BIOLOGICALBASESOFBEHAVIORnotes..doc

BIOLOGICAL BASES OF BEHAVIOR THE HUMAN BRAIN The influence of biology (sometimes called the neuroscience or biopsychological perspective) is growing. Some researchers predict that someday psychology will be a specialty within the field of biology. An understanding of the biological principles relevant to psychology is needed to understand current psychological thinking. The human brain consists of three major divisions; hindbrain, midbrain, and forebrain Major Division Subdivision Structures Prosencephalon(Forebrain) Telencephalon Neocortex; Basal Ganglia; Amygdala; Hippocampus; Lateral Ventricles Diencephalon Thalamus; Hypothalamus; Epithalamus; Third Ventricle Mesencephalon(Midbrain) Mesencephalon Tectum; Tegmentum; Cerebral Aqueduct Rhombencephalon(Hindbrain) Metencephalon Cerebellum; Pons; Fourth Ventricle Myelencephalon Medulla Oblongata; Fourth Ventricle Brain Structure Hindbrain- structures in the top part of the spinal cord, controls basic biological functions that keep us alive. Medulla- controls blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing Pons- connects the hindbrain with the mid and forebrain, also involved in the control of facial expressions Cerebellum- portion of the lower brain that coordinates and organizes bodily movements for balance and accuracy. 2 Midbrain-between the hind and forebrain, coordinates simple movements with sensory information. Forebrain- controls what we think of as thought and reason. Thalamus- portion of the lower brain that functions primarily as a central relay station for incoming and outgoing messages from the body to the brain and the brain to the body Hypothalamus- portion of the lower brain that regulates basic needs (hunger, thirst) and emotions such as pleasure, fear, rage, and sexuality Amygdala and Hippocampus- two arms surrounding the thalamus, important in how we process and perceive memory and emotion NOTE: The three parts above are grouped together and called the limbic system because t