Behavioral Science Flashcards
Franz Gall
Phrenology
Associated development of trait with growth of its relevant part of the brain
Pierre Flourens
Extirpation/ablation
Concluded that different brain regions have specific functions
William James
“Father of American Psychology”
Pushed for importance of studying adaptations of the individual to his or her environment
John Dewey
Credited with the landmark article on functionalism
Argues for studying the entire organism as a whole
Paul Broca
Correlated pathology with specific brain regions, such as speech production from Broca’s area
Hermann von Helmoltz
Measured speed of a nerve impulse
Sir Charles Sherrington
Inferred the existence of synapses
Hindbrain functions
Balance, motor coordination, breathing, digestion, general arousal processes (sleeping and waking); “vital functioning”
Midbrain functions
Receives sensory and motor information from the rest of the body; reflexes to auditory and visual stimuli
Forebrain functions
Complex perceptual, cognitive and behavioral processes; emotion and memory
Methods used for mapping the brain
Brain lesions, extirpation, stimulation or recording with electrodes (cortical mapping, single-cell electrode recordings, electroencephalogram [EEG]) and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF)
Basal ganglia
Smoothen movements and help maintain postural stability
Cerebellum
Coordinated movement
Cerebral cortex
Complex perceptual, cognitive and behavioral processes
Hypothalamus
Maintains homeostasis
Hunger and thirst; emotion
Controls the release of pituitary hormones through the hypophyseal portal system that connects it to the anterior pituitary
Releases neurotransmitters that affect mood and arousal
Inferior and superior colliculi
Sensorimotor reflexes
Limbic system
Emotion and memory
The primary nervous system component involved in experiencing emotion
Medulla oblongata
Vital function (breathing, digestion)
Reticular formation
Arousal and alertness
Thalamus
Sensory information relay station
Frontal lobe
Executive function, impulse control, long-term planning (prefrontal cortex), motor function (primary motor cortex), speech production (Broca’s area)
Parietal lobe
Sensation of touch, pressure, temperature and pain (somatosensory cortex); spatial processing, orientation and manipulation
Occipital lobe
Visual processing
Temporal lobe
Sound processing (auditory cortex), speech perception (Wernicke’s area), memory and emotion (limbic system)