Chapter 1:Origins of Brain and Behavior Flashcards
Why study brain and behavior clinically
To gain a better understanding of traumatic brain injuries and those affected by it
CNS
Neurons connecting to brain and spinal cord
PNS
Neurons connecting to parts outside of CNS
2 Major structures of the brain
Cerebrum, cerebellum
How is the cerebrum different from the cerebellum
The cerebrum is much larger and folded because of all the neurons constantly being folded on top of each other to increase surface area.
Embodied behavior
The brain cannot be divorced from the bodies activities
Aristotle perspective on brain and behavior
He believed in mentalism which stated that behaviors arose from a nonmaterial mind (psyche), not the brain.
Descartes perspective on brain
Descartes believes in dualism which stated that the non material mind and the body contribute to behavior. It also believed that the mind was found in the pineal gland where it controls body movements through sending fluid down ventricles. In reality, the pineal gland controls daily biorhythms
Darwin’s perspective on brain
Darwin believed in materialism which states that behavior is a function of the nervous system without recourse of the mind and that behaviors of complex animals like humans developed from brain of simpler animals
Natural selection
How new species evolve and existing species change over time
Epigenetics
Epigenetics is the study of differences in gene expression arising from environmental differences
What is contemporary brain theory
States that behavior and neural function are perfectly correlated. This approach is materialistic and gathers ideas through evidence from brain imaging
Which phylum have the greatest amount of encephalization
The phylum Chordata, only chordates have a true brain and have a similar brain plan.
Which order do humans belong to
The primate order
What family do humans belong to
Great apes
How large was the first humans brain
The size of modern apes
Describe the trend of brain size in evolution
As more generations went by, the brain size increased
Homo habilis
First “handy humans” (made tools)
Homo erectus
First humans to walk upright
What did Jerison’s study
Developed a quantitative measure for brain size to allow comparisons among different species (encephalization quotient)
How does one tell if a certain species is smarter
By measuring brain size in comparison to the body as well as the neuron connections that are associated with the brain.
Why did the hominid brain evolve
Changes in climate led to brain structure and size changing as well as the primate lifestyle needed to survive.
Changes in hominid physiology
Maturation lasts longer in the brain, neoteny of current juveniles is the same as adult descendants
