Brain and Behavior

Brain and Behavior
Knowledge
Techniques used to study the brain in relation to
behavior
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Provides a three dimensional picture of brain structures
Works by detecting changes in the use of oxygen in the blood; when an area in the
brain is more active, it uses more oxygen
Used to detect structural changes in the brain in cases of brain damage or illness
Strengths
Provides the opportunity to see inside the working brain as it operates by mapping
active brain areas
good resolution
can be used to identify problems with blood circulation since MRIs are useful in
showing blood flows
safe to use since there’s no radioactive materials
Localization of function
Localization of function is the theory that certain areas of the brain are responsible
for certain psychological functions.
This theory rests on the principle of the biological approach that behavior may be
the product of brain structure.
The three major parts of the brain are:
1. midbrain
2. forebrain
Brain and Behavior 1

3. hindbrain
The forebrain is comprised of the cerebral cortex covering the brain from the
outside. The cerebral cortex is divided into four sections, which are the frontal lobe,
parietal lobe, occipital lobe and temporal lobe.
The hindbrain is comprised of cerebellum, medulla and the brainstem.
The midbrain consists of the limbic system. The limbic system includes the
hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, and thalamus.
Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to change through the making and breaking
of synaptic connections between neurons. When we learn, the brain gradually
reshapes itself. If two nearby neurons are frequently activated at the same time, a
synaptic connection between them may gradually form (this process is called
dendritic branching). If two neurons are rarely activated together, the existing
connection may gradually fall apart (this process is called synaptic pruning).
Synaptic pruning forms neural network.
1. Unused synapses are pruned, which increases the effectiveness of the more
commonly used neural circuits.
2. It helps to strengthen neural networks by getting rid of unused ones.
3. it can be studied by using MRI scanners.
Dendritic branching in detail:
Dendritic branching is when the dendrites of the neurons grow in numbers and connect
with other neurons. The brain reorganizes itself and new connections are formed
between intact neurons. The neurons connect to create a new trace in the brain.
Neurotransmitters and their effect on behavior

The nervous system is a system of neurons or the nerve cells.
Neurotransmission: The process by which electrochemical messages are sent to

the brain. This is how people respond to stimuli from the environment or from
internal changes in the body.

Synaptic transmission: When an action potential travels down the axon of the
neuron, it releases neurotransmitters that are stored in the neuron’s terminal
buttons. The neurotransmitters are then released into the synapse, which is a gap
between the neurons.
After crossing the synapse, the neurotransmitters bind to receptor sites on the post-
synaptic membrane, like a key in a lock. Once the message is passed on, the
neurotransmitters are either broken down by an enzyme, or reabsorbed by the
terminal buttons in a process called reuptake.
Action potential: The electrical impulse that travels along the body of the neuron.
Neurotransmitters are the body’s natural chemical messengers that transmit

information from one neuron to another.
Two groups neurotransmitters are divided into:
1. Excitatory neurotransmitters allow the impulse to cross the synapse. They could
generate stimulating effects on the brain because they depolarize the neuron. By
depolarizing the neuron, the possibility of a neuron firing increases.
2. Inhibitory neurotransmitters prevent impulse from crossing the synapse. They

produce calming effects on the brain because they decreases the likelihood of a
neuron firing by hyperpolarizing the neuron.
Antagonists are chemicals that counteract a neurotransmitter by blocking the

receptor site and so prevent an impulse from being passed further. By doing this,
antagonists reduce the effect of neurotransmitters. Antagonists can be drugs or
neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are endogenous antagonists.
An agonist is any chemical that causes receptor sites to lead to the firing of a
neuron.
Experiment
Maguire et al.
Aim: To examine whether structural changes could be detected in the brain of
people with extensive experience of spatial navigation.

Procedure: The brains of 16 right-handed male London taxi drivers were MRI
scanned. The brains of 50 right-handed males who did not drive taxi were also MRI
scanned as a control group.
Sample: The taxi drivers have their license for at least 1.5 years and have
completed the ‘Knowledge test’. The sample included a range of ages so that age
would not be a confounding variable.
Results:
1. The posterior hippocampus of taxi drivers were significantly larger relative to those
of control subjects.
2. The anterior hippocampus were significantly smaller relative to those of control

subjects.
3. The volume of the right posterior hippocampi correlated with the amount of time
spent as a taxi driver. No differences were observed in other parts of the brain.
This demonstrates that the hippocampus may change in response to environmental
demands.
Antonova et al.
Aim: to examine the effect of scopolamine or blocking ACh receptors on
hippocampal function, more specifically spatial memory, using fMRIs
Procedure: The sample included 20 male adults with the average age of 28 years
old. They were randomly allocated into two groups where one group will be injected
with scopolamine and the other group with placebo.
fMRI scanners were used to invesetigate the activation of the hippocampi of

participants. The participants completed their spatial memory task by playing the
virtual reality game 'Arena Task' and recalling the memory of reaching a pole in the
arena after a 30 second break from the game.
During the break, the participants actively rehearsed the process of getting to the
pole when they were playing the game before. The participants were creating
spatial memories.
After three to four weeks, the experiment was repeated where the participants were
assigned with a different chemical to inject.

Results: The result is that the participants who were injected with scopolamine took
longer time and made more mistakes when they used their spatial memory to reach
the pole after the 30 second break. The fMRI scans demonstrated a significant
reduction in the activation of the hippocampus when the participants were injected
with scopolamine.
Strengths:
1)variables are controlled-->internal validity
2)cause-effect relationship can be established to some extent
3)random allocation, double blind, repeated measures design---> decrease participant

bias
4)replicable-->increase reliability
5)researcher triangulation-->decrease researcher bias 6)control group-->a point of

comparison-->increase accuracy
Link with techniques

The data were collected using structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which
collects data about the structure or anatomy of the brain. The MRI scanner works by
exposing participants’ brains to a strong magnetic field and radio waves to produce
detailed pictures of the brain.
Link with LOF

Maguire et al. concluded that the results provide evidence for structural differences
between the hippocampi of London taxi drivers and control participants, therefore
suggesting that extensive practice with spatial navigation affects the hippocampus.
Thus, mind map of London should be stored in the posterior hippocampus and is
accommodated by an increase in tissue volume.
Link with neuroplasticity

Maguire link to synaptic pruning
The hippocampi constitutes pruning in one area and developing neural networks in the
other—smaller volume of anterior hippocampi. By repeatedly firing the neurons required

for the drivers to remember the spatial layout of London, the number of synapses was
increased, creating a greater neural network—bigger posterior hippocampus
Link with neurotransmitters and their effect on behavior

Acetycholine is an example of excitatory neurotransmitter. ACh plays a role 1) in the
consolidation of memory in the hippocampus (therefore in hippocampus there is high
concentration of ACh receptor sites) 2)learning 3)muscle contraction when it acts on
motor neurons. Scopolamine is the antagonist of ACh. It blocks the ACh receptor site,
reducing the effect of ACh.

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Brain and Behavior

The three major parts of the brain are:

Brain and Behavior 1

The hindbrain is comprised of cerebellum, medulla and the brainstem.

Synaptic pruning forms neural network.

2. It helps to strengthen neural networks by getting rid of unused ones.

3. it can be studied by using MRI scanners.

Dendritic branching in detail:

Neurotransmitters and their effect on behavior

Neurotransmission: The process by which electrochemical messages are sent to

Brain and Behavior 2

Neurotransmitters are the body’s natural chemical messengers that transmit

Two groups neurotransmitters are divided into:

2. Inhibitory neurotransmitters prevent impulse from crossing the synapse. They

Antagonists are chemicals that counteract a neurotransmitter by blocking the

Brain and Behavior 3

2. The anterior hippocampus were significantly smaller relative to those of control

fMRI scanners were used to invesetigate the activation of the hippocampi of

Brain and Behavior 4

1)variables are controlled-->internal validity

2)cause-effect relationship can be established to some extent

3)random allocation, double blind, repeated measures design---> decrease participant

5)researcher triangulation-->decrease researcher bias 6)control group-->a point of

Link with techniques

Link with LOF

Link with neuroplasticity

Brain and Behavior 5

Link with neurotransmitters and their effect on behavior

Brain and Behavior 6

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