Chapter 1

Introduction

Understanding human consciousness

Mind-body question Dualism – the belief that

the body is physical but the mind (soul) is not

Monism – the belief that the world consists only of matter and energy and that the mind is a phenomenon produced by the workings of the nervous system

Understanding human consciousness

Blindsight Def: the ability of a person who cannot see objects in his or

her blind field to accurately reach fro them while remaining unconscious of perceiving them

Caused by damage to the “mammalian” visual system of the brain

Suggests the common belief that perceptions must enter consciousness in order to affect our behavior is incorrect

Understanding human consciousness

Split brains Corpus callosum – the largest commissure of the brain,

interconnecting the areas of neocortex on each side of the brain

CC connects the 2 cerebral hemispheres (L and R) Epilepsy – split-brain operation Can detect olfactory stimuli on ipsilateral (same) side, but not

on contralateral (opposite) side If split-brain patient is given olfactory stimulus (eg flower odor)

to only right nostril, they will say they smell nothing (b/c right side cannot pass info onto left side which controls speech).

However, even though they are not conscious of smelling it, they can then choose the correct object to stand for the stimulus (eg rose)

Understanding human consciousness

Unilateral neglect Def: a syndrome in which people ignore objects located

toward their left and the left side of objects located anywhere

Caused by damage to the right parietal lobe

The Nature of Physiological Psychology

The Goals of Research Generalization – a type of scientific explanation; a general

conclusion based on many observations of similar phenomena

e.g. man has fear of dogs because he was attacked as a child Reduction - a type of scientific explanation; a phenomenon

is described in terms of the more elementary processes that underlie it

e.g. the women feels hungry because her stomach is producing high levels of ghrelin

The Nature of Physiological Psychology

Biological Roots of Physio Psych Hippocrates On the Sacred Disease Descartes – organisms mere mechanical devices responding to

env’t Reflex – an automatic, stereotyped movement that is produced as

the direct result of a stimulus Model – a mathematical or physical analogy for a physiological

process Müller

Learn about nervous system only by experimentation Doctrine of specific nerve energies – because all nerve fibers carry

the same message, sensory info must be specified by the particular nerve fibers that are active

Experimental ablation – the function of a part of the brain is inferred by observing the behaviors an animal can no longer perform afterwards

The Nature of Physiological Psychology

Broca Stroke in left side of brain (later named “Broca’s area”) left

patient with inability to speak Helmholtz

Measured speed of electronic conduction by nerves; saw that more than just a simple message being transmitted

Natural Selection and Evolution

Darwin All of an organism’s characteristics serve a functional

purpose Functionalism – the principle that the best way to

understand a biological phenomenon is to try to understand its useful functions for the organism

Natural selection – the process by which inherited traits that confer a selective advantage become more prevalent in a population

Mutation – change in the genetic info that can be passed on to an organism’s offspring; provides genetic variability

May also provide a selective advantage

Evolution of the Human Species

Evolution – a gradual change in the structure and physiology of plant and animal species – generally producing more complex organisms – as a result of natural selection

Evolution of the Human Species

Evolution of Large Brains Humans evolved into beings capable of many complex

behaviors and cognitions Requires a larger brain Neoteny – a slowing of the process of maturation, allowing

more time for growth

Ethical Issues in Research with Animals

Humane and Worthwhile Compare numbers of animals used in research vs those

used for food/hunting/unwanted pets/clothing etc. Researchers care about their animals!

Careers in Neuroscience

Physiological psychologist – a scientist who studies the physiology of behavior, primarily by performing physiological and behavioral experiments with lab animals

Professor at University (teaching and running a research lab)

Private or public research institutions Society for Neuroscience – www.sfn.org

HW for next class

Read Chapter 2: Structure and Function of Cells of the Nervous System

Suggest reviewing today’s lecture