PSYC 260 1ST EditionExam # 1 Study Guide Lectures: 1 - 7Lecture 1 (January 16)How do we study the brain and behavior? We study the brain through evolution, normal brains, and brain damage. The brain has 2 main structures: The cerebrum and the Cerebellum.The cerebrum is also called the forebrain. It has two main hemispheres and controls conscious behaviors. The cerebellum controls learning and skilled motor movements. The brainstem is another major part of the brain. It controls unconscious behaviors. What are the two main parts of the nervous system? The Central Nervous System (includes the brain and spinal cord; encased in bone) and the Peripheral Nervous System (the rest of the nerves in the body).What is behavior? Inherited (innate) behaviors and learned behaviors. Most animals’ behaviors are a fusion of both nature and nurture (inherited and learned behaviors). Lecture 2 (January 21) What theory is Aristotle associated with? Mentalism: a belief that the “mind” is responsible for behavior. His view of behavior did not account for the brain in any way. What theory is Descartes associated with? Dualism: this is the fusion of the mind and body- mechanical and physical properties. This was the first attempt to explain what the brain did. Dualism is both a nonmaterial mind and a material body contribute to behavior. What theory is Darwin associated with? Materialism: behavior can be explained as a function of the mind and the rest of the nervous system without “the mind.” This theory is associated with Darwin (even though he didn’t invent it) because it is associated with evolution. What is evolution? Decent with modification. What is natural selection? Natural selection is differential success in the reproduction of different characteristics (phenotypes) that results from the interaction of organisms with their environment. Common ancestry, and very similar characteristics are involved with natural selection. Evolution is all about random mutations.What is unnatural selection? Unnatural selection is breeding that is tampered by humans. Gregor Mendel experimented by crossbreeding pea plants and then observing which traits parent plants passed on to their offspring in successive generations.Lecture 3 (January 23) What is genotype? Genotype is a particular makeup of an individual What is phenotype? Phenotype is an individual characteristic that can be seen or measured. What is the definition of epigenetics? Epigenetics is defined as differences in gene expression related to environment and experienced. Why/how did humans evolve? Humans evolved because of their refined diet. They foraged to find fruit which involved spreading out, which led to the development of complex nervous systems. They had more complex behavior. Their upright posture made them more efficient and led to the development of hands. They were able to make and use tools and used language (which is the most important of all). HUMANS ARE APES we share a significant amount of genetic code. Our closest relative is the chimpanzee. Homosapiens spread out so quickly that wetook all the resources and killed off the Neanderthals.Lecture 4 (January 26)What is perception? A subjective interpretation of reality. You learn most from emotional memories; emotions inhibit frontal lobe functioning. Lecture 5 (January 28)What is the Mcgurk Effect? You experience a distortion and your modes (sight and sound in this case) are not working in 100% cohesion. What is neuroplasticity? Neuroplasticity is the nervous system’s potential for physical or chemical change that enhances its adaptability to environmental change and its ability to compensate for injury. The PNS is in control of the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.What is the somatic nervous system? The somatic nervous system is the part of the PNS that includes the cranial and spinal nerves to and from the muscles, joints, and skin that produce movement, transmit incoming sensory input and inform the CNS about the position and movement of body parts.What is the autonomic nervous system? The autonomic nervous system is a part of the PNS that regulates the functioning of organs and glands. Also contains the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. What is the sympathetic nervous system? It is arousing- decides fight or flight. What is the parasympathetic nervous system? It counteracts the sympathetic; calms you down.Afferent- incoming information (ex: fingertips to brain)Efferent- outgoing information (ex: brain to fingertips)Lecture 6 (January 30)TermsDorsal- up towards headVentral- going down, belowMedial- toward the middleLateral- moving outwards/to the sideAnterior- front of head/bodyPosterior- back of head/bodyCoronal- cut vertically from the crown of the head down; used in reference to the plane of a brain section that reveals a frontal viewHorizontal- cut along the horizon; used in reference to the plane of a brain section that reveals a dorsal viewSagittal- cut lengthways from front to back of the skull; the plane that reveals a view into the brain from the side; a cut in the midsagittal plane divides the brain into symmetrical halves, a medial view.What are meninges? Meninges are the three layers of protective tissue that encase the brain and spinal cord; in this order (lateral to medial) dura mater, arachnoid, pia mater.What is the corpus callosum? The corpus callosum is a band of white matter (axons-neurons) containing about 200 million nerve fibers that connects the two cerebral hemispheres to providea route for direct communication.What are the 4 lobes of the brain and what are their functions? 1.) Frontal- executive functioning(decision making); where your “conscience” is located. 2.) Parietal- goal oriented movement, movements toward goals (tasks such as grasping), sensory integration (putting sights and soundstogether) and navigation. 3.) Occipital- visual processing. 4.) Temporal- hearing, language and musical abilities. Lecture 7 (February 2)TermsSulcus- fissure; a groove in the brain matterGyrus- a protrusion or bump in the brain matterWhat are the 6 main fissures/gyruses in the brain? Longitudinal fissure (lonest fissure in the brain, precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, central fissure, lateral fissure, and superior gyrus.What is classified as gray matter? Gray matter is areas of the nervous system composed predominately as cell bodies and capillary blood vessels that function either to collect and modify