Psychology 3551 Introduction to Neuroscience II: From Brain to Behavior Spring 2007

Psychology 3552 Required text Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain, 3nd ed., by Bear, Connor, and Paradiso; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, ISBN:

Psychology 3553 Instructors Professor Greene Office: Garland 212 Phone: Office hours: TR 3:30-4:30 Professor Helmstetter Office: Garland 207 Phone: Office hours: T 1:00-2:00PM

Psychology 3554 Course policies Prerequisites: Bio Sci 152(p) & 315(c) or Psych 254 Lecture schedule Exam dates: 2/15; 3/8; 4/17; 5/16 Extra credit Supplemental material

Psychology 3555 Neuroscience “The task of neural science is to explain behavior in terms of the activities of the brain. How does the brain marshal its millions of individual nerve cells to produce behavior, and how are these cells influenced by the environment...? The last frontier of the biological sciences--their ultimate challenge--is to understand the biological basis of consciousness and the mental processes by which we perceive, act, learn, and remember.” — Eric Kandel, Principles of Neural science, fourth editionEric Kandel

Psychology 3556 Neuroscience Understanding the brain and behavior at different “levels of analysis”. Neuroscientists study the nervous system in a variety of ways.

Psychology 3557 Fact or Theory

Psychology 3558 Fact or Theory Theory = understanding Theory is not hypothetical Facts must be observable (data) Theory is broad, fact and hypothesis are narrow Theories must be consistent with all available (relevant) facts Theory guides the search for fact The progress of theory is the purpose of science

Psychology 3559

10 Functionalism and Structuralism Functionalism: Emphasizes utility as a causal factor Evolution Structuralism: Emphasizes mechanistic understanding

Psychology Evolution Variation 1.Every species has enormous diversity 2.Sexual reproduction insures diversity by recombining genes into new combinations 3.Variability allows a species (not an individual) to survive Conch

Psychology Evolution Selection 1.Selection - reproduction of the fittest 2.Differential survival advantage 3.Differential reproduction advantage 4.Minimal selection pressure after the age of reproduction Tarsier