The Brain in ActionPhrenologySlide 3EEGSlide 5Brain ScansSlide 7Magnetic StimulationBrain MythsNature vs. NurtureSlide 11Heritability MisconceptionsBehavioral Genetic DesignsSlide 14Slide 15The Brain The Brain in Actionin ActionPhrenologyPhrenology•Franz Joseph Gall measured the cranium, Franz Joseph Gall measured the cranium, believing its configuration was related to the believing its configuration was related to the individual’s traits and abilitiesindividual’s traits and abilities•Physiognomy vs. PhrenologyPhysiognomy vs. PhrenologyPhrenologyPhrenology•““On examining their heads, I was On examining their heads, I was astonished to find that the most inveterate astonished to find that the most inveterate [thieves] had a long prominence, [thieves] had a long prominence, extending from the organ of cunning extending from the organ of cunning almost as far as the external angle of the almost as far as the external angle of the supercillary ridge, and this region was flat supercillary ridge, and this region was flat in all those who showed a horror of theft.”in all those who showed a horror of theft.”• Phrenology’s role in oppressionPhrenology’s role in oppressionEEGEEG•In the early 1900s, researchers hypothesized that In the early 1900s, researchers hypothesized that neurons use electrical activity to send neurons use electrical activity to send information.information.•Hans Berger (!929) developed the Hans Berger (!929) developed the electroencephalograph (EEG), a device that electroencephalograph (EEG), a device that measures electrical activity generated by the measures electrical activity generated by the brainbrain•Researchers record electrical activity from Researchers record electrical activity from multiple electrodes placed on the multiple electrodes placed on the scalp’s surfacescalp’s surfaceEEGEEG•AdvantagesAdvantages–NoninvasiveNoninvasive–Detects rapid changes in the electrical activity of Detects rapid changes in the electrical activity of the brain occurring in the range of millisecondsthe brain occurring in the range of milliseconds•DisadvantagesDisadvantages–Tells us little about what’s happening inside Tells us little about what’s happening inside neurons neurons– Isn’t great for determining exactly where in the Isn’t great for determining exactly where in the brain activity is occurringbrain activity is occurringBrain ScansBrain Scans•Computed tomography (CT) ScansComputed tomography (CT) Scans–A scanning technique using multiple X-rays to construct A scanning technique using multiple X-rays to construct three-dimensional imagesthree-dimensional images–Allows us to visualize the brain’s structureAllows us to visualize the brain’s structure•MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)–Technique that uses magnetic fields to indirectly Technique that uses magnetic fields to indirectly visualize brain structure visualize brain structure– Also allows us to visualize the brain’s structure, but Also allows us to visualize the brain’s structure, but using exposure to a magnetic field insteadusing exposure to a magnetic field insteadBrain ScansBrain Scans•PET (Positron Emission Photography)PET (Positron Emission Photography)–An imaging technique that measures consumption of An imaging technique that measures consumption of glucose-like moleculesglucose-like molecules–Yields a picture of neural activity in different regions of Yields a picture of neural activity in different regions of the brainthe brain–Measures changes in the brain’s activityMeasures changes in the brain’s activity•fMRI (Functional MRI)fMRI (Functional MRI)–Technique that uses an increase in oxygenated blood at Technique that uses an increase in oxygenated blood at brain sites to determine activitybrain sites to determine activityMagnetic StimulationMagnetic Stimulation•Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)–Applies strong and quickly changing magnetic field to the Applies strong and quickly changing magnetic field to the skull to create electric fields in the brainskull to create electric fields in the brain–TMS can either enhance or interrupt brain functionTMS can either enhance or interrupt brain function–Offers useful insights regarding which brain areas are Offers useful insights regarding which brain areas are involved in different psychological processesinvolved in different psychological processes•MagnetoencephalographyMagnetoencephalography–Detects electrical activity in the brain by measuring tiny Detects electrical activity in the brain by measuring tiny magnetic fields generated by the brainmagnetic fields generated by the brain–Reveals which brain areas are becoming active in Reveals which brain areas are becoming active in response to stimuliresponse to stimuliBrain MythsBrain Myths•MYTH 1:MYTH 1: Most of us use only 10 percent of our Most of us use only 10 percent of our brainbrain–Every brain region is necessaryEvery brain region is necessary•MYTH 2:MYTH 2: Normal people are either “left-brained” Normal people are either “left-brained” or “right-brained”or “right-brained”–Localization of FunctionLocalization of FunctionNature vs. NurtureNature vs. Nurture•Chromosome:Chromosome: slender thread inside a cell’s slender thread inside a cell’s nuclesus that carries genesnuclesus that carries genes•Gene:Gene: genetic material composed of DNA genetic material composed of DNA•DNA:DNA: stores everything cells need to replicate or stores everything cells need to replicate or reproduce themselvesreproduce themselves•Our Our genotype genotype is our genetic makeup or the genes is our genetic makeup or the genes that have been transmitted from our parents to that have been transmitted from our parents to us us •Our Our phenotypephenotype is our set of observable traits is our set of observable traitsNature vs. NurtureNature vs. Nurture•Behavioral genetics Behavioral genetics is used to examine the is used to examine the influence of nature and nurture on psychological influence of nature and nurture on psychological traitstraits•Behavioral geneticsBehavioral genetics allows us to estimate the allows us to estimate the heritability heritability of traits and diseasesof traits and diseases–Percentage of the variability in a trait