Chapter 2 Biopsychology

How Does the Brain Produce Behavior and Mental Processes? The brain is composed of many specialized modules that work together to create mind and behavior

Windows on the Brain EEG (electroencephalograph) – Device for recording brain waves, typically by electrodes placed on the scalp Brain waves – Patterns of electrical activity generated by the brain

Windows on the Brain Epilepsy – Brain disorder that is often marked by seizures and loss of consciousness; caused by out-of-control electrical activity in the brain

Windows on the Brain Lesions – Tissue damage that results from disease or injury

Windows on the Brain Brain scans – Recordings of the brain’s electrical or biochemical activity at specific sites CT scanning (computerized tomography) PET scanning (positron emission tomography) MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

Three Layers of the Brain Brain stem and cerebellum Drive vital functions, such as heart rate, breathing, digestion Limbic system Adds emotions, complex motives, increased memory abilities Cerebrum Enables reasoning, planning, creating, problem solving

The Brain Stem and Cerebellum Thalamus Pons Cerebellum Medulla Brain stem

The Limbic System Hypothalamus – Serves as the brain’s blood-testing laboratory, constantly monitors blood to determine the condition of the body

The Limbic System Amygdala – Involved in memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression

The Limbic System Hippocampus – Involved in establishing long-term memories

The Cerebrum Cerebrum – Topmost layer of the brain; the bulbous cap over the limbic system Cerebral cortex – Thin gray-matter covering of the cerebrum; carries on thinking and perceiving Cerebral hemispheres – The two walnut shaped halves of the cerebrum, connected by the corpus callosum

The Four Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex Frontal lobes (movement and thinking) Parietal lobes (touch sensation and spatial relationships) Occipital lobes (contain visual cortex) Temporal lobes (process sounds, including speech)

The Cooperative Brain Association cortex – Cortical regions that combine information from various other parts of the brain

Cerebral Dominance Cerebral dominance – Tendency of each brain hemisphere to exert control over different functions Aphasia – The loss of speech caused be brain damage Spatial orientation – Process of locating one’s body or other objects in space

Specialization of the Cerebral Hemispheres Left Hemisphere Right Hemisphere Spontaneous speaking and writing Repetitive but not spontaneous speaking Responses to complex commands Responses to simple commands Word recognition Facial recognition Memory for words and numbers Memory for shapes and music Sequences of movements Spatial interpretation Emotional responsiveness Feelings of anxiety Positive emotion Negative emotion

The Split Brain Split-brain patients – Individuals who have had the corpus callosum surgically severed Duality of consciousness – Condition in which a split-brain patient has a separate consciousness in each hemisphere

Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2006 End of Chapter 2 Section 2.3 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2006