PSY 2301 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Pineal Gland, Epigenetics, Medulla Oblongata
14 Nov 2018
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Department
Course
Professor
Sept 27, 2018
Review
Chapter 1
What is brain and what is behaviour? How did we define them?
- Brain is the physical object, living tissue/ organ
- Behaviour is momentarily observable
- Cannot observe someone’s thoughts
- Brain produces behavior, understand the brain, understand behaviour disorders
Perspectives on brain/behaviour (mentalism, dualism, materialism, contemporary)
- Quick summary of each
- Mentalism
- Explanation of the mind as a function of the non-material mind
- Aristotle
- soul/psyche controls behaviour
- Dualism
- Descartes
- Mind in the brain linked to the body
- Pineal gland → fluid pressure through arteries controlled movement
- Philosophical position that both material + non material mind and a material body
interact
- Mind = ability for language is a sign
- Problematic because children and the mentally ill lack minds according to
dualism
- Materialism
- Philosophical position that behaviour can be explained as a function of the
nervous system w/o recourse to the mind
- Mind = immaterial
1) All animal species are related so brains must be related
2) Since all animal species are related, behaviour must also be related
(same facial expressions are seen around the world)
3) Brain and behavior in complex animals evolved from simpler animals
Mendel → heritable actors → quick summary
- Underlying phenotypic variations
- Discovered that some physical traits are governed by genes
- Genotype: particular genetic makeup of an individual
- Likely to express similar phenotype
- May have suppressed/dominant genes
Defining epigenetics
- Differences in genes expression related to environment and experience
Sept 27, 2018
Definitions
- Embodied behaviour: Theory that the movements we make are central to
communication with others
- Locked in syndrome: condition in which a patient is aware and awake but cannot move
or communicate voluntary muscles except the eyes
- Deep brain stimulation: neurosurgery in which electrodes implanted in the brain simulate
or target area with a low wattage electrical current to facilitate behaviour
Chapter 2
- Primary function of the brain is to produce movement/behaviour
- Without stimulation the brain cannot orient the body
- Neural connections are constantly changing
- Agenesis of the brain
- As we learn new things
- Store new info
Functional organization of the nervous system (CNS, PNS, Divisions)
- Central Nervous System
- Mediates behaviour
- Brain and spinal cord
- Receives sensations and actions
- Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
- Somatic Nervous System (SNS)
- Part of the PNS that includes the cranial and spinal nerves and form the
muscle joints and skin which produce movement of body parts
- Autonomic nervous System (ANS)
- Part of the PNS that regulates the functioning of internal organs and
glands
- Enteric Nervous System (ENS)
- Mesh of neurons embodied in the lining of the gut, running from the esophagus
through the colon, controls the gut
Surface features of the Brain
- Meninges
- Three layers;
1) Dura mater: tough double layer of the fibrous tissue that encloses brain
structures + spinal cord
2) Pia mater: moderately tough connective tissue that clings to the brain's
surface
3) Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF): colourless solution of sodium chloride,
cushions the brain + allows it to move without pressing on the skull
Sept 27, 2018
- Lobes
- Cerebral cortex: brains outer bark layer, heavily folded surface → demarcate
functional zones
- Temporal Lobe: front facing, hearing + language + musical abilities, sides of
head
- Frontal Lobe: forehead area, performs brain executive functioning, such as
decision making
- Parietal Lobe: Top of skull, directs movement towards a goal or to perform task,
tactile
- Occipital Lobe: back of skull, visual processing
geography (orientation)/views of the brain
- Coronal
- Brain is sliced down the middle
- arteries
- Anterior
- Middle posterior
- Cerebral
Internal features of the brain
- Ventricles
- 2 wing shaped cavities that contain the cerebrospinal fluid
- 4 connected ventricles
- Flow through cerebral aqueduct
- Maintain brain metabolism → allow certain compound access to the brain
→ remove waste
- Cushions brain blows
Document Summary
Brain is the physical object, living tissue/ organ. Brain produces behavior, understand the brain, understand behaviour disorders. Explanation of the mind as a function of the non-material mind. Mind in the brain linked to the body. Pineal gland fluid pressure through arteries controlled movement. Philosophical position that both material + non material mind and a material body interact. Mind = ability for language is a sign. Problematic because children and the mentally ill lack minds according to dualism. Philosophical position that behaviour can be explained as a function of the nervous system w/o recourse to the mind. Discovered that some physical traits are governed by genes. Genotype: particular genetic makeup of an individual. Differences in genes expression related to environment and experience. Embodied behaviour: theory that the movements we make are central to communication with others. Locked in syndrome: condition in which a patient is aware and awake but cannot move or communicate voluntary muscles except the eyes.
