Lecture November 29, 2013

The Biology of Mind (Modules 4, 5, 6)

**Next week is Test 2. Bring your photo ID, pencils, erasers

Biological Perspective to understand behaviour we must examine the brain and nervous
system. This perspective tries to make a connection between our outward behaviour and
what is going on within our body, and specifically our brain. The assumption is that for
every thought and behaviour, there is a corresponding process in the brain.

Electrical Stimulation of the Brain (Brain Mapping Penfield)

Cerebral Cortex the cortex is the very outer, thin layer of the brain. This is the part that
separates humans from other animals. It consists of different lobes or regions. Each lobe
specializes in different functions. Take a look at the text to familiarize yourselves with
the general purpose of each lobe.

Hemispheres - The cerebrum can be divided into two halves (hemispheres).
- The two hemispheres are connected by the corpus callosum (which allows the two
hemispheres to communicate with one another).
- Hemispheric Specialization each hemisphere seems to have certain specialized
functions. Usually the left is referred to as the dominant hemisphere and this is in part
because language is usually controlled by the left hemisphere. This is not always the case
for left-handed people.

Split-Brain Patients in some patients who have sever epilepsy, where nothing else can be
done to improve their condition, the corpus callosum can be divided so that the brain has
two entirely separate hemispheres.
- Check out the examples with split-brain patients
o E.g., HE*ART what word did you see? ART. Point with your left hand to the
word you saw. Points to HE. If the participant had to point out with his/her right
hand, he/she would point to ART

Left Hemisphere speaking, writing, reading, calculating
- Typically deals with analytic abilities, math, language, logic
- Controls the right side of the body.
- When you have something in your left visual field, it goes to your right hemisphere

Right Hemisphere spatial construction, facial recognition, musical and artistic abilities
- The hemisphere that generally controls the artsy behaviours
- Controls the left side of the body
- When you have something in your right visual field, it goes to your left hemisphere

You can test this out: If a person is asked a question and their eyes move to the left, then their
right hemisphere is likely processing the information
Handedness Stan Coren Theory
- Left handedness is related to a pathological occurrence during fetal development or birth
- Theory is that left handed people tend to have shorter lives because much of the world is
set up for right-handed people (e.g., cars, airplanes) and also because they have an
impaired immune system making them more likely to suffer from things like asthma,
diabetes, allergies etc.
- Ambidextrous - a person who can use both their hands equally
o Vs. mixed-handed use one hand to do certain tasks and the other hand for other
tasks. Dont use both hands equally well

Right Handed Left Handed
Language in LH 92% 69%
Language in RH 7% 18%
Language in both 1% 13%


Nervous System



Neuron
1) Sensory Neurons carry information from our senses to the brain (e.g., from skin, eyes,
nose, to the brain which in turn interprets the information)
2) Motor Neurons carry information from the brain to the muscles
3) Interneurons brains internal communication system

Check the diagram in your textbook (p. 48):
- Dendrites pick up information from other cells
- Cell body life support system
- Information travels through the Axon. The axon is covered with a Myelin Sheath which
helps speed neural impulses. People suffering from multiple sclerosis have damage in the
myelin sheath.
- From the axon, information goes to the terminal buttons

Nervous System
Peripheral
Autonomic (controls self-
regulated actions of internal
organs and glands)
sympathetic (arousing) Parasympathetic (calming)
Somatic (controls voluntary
movements of skeletal muscles
Central (brain and spinal
cord)
Resting Potential when the neuron is at rest (i.e., when its not being affected by other
neurons).

Action Potential when a resting neuron is stimulated by another neuron and a surge of
electrical energy (or the electrical impulse) moves down the axon

Refractory Period once a neuron is activated, it needs to rest and this is referred to as the
refractory period (this period is very short milliseconds)

All-or-none action potentials either happen or they dont

Synapse tiny gap that exists between two neurons
Pre-synaptic Neuron the neuron that is before the synapse
Post-synaptic Neuron the neuron that is after the synapse

How do messages travel between neurons?
- A terminal button has vesicles (little sacs) that carry chemicals (neurotransmitters)
- Neurotransmitters chemicals that transmit information to other neurons. These will be
absorbed by receptor sites in the dendrite of the post-synaptic neuron
- The neurotransmitter has to fit with a particular receptor site in order to activate the
nearby neuron
- Reuptake the pre-synaptic neuron reuptakes any leftover neurotransmitter that is not
taken up by a post-synaptic neuron. Or, the leftover neurotransmitter might float away

Whether the post-synaptic neuron fires or not depends upon:
1) The total number of messages (or electrical impulses) it receives
2) The type of message it receives
o Some neurotransmitters are excitatory while others are inhibitory and this has an
impact on whether the post-synaptic neuron has its own action potential or not

Agonist chemicals that fool receptor sites and mimic the actions of a neurotransmitter
Antagonist chemical that blocks the action of a neurotransmitter

Experiential Exercise - Hand it in at the time of Test 3
- Look at moodle for details
- You can get an extra 2% tacked on to your final mark at the end of the year if you complete this
- Hand in one piece of paper (double or single spaced)
- Answer ALL THREE questions posted on Moodle

Brief reminder of questions:
1) Violate a social norm (but it cant be illegal! Or disrespectful!). Write about what you did, how it
made you feel to do it, what kind of reactions did you get?
2) Operant or classical conditioning affect our behaviour pick a day where at the end of the day youll
reflect back and a) identify two situations that you experienced where you were positively reinforced,
b) identify one situation where you experienced either positive punishment or negative punishment, c)
identify one situation where your response was due to classical conditioning
3) What is the most valuable thing you feel youve learned about human behaviour so far? What have
you learned that has surprised you the most about human behaviour?