Intro to the Brain

1. Intro to the
Human Brain

2. Today’s Objectives
Content Objective
 I can explain how
the brain works
and how it is
studied.
 I can display
critical thinking
about research
studies.
Language Objective
 I can define
Localization of
Function and Brain
Plasticity.

3. Today’s Key Terms
 Neurology
 Localization of Function
 Frontal Lobe
 Hippocampus
 Neuron
 Brain Plasticity
 MRI and fMRI

4. Top Myths about our Brains
What ideas or theories have you heard
about our brains?
 Top Myths about Our Brains Video
Which of the ideas that we listed can we
take off?

5. Neurology
 The study of the brain and its functioning.

6. Localization of Function
 The principle that certain areas in the
brain are responsible for certain
behaviors.

7. Localization of Function:
The Frontal Lobe
 The Frontal Lobe is responsible for self-control,
planning, social judgment, and
other higher-order thinking tasks.
 Sociopaths (Far Right) have been shown to
have less activity in their Frontal Lobe.

8. Localization of Function:
Hippocampus
 The Hippocampus is an area deep in the
brain responsible for the storage of new
memories.
 Damaged Hippocampus = No New
Memories.

9. Neurons
 Neurons are cells that make up the
nervous system (including the brain) that
specialize in communication of
information throughout the body
 Brains consist of billions of Neurons and
Trillions of Neural connections.

10. Brain Plasticity
 The Principle that the brain changes over
time and depending on our environment.
 Our brains are always changing.
 Use it or Loose It!
 How Our Learning Occurs in the Brain

11. How do Neurologists study the
Brain?
 Throughout history Neurologists have used
a variety of tools to study the brain.
 Post-Mortem Examination
 Brain Damage Case Studies
 Modern Technology (MRI, fMRI, PET)
 Key Question: Why might each of these
methods have been used? What are the
strengths and limitations of each?

12. Post Mortem Studies
 After individuals (or animals) die, their
brains are dissected and compared to
normally functioning brains.
 Example: Rosenweig (1972)

13. Rosenzweig (1972)
 Aim: To determine how the environment can impact the
neurological development of rats.
 Method: Randomly assigned lab rats to one of three conditions.
 Control: Typical Laboratory Cage (other rats, adequate room and
food/water.)
 Impoverished: Small cage, isolated, adequate food/water.
 Enriched: Large space, Multiple Toys, Companions, adequate
food/water.
After living 4-10 weeks, they were killed and autopsies were performed
on their brains (randomly assigned numbers to eliminate researcher
bias).

14. Rosenzweig (1972) Cont.
 Findings: The enriched rats had…
1.Thicker and heavier cerebral cortexes
2. Larger Neurons
 Conclusion: An enriched environment
produced more developed and bigger
brains.
 Critical Thinking:
 Artificial environment limited Ecological Validity.
 Ethical?
 Applications?

15. Brain Damage Cases
 The close examination of individuals with
traumatic brain damage.
 By studying how their behavior has
changed, we can understand what that
part of the brain is responsible for.
 Example: Dimasio et al (1994) – The case
of Phineas Gage
 Gage Video

16. Dimasio et al (1994)
 Aim: To determine what areas of Phineas
Gage’s brain was damaged in the
accident.
 Method: Used MRI technology to create a
model of the accident and determine
what areas were damaged.

17. Dimasio et al (1994) cont.
 Finding: The frontal lobe, and only the
frontal lobe were damaged in the
accident.
 Conclusion: The frontal lobe is responsible
for self-control and social processing.
 Critical Thinking:
 Reliable?

18. Brain Imaging Technology
 In recent decades, scientists can use non-invasive
technology to take images of the
brain of functioning brains.
 MRI- Creates an Image of the structure of
the brain
 fMRI- Shows activity in the brain.
 Example: Corkin et al. (1997): HM

19. Corkin et al (1997)
 Aim: To determine the extent of damage
done to HM’s brain.
 Method: Performed an MRI on HM.
 Finding: All of HM’s Hippocampus and
Amygdala were removed.
 Conclusions: The hippocampus is responsible
for the storage of new memories.
 Critical Thinking:
 Ethical?
 Reliable?

20. Homework for Tonight
1. Select One of the Articles Online and
read it in full.
2. Complete a 3-2-1 note guide for the
Article.
3: New/Important ideas that were not
discussed in class.
2: Pieces of Critical Thinking/Methodological
Limitations
1. Question you still have about the Study.

21. Wrap-Up: Pepper
 Be Prepared to answer a question based
on the vocabulary and ideas which we
have discussed today.