BIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

According to Biological Perspective human Behavior is the result of physiological processes

These processes are controlled by

Nervous system Endocrine system Genetic and Heredity

Under the Biological Perspective we state that

All that is psychological is first physiological

Evolution Theory
Until the middle of the 19th century, most humans regarded themselves as very distinct from animals Since Darwins discoveries there has been a general acceptance that humans have evolved from animals We have a substantial number of physiological and behavioral characteristics in common and we also share much of our genetic make up

Evolution Theory
This acceptance has led psychologist to increase research into basic physiological mechanisms and processes as a way of explaining human behavior
Behavioral change is considered to be a consequence of the interaction between innate disposition and environmental factors

Evolution Theory
Through the use of scanning techniques of the brain is an awareness that physiological mechanisms play a central part in the behavior of individuals For example areas as aggression , emotions, memory, stress and learning There are criticisms that this may involve a reductionist approach and that behavior exhibited by animals is not necessary relevant to humans

Natural Selection in Human Evolution

Our strong evolutionary success can be linked to two events in our past: 1) Development of Bipedialism - thereby freeing up the hands for all sorts of mischief (e.g., tool making, weapons, building in general)

Natural Selection in Human Evolution

2) Encephalization of the Brain - The larger brain allowed more brain area to be expended on cognitive operations like thinking, reasoning, and decision making allowing humans to planning the ability to plan for and predict future events and use of language too!

BIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE Structure of the Nervous System

Nervous System

Central Nervous System

Peripheral Nervous System

Brain

Spinal Cord

Brain Stem

cerebellum

Cerebral Hemispheres

Organization of the Nervous System Central Nervous System

Brain Spinal Cord

Peripheral Nervous System

Somatic Autonomic (skeletal)

Peripheral Nervous System

Skeletal - controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles

Autonomic - self-regulating, controls glands & muscles of internal organs (e.g., heart)

Sympathetic (arousing)

Parasympathetic (calming)

Autonomic Nervous System

Nerves that connect to the heart, blood vessels, smooth muscles and glands
Sympathetic Division Mobilizes the bodys resources for emergencies (e.g., stimulates adrenal gland)

Cannon (1932)

Fight Parasympathetic Division or Generally conserves bodily resources Flight (e.g., slows heart rate) Response

THE HUMAN BRAIN

The Brain is the only body organ to exhibit both localisation and lateralisation of function.
Localisation = Different areas of the brain do different things. Lateralisation = Each brain hemisphere is adapted to certain functions better than the other.

3 EARLY INVESTIGATORS OF BRAIN FUNCTION

1) Franz Josef Gall (1758-1828) Cranioscopy, or phrenology Size + shape cranium = Size + shape brain
Mental abilities innate and fixed Level of development of ability reflection of size of cerebral organ

2) Jean-Pierre Flourens (1794-1867) First experimental lesions in brain. Not precise; severe brain damage occurred in some cases. No specific areas found, but different lesions caused different problems.

3) Paul Broca (1824-1880) First put forward for specific language centre In the brain.

Patient with brain damage understood everything said to him, but could only say 'tan' in reply (Broca's aphasia).
Patient with similar symptoms found to have brain damage in same area in post mortem examination.

AN EXAMPLE OF BRAIN LOCALISATION:

Different areas of brain associated with different functions. Broca's area: Articulation of speech. Patients with Broca's damage can understand speech but cannot articulate it themselves. Wernicke's area: Understanding language. Patients with Wernicke's damage cannot understand language but can reply in fluent sentences.

THE CORTEX

> Emotion and experience, association areas, frontal motor area. > Sense of touch in different parts of the body. > Vision. > Hearing, language and memory for objects.

The cortex is the part of the brain which is most strongly associated with the mind and general consciousness.

THE LIMBIC SYSTEM

Hypothalamus - basic drives; hunger, thirst & sex

Hippocampus - memory function Amygdala - basic emotions (fear & rage), forming emotional memories.

THE CEREBELLUM & THE BRAIN STEM

Cerebellum- movement and balance. Medulla - regulation of basic bodily processes.

Pons - connect cortex to cerebellum

Reticular formation - relay network controlling sensory input and regulating arousal, alertness and sleep.

BRAIN LATERALISATION & THE CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES

Each hemisphere responsible for the opposite side of the body

Left hemisphere receives information from right field of view and vice versa

Work with split brain patients helped to identify differences in function of the two hemispheres of the brain. Hemispheric specialisation also linked with handedness, in that right handed people have a dominant left hemisphere and so

STUDYING THE BRAIN

EEG (electroencephalogram)

Brain Scans (MRI, PET, CAT)

Electrical Stimulation

Measuring Brain Electricity

One such device is called an ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM (EEG). An EEG detects tiny electrical currents on the surface of the brain, generated by surface neurons.

Determining Brain Structure

One of the techniques used for discerning a brain's structure is the computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan.

This technique uses an instrument that works by exposing a person's brain to x-rays and a computer that interpret the images

Measuring Brain activity

Scientists were able to go beyond the limitations of the EEG with the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan. This type of scan allows to study the brain while it works

Dont You Believe It

Everybody knows that we only use 10% of our brains. Imagine what wed be like if we could use the other 90%!

Fig3_22

(A) AT BIRTH

(B) SIX YEARS OLD

(C) FOURTEEN YEARS OLD

Cerebral cortex Cerebral cortex Cerebral cortex

Cerebral cortex

Cerebral cortex

Macaque monkey

Striped bass

Fig25
Cat Chimpanzee Human

Fig11
Dendrites Dendrites Cell body Dendrites Cell body Cell Axon body

Axon Axon

(a) Sensory neuron

(b) Motor neuron

(c) Interneuron

The Synapse
Silence Im thinking!

Santiago Ramn y Cajal

Synapse is the contact surface between an axon and next neuron's dendrite or body Chemical process bridges gap between neurons

The Synapse
1. Nerve Impulse reaches Synaptic Vesicles in Terminal Button

2. Synaptic Vesicles release Neurotransmitters

3. Neurotransmitters are Excitatory or Inhibitory

Fig3_6
AXON

Action potential

Vesicles Neurotransmitters Synapse Receptors for neurotransmitters DENDRITE Spreading wave of depolarization

1. An action potential shoots down the axon.

Fig3_5

2. Neurotransmitters are released into the synapse, changing the membrane potential of the dendrite.

3. If the depolarization is strong enough, it spreads down the dendrite and across the cell body.

4. If the threshold is reached, the cell fires, shooting an action potential down the axon.

Neurotransmitters & Behavior

75 substances are clearly neurotransmitters Other chemicals may serve similar function

Specific neurotransmitters work at specific kinds of synapses

Lock & Key

Acetycholine (ACh)
ACh contributes to: Attention Arousal & Memory Processes

Motor Neurons

ACh

INHIBITORS Curare and the Black Widow

Voluntary Muscles

Biogenic Amines
Regulate aspects of everyday behavior
Control of voluntary movements. Mediates Lack of Dopamine arousal levels. production Low levels causes of NE linked Parkinsons to depression Disease

Dopamine

Serotonin

Regulation of sleep & wakefulness.

Norepinephrine

Endorphins
(aka Endogenous Morphines) Endorphins
Entire family of internally produced chemicals that are similar to opiates in structure and effects

Endorphine binds to specialized receptors in the brain

Neuromodulators
Chemicals that modulate activity of specific NTs (e.g., Decrease NT that delivers pain signals)

Endorphins
Endorphins
Endorphins are released in certain situations like after working out and sexual activities
Endorphins are also released after eating chocolates

Large amounts of endorphins are released just before death

PITUITARY regulates growth; controls the thyroid, ovaries or testes, pancreas, and adrenal cortex; regulates water and salt metabolism

Fig3_24

HYPOTHALAMUS controls the pituitary gland THYROID controls the metabolic rate

PANCREAS controls levels of insulin and glucagon; regulates sugar metabolism

ADRENAL CORTEX regulates carbohydrate and salt metabolism ADRENAL MEDULLA prepares the body for action OVARIES (female) affect physical development, reproductive organs, and sexual behavior

TESTES (male) affect physical development, reproductive organs, and sexual behavior