Psychology 2606Psychology 2606

Dr. David BrodbeckDr. David Brodbeck

History and Origins of the Study of History and Origins of the Study of Brain and BehaviourBrain and Behaviour

o The course is about the relationship The course is about the relationship between brain and behaviourbetween brain and behaviour

o This is a question that has involved many This is a question that has involved many people, philosophers, physicians, people, philosophers, physicians, psychologists and neuroscientistspsychologists and neuroscientists

o Once we define a couple of terms (notably Once we define a couple of terms (notably ‘brain’ and ‘behaviour’) we can look at how ‘brain’ and ‘behaviour’) we can look at how these different groups of people have these different groups of people have looked at the relationshiplooked at the relationship

What is brain?What is brain? Well you can kick itWell you can kick it TissueTissue OrganOrgan Is it just that wrinkly Is it just that wrinkly

thing in your head?thing in your head? Technically yesTechnically yes

However, you cannot However, you cannot do certain behaviours do certain behaviours without say a spinal without say a spinal cordcord

Brain brain brainBrain brain brainSo, while the definition of brain really So, while the definition of brain really

means just the thing in the head, we will means just the thing in the head, we will have to concentrate not only on the brain have to concentrate not only on the brain itself but on the cerebellum, spinal column itself but on the cerebellum, spinal column and indeed other parts of the nervous and indeed other parts of the nervous system if we want to relate the brain to system if we want to relate the brain to behaviour.behaviour.

The ‘Mind-body’ problemThe ‘Mind-body’ problem

The Nervous systemThe Nervous systemCentral Nervous system (CNS)Central Nervous system (CNS)

Brain, spinal column, cerebellumBrain, spinal column, cerebellumCommunication is neuralCommunication is neural

Peripheral Nervous system (PNS)Peripheral Nervous system (PNS)Nerves that make you move basicallyNerves that make you move basicallyCommunication is neuralCommunication is neural

How does it work?How does it work?Bicep curl for exampleBicep curl for exampleMuscle needs an agonist and an Muscle needs an agonist and an

antagonistantagonistMotor neuron sends message to bicep to Motor neuron sends message to bicep to

curl upcurl upSensory neuron tells you when to stopSensory neuron tells you when to stopSimple behaviour LOTS of neuronsSimple behaviour LOTS of neurons

In a Moth’s Ear….In a Moth’s Ear…. Moth Ear basically Moth Ear basically

has two neurons A1 has two neurons A1 and A2and A2

They are not They are not frequency sensitive, frequency sensitive, but do not respond to but do not respond to low frequencieslow frequencies

Those would be some tiny Q Those would be some tiny Q tips…..tips…..

Do Moths Have Ear Wax?Do Moths Have Ear Wax? A1 is responsive to A1 is responsive to

intensityintensity More firing with closer More firing with closer

batbat A2 only fires with very A2 only fires with very

loud soundsloud sounds A2 fires, bat must be A2 fires, bat must be

very closevery close

Moths and Bats, Charts and Moths and Bats, Charts and GraphsGraphs

A1 on the left fires, that A1 on the left fires, that wing beats fasterwing beats faster

Moth’s course corrects to Moth’s course corrects to 180 degrees from bat180 degrees from bat

So very and totally coolSo very and totally cool A2, go crazyA2, go crazy 2 neuron ear can encode 2 neuron ear can encode

where a predator in in 3 where a predator in in 3 dimensional space!!!dimensional space!!!

Autonomic Nervous SystemAutonomic Nervous System Different communication than in the CNS and Different communication than in the CNS and

PNSPNS Not neural, more chemicalNot neural, more chemical Hormones secreted into bloodstream by Hormones secreted into bloodstream by

‘ductless glands’‘ductless glands’ Pituitary gland is the master glandPituitary gland is the master gland Example, pituitary controls release of pitocin and Example, pituitary controls release of pitocin and

oxytocin which start labouroxytocin which start labour Another example, effects of testosterone on Another example, effects of testosterone on

spatial abilityspatial ability psychoneuroendocrinologypsychoneuroendocrinology

BehaviourBehaviour And you thought our brain definition was And you thought our brain definition was

amorphous…amorphous… What is behaviour?What is behaviour? 11 :: the manner of conducting oneself the manner of conducting oneself 2 a2 a :: anything that an organism does involving anything that an organism does involving

action and response to stimulation action and response to stimulation bb :: the the response of an individual, group, or species to response of an individual, group, or species to its environment —its environment —be·hav·ior·albe·hav·ior·al or chiefly Britishor chiefly British be·hav·iour·albe·hav·iour·al /-vy&-r&l/ /-vy&-r&l/ adjectiveadjective — —be·hav·ior·al·lybe·hav·ior·al·ly or chiefly Britishor chiefly British be·hav·iour·al·lybe·hav·iour·al·ly /-r&-lE/ /-r&-lE/ adverbadverb

HmmmmmmmmmmHmmmmmmmmmmAction and response to stimuli ehAction and response to stimuli eh

Stimuli, well, we tend to think of those as Stimuli, well, we tend to think of those as being external thingsbeing external things

But we can oh imagine pizza, and then have a But we can oh imagine pizza, and then have a reaction….reaction….

An organism, so a plant can behave?An organism, so a plant can behave?As a rule, dictionary definitions suck. As a rule, dictionary definitions suck. Behaviour is some observable reaction Behaviour is some observable reaction

that has no obvious substancethat has no obvious substance

OK Mr. smart guy what does OK Mr. smart guy what does behaviour mean?behaviour mean?

That’s Dr. Smart Guy to you….That’s Dr. Smart Guy to you….Action of an organism having cause and Action of an organism having cause and

functionfunctionSo, in the moth example, the cause is the So, in the moth example, the cause is the

sound, the function is evasionsound, the function is evasionThis will include both learned behaviour This will include both learned behaviour

and inherited stuffand inherited stuffNot all behaviour has an obvious functionNot all behaviour has an obvious function

Some historySome historyFirst the earth cooled, then the dinosaurs First the earth cooled, then the dinosaurs

ruled the world, then they died cuz of ruled the world, then they died cuz of some big meteor, then the people showed some big meteor, then the people showed up…up…

Even early humans probably wondered Even early humans probably wondered about why we do what we doabout why we do what we do

Then we started hanging around in townsThen we started hanging around in towns

AristotleAristotle Believed that the Believed that the

heart was the seat of heart was the seat of behaviourbehaviour

He noted the He noted the importance of the importance of the brain (but it was for brain (but it was for cooling blood he cooling blood he figured)figured)

British EmpiricistsBritish Empiricists Thomas Hobbes Thomas Hobbes

(1588-1679)(1588-1679) Contents of mind rest Contents of mind rest

on experienceon experience John Locke (1632-John Locke (1632-

1704)1704) ‘‘white paper’ or white paper’ or tabula tabula

rasarasa

Rene DescartesRene Descartes Descartes said that Descartes said that

we were machines we were machines with a soulwith a soul

The notion was that The notion was that the mind and the the mind and the body were separatebody were separate

Animals have no soulAnimals have no soul

And yadda yadda yadda….And yadda yadda yadda….By the 19By the 19thth century people were talking century people were talking

about psychologyabout psychologyStill the philosophers held swayStill the philosophers held swayLast half of the 19Last half of the 19thth century changed this century changed thisThe zeitgeist of the time changedThe zeitgeist of the time changed

What the hell does zeitgeist mean?What the hell does zeitgeist mean?

I don’t speak freaky deaky Dutch Mr. I don’t speak freaky deaky Dutch Mr. GoldmemberGoldmember

The spirit of historyThe spirit of historyThe enlightenment of the 18The enlightenment of the 18thth century was century was

affecting the common personaffecting the common personScience and technology could explain Science and technology could explain

everythingeverything

GesundheitGesundheit Even the origins of Even the origins of

humanity could be humanity could be explained without explained without appealing to religion!appealing to religion!

Charles Darwin and Charles Darwin and the Origin of Speciesthe Origin of Species

So like you could So like you could figure out anything figure out anything with science!!with science!!

Natural SelectionNatural SelectionThe Theory of Natural Selection is so The Theory of Natural Selection is so

simple that anyone can misunderstand simple that anyone can misunderstand it…. (it…. (AnonymousAnonymous))

Charles Darwin (1809-1882) saw three Charles Darwin (1809-1882) saw three problems in need of a solution. problems in need of a solution. Darwin was not the only one to see these Darwin was not the only one to see these

problems BTWproblems BTWOther ‘Naturalists’ were struggling with the Other ‘Naturalists’ were struggling with the

same issuessame issues

Problem the FirstProblem the FirstThere is change over time in the flora and There is change over time in the flora and

fauna of the Earthfauna of the EarthWhat we would commonly call ‘evolution’ What we would commonly call ‘evolution’

todaytodayThe fossil record showed this to be pretty The fossil record showed this to be pretty

clear, even to people in the mid 1800sclear, even to people in the mid 1800sThis was not controversial in Darwin’s time, This was not controversial in Darwin’s time,

and is not now.and is not now.

The Second ProblemThe Second ProblemThere is a taxonomic relationship among There is a taxonomic relationship among

living thingsliving thingsPeople were big into classifying stuffPeople were big into classifying stuff It was pretty obvious that there was a It was pretty obvious that there was a

relationship between different speciesrelationship between different speciesDifferent birds, different grasses, different cats etcDifferent birds, different grasses, different cats etc

The Third ProblemThe Third ProblemAdaptationAdaptation

Different kinds of teeth for different animals, Different kinds of teeth for different animals, say carnivore ripping teeth and herbivore say carnivore ripping teeth and herbivore grinding teethgrinding teeth

Different tissues within speciesDifferent tissues within speciesHeart vs. eye etc.Heart vs. eye etc.

The Solution!The Solution!Natural Selection provides a mechanistic Natural Selection provides a mechanistic

account of how these things occurred and account of how these things occurred and shows how they are intimately related.shows how they are intimately related.

It is one of those ‘oh man is that ever It is one of those ‘oh man is that ever easy, why didn’t I think of that?’ type easy, why didn’t I think of that?’ type things.things.

How’s it work?How’s it work?There is competition among living thingsThere is competition among living things

More are born or hatched or whatever, than More are born or hatched or whatever, than survive and reproducesurvive and reproduce

Reproduction occurs with variationReproduction occurs with variationThis variation is heritableThis variation is heritableRemember, there was NO genetics back then, Remember, there was NO genetics back then,

Chuck knew, he just knew….Chuck knew, he just knew….Realized that is wasn’t ‘blending’Realized that is wasn’t ‘blending’

How’s it Work?How’s it Work?Selection Determines which individuals Selection Determines which individuals

enter the adult breeding populationenter the adult breeding populationThis selection is done by the environmentThis selection is done by the environmentThose which are best suited reproduceThose which are best suited reproduceThey pass these well suited characteristics on They pass these well suited characteristics on

to their youngto their young

How’s it Work?How’s it Work? REPRODUCTION is the REPRODUCTION is the

key, not merely survivalkey, not merely survival If you survive to be 128 If you survive to be 128

but have no kids, you are but have no kids, you are not doing as well as I amnot doing as well as I am

I have reproduced…I have reproduced… Assuming the traits that Assuming the traits that

made me successful will made me successful will help them then I amore fit help them then I amore fit NOW than the 127 year NOW than the 127 year old guyold guy

This lecture keeps evolving…..This lecture keeps evolving…..Survival of the Fittest (which Chucky D Survival of the Fittest (which Chucky D

NEVER said) means those who have the NEVER said) means those who have the most offspring that reproducemost offspring that reproduce

So, the answer to the trilogy of problems So, the answer to the trilogy of problems is:is:

‘‘Descent with modification from a common Descent with modification from a common ancestor, NOT random modification, but, ancestor, NOT random modification, but, modification shaped by natural selection’modification shaped by natural selection’

So cause and functionSo cause and functionThe causal part of the behaviour definition The causal part of the behaviour definition

refers to the immediate cause, stimuli, that refers to the immediate cause, stimuli, that sort of thingsort of thing

Function is over evolutionary time usuallyFunction is over evolutionary time usuallyWhat does the behaviour accomplishWhat does the behaviour accomplishHow does it increase fitnessHow does it increase fitness

Human evolutionHuman evolutionWe split from the chimps about 5 million We split from the chimps about 5 million

years agoyears agoFor a long time we were basically not so For a long time we were basically not so

hairy short apeshairy short apesWhat happened?What happened?Diet change, maybeDiet change, maybeStanding up was keyStanding up was keyYou have to pump blood upYou have to pump blood up

Our Brains make us usOur Brains make us us If you get a heart so powerful that it can If you get a heart so powerful that it can

pump blood up, well you have lots of extra pump blood up, well you have lots of extra Oxygen and sugar you can useOxygen and sugar you can use

So get a bigger brain!So get a bigger brain!See we don’t have big teethSee we don’t have big teethWe can’t run that fast (without steroids…)We can’t run that fast (without steroids…)But, we can outsmart our preyBut, we can outsmart our prey

Ok so….Ok so….So you are saying that big brain means big So you are saying that big brain means big

smarts right?smarts right?Sorta, encephalization quotient ideaSorta, encephalization quotient idea

Food storing vs non storing birds and Hp Food storing vs non storing birds and Hp volumevolume

Within species?Within species?Harder to tellHarder to tell