal Lobes

lying roughly above the ears;

• it includes the auditory (hearing)

areas of the brain.

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Motor Cortex

• A strip of brain tissue at the rear of

the frontal lobes that 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.

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Somatosensory Cortex

• The strip of brain tissue at the front

of the parietal lobes that registers and processes body sensations.

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Plasticity

• The brain’s ability to change,

especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or experience.

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Differences Between the

Brain’s Two Hemispheres

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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

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Differences Between the

Two Hemispheres:

Language and Spatial

Abilities

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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.

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Broca’s Area

• A brain area of the left frontal lobe

that directs the muscle movements involve in speech.

• If damaged the person can form the

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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

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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

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