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Brain and Behavior lecture notes
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Notes on all the lectures of Brain and Behavior.
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Brain and behaviourContents
Chapter 1...............................................................................................................................................2
Chapter 2...............................................................................................................................................4
Chapter 3...............................................................................................................................................7
Chapter 4...............................................................................................................................................8
Chapter 5...............................................................................................................................................9
Chapter 6.............................................................................................................................................11
Chapter 7.............................................................................................................................................13
Chapter 8.............................................................................................................................................15
Chapter 9.............................................................................................................................................17
Chapter 10...........................................................................................................................................20
Chapter 11...........................................................................................................................................22
Chapter 12...........................................................................................................................................23
Chapter 13...........................................................................................................................................25
Chapter 14...........................................................................................................................................27
,Chapter 1
What is the brain?
The brain is an organ made of nervous tissue (neurons and glial cells)
Behaviour = any form of observable (re)action of a person/animal in response to
external or internal stimuli
Behaviour is a mix of inherited and learned actions
o Smaller and simple nervous system: narrower range of behaviours that
depend mainly on heredity
o Larger and complex nervous system: more complex behavioural patterns
that depend on learning
Most behaviour is not innate but acquired
Relationship between brain (physical, living) and behaviour(non-physical, observable)
1. Evolution in human and animal species
2. Relationship in typical people
3. Brain changes in people with brain damage or dysfunction
A brief history of humankind
We share a common ancestor (Hominin) with chimpanzees, but we do not descend
from them. Men and chimpanzees only differ ~1% in their DNA. Our common ancestor
originated about 5 million years ago, but we are the only surviving Hominin species.
Encephalization quotient (EQ) = actual brain ¿ ¿ expected brain ¿ relative ¿ body weight ¿ ¿
Our brain weight has tripled in 4 million years
time. Modern humans have the largest brain size
relative to body weight. This is due to lifestyle
adjustments, such as larger social group size,
different eating patterns, and more time for social
interaction. We also developed a more efficient
way of brain cooling with circulation of blood
functioning as a radiator. Lastly, it can be
accounted for with neoteny, which means that
humans retain a lot of juvenile features when
becoming an adult.
A larger brain does not mean higher intellectual
capacity!
The nervous system’s functional anatomy
The brain is not static, as it does not remain unchanged throughout life. Neural tissue in
the brain has the ability to adapt to the world (plasticity).
Brain-body orientation
1. Dorsal, dorsum = back
2. Ventral, venter = belly
3. Medial, medialis = middle
4. Lateral, lateralis = side
5. Anterior = before, in front of
6. Posterior = after, behind
, Spatial orientation illustrates brain structure location in relation to other body parts and
body orientation.
1. Rostral, rostrum = beak
2. Caudal, caudum = tail
3. Superior = above
4. Inferior = below
Anatomic orientation = direction of a cut or section through the human brain from the
perspective of the viewer.
Meninges
1. Dura mater = double-layered
membrane with a lot of nerve cells,
highly vascular, tough
2. Arachnoid layer = spider web like
structure
3. Pia mater = soft, clings towards the
brain, highly vascular
The subarachnoid space is filled with Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) which collects waste
products from the brain and thereby supports metabolism.
Two major types of strokes
1. Ischemic
Blockage of blood vessel by clot. Brain is derived from blood and thus oxygen
supply, which makes brain tissue die off.
2. Haemorrhagic (more severe)
Burst of vessel bleeding into the brain. Blood invades the surrounding tissue, which
leads to (diffused) damage.
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