updated Mod 2 slides

1. Biological Basis of
Behavior

2. Franz Josef Gall (1758-1828)
• Phrenology
• Discredited when a
scientist, Pierre Flourens,
lesioned, or ablated,
animal brains
• Popularized the idea of
cerebral localization of
function

3. • Forebrain
– Cerebral lobes
• Midbrain
– Reticular formation
• Hindbrain
– Cerebellum

4. Gross anatomy of the brain

5. Gross anatomy of the brain

9. Gross anatomy of the brain

10. Phineas Gage & Paul Broca
Phineas Gage

11. Phineas Gage & Paul Broca
• Tan (1861)
– Lost ability to speak
– Intact intelligence
– Left hemisphere lesion
Phineas Gage

12. Lateralization & Contralateral
L R
L R

13. Nothing
Corpus Collosum

14. Ramon de Cajal
Individual
Neurons with
small spaces
in between

15. Neurons: Structure
• Parts of neurons
• Relationship to synapses
• Insulation

16. Basic features of the neuron: dendrite,
cell body, axon

17. Electrical signals are transported down
an axon
• Dendrites: receive information
• inputs
• Axon: transmits electrical
signals
– Myelin: insulates the nerve cell
– Speeds up transmission
– Terminal buttons: release
transmitters
• Synapse: site of chemical
communication

18. Glial Cells

19. Grey (or Gray) & White
Matter
Gray is the spelling more commonly seen in American use.
Grey is the spelling more commonly seen in British use (e.g. Earl Grey)

20. A closer look

21. Even closer

22. Action potentials
• Neurons specialize in
the transfer of
information within
the nervous system.
– Operated electrically
• Action potential
– Communicate
chemically
• Neurotransmitter

23. • Ions – electrically charged molecules
– Anions = negative
– Cations = positive
• A resting cell is more negative than its surrounding fluid
(extracellular fluid).
• The resting membrane potential is ~-70mV
– This is a negative polarity

24. Ion Channels

25. Synapse

26. Electrical signals are transported down
an axon

27. Serotonin: Example neurotransmitter
• Serotonin (5-HT) is involved in mood
• Anti-depressants allow for more 5-HT (e.g. SSRI:
serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor)

28. Structural Imaging
• CAT (or CT): computerized axial
tomography
– Beam of X-rays (radiation)
at multiple angles
• MRI: magnetic resonance imaging
– Uses radio waves and measures cellular response in
a strong magnetic field

29. Functional Imaging
Active brain regions require more energy
provided by blood glucose.
• PET: positron emission tomography
– Radioactive substance to visualize blood flow
– OR to measure metabolic change (energy usage)
• fMRI: functional magnetic resonance imaging
– BOLD signal – Blood Oxygen Level Dependent
– Measures metabolic activity

30. EEG
ERP

31. Brain Manipulation
tDCS