1. Introduction to Brain and Behavior Dr. Hakan
Psychology 256
Introduction to Brain and Behavior
Dr. Hakan

2. What is the Brain?
Billions of nerve cells

3. What is the Brain?
Thousands of connections where one neuron may interact (communicate) with other neurons.
As many as 10,000 connections
40+ neurochemicals ( neurotransmitters)

4. Why Study the Brain? Sensation Motion Internal Regulation Reproduction
Adaptation
EVERYTHING WE DO!

5. Overarching Principles of Brain function
Hierarchically organized
Redundant control
Inhibition
Automaticity
Conscious vs Unconscious processes

6. The Scientific Method Empiricism Objectivity Measurement and testing
replication

7. Basic Organization of the Nervous System
Central Nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS)
CNS- brain and spinal cord

8. PNS -peripheral nerves and the ANS

9. The autonomic division of the PNS

10. And somatosenses

11. The Organization of the Brain: An Overview
The Forebrain ( Telencephalon and Diencephalon)
The Midbrain (Mesencephalon)
The Hindbrain ( Metencephalon and Meyelencephalon)

12. The Forebrain Cerebral Cortex Cortical lobes
Frontal, Parietal, Occipital, Temporal
Basal Ganglia and Limbic system
The diencephalon
Thalamus and Hypothalamus

13. Cortical lobes
Thin
Wrinkled
Sulci and Gyri

14. Cortical lobes Frontal, Parietal, Occipital, Temporal

15. Cortical Lobes Occipital- Vision Temporal- hearing/ speech
Parietal- somatosensory
Frontal- speech, motor responses
and executive functions

16. The Telencephalon- Basal Ganglia and Limbic system
Basal Ganglia- includes the “neostriatum” and substantia nigra
Highly ingrained behaviors

17. Limbic System Amygdala, hippocampus and other structures
Emotional impulses

18. The diencephalon
Thalamus and Hypothalamus
Thalamus- sensory relay

19. Diencephalon
Hypothalamus
The 4 F’s

20. The Midbrain (mesencephalon)
Superior and inferior colliculi
Substantia Nigra

21. Midbrain Superior colliculi- visual orienting reflex
Inferior colliculi- auditory orienting reflex
Substantia Nigra- initiation and switching of behaviors

22. The Hindbrain Cerebellum Medulla (metencephalon)
Oblongata (myelencephalon)

23. Hindbrain Cerebellum- Motor coordination Medulla oblongata-
regulation of vital functions
Incoming ( afferent) and outgoing (efferent) fibers