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Biological Aspects Kimberley A. Clow [email protected] http://instruct.uwo.ca/psychology/257e-570 Office Hour: Thursdays 2-3pm Office: S302 Outline Welcome to the Brain The Nervous Systems – Neural Communication Extraversion – Return to Eysenck’s Arousal Theory – Gray’s Interpretation Sociobiology – Prosocial Behaviour & Learning – Mate Selection The Cortex Hemisphere Lateralization Gender Differences? Messages from Brain Travel by Nervous System Spinal Cord Brain Nerves The Central Nervous System is the Communications Highway of the body Somatic Nervous System Sensory Neurons – input from body to Central Nervous System Motor Neurons – output from Central Nervous System to control muscle movements Interneurons – sensory-motor relay within Central Nervous System Autonomic Nervous System Neurons are the Messengers Neurons – Information Processing Cells – 100 billion neurons in the brain! Neural Communication Types of Neurotransmitters Neurotransmitter Source and Function Acetylcholine (ACH) Controls muscles; attention and memory Alzheimer’s Disease Dopamine Controls muscles; can cause hallucinations Schizophrenia Endorphins Suppresses pain Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) Works against neurotransmitters, especially dopamine Norepinephrine Regulates mood; increases arousal and alertness Mood Disorders, Eating Disorders Serotonin Opposition to norepinephrine, suppresses activity, causes sleep Anxiety Disorders, Mood Disorders, Eating Disorders Brain Still in Control! Altering of neurotransmitters based on messages from brain Absence or overabundance can create whole new set of consequences Biology on Personality How do you show that personality has a biological basis? – Relate behaviours to brain structures – Heritability or genetic contributions Twin Studies – Observations in human & nonhuman animals – Evidence in many different cultures Cultural Universals – Stability over time Remember Eysenck? 3 Factors of Personality – Extraversion – Neuroticism – Psychoticism Eysenck’s Model Extraversion - Introversion Optimal Arousal Levels Gray Model of Responsiveness Dopamine & Extraversion? Encephalitis Lethargica ADHD Sociobiology Born from Darwin’s Theory of Evolution – Survival of the Fittest Too many people; Too few resources – Natural Selection Favours behaviours that maximize survival and reproductive success – The survival of your genes Inclusive Fitness – Your siblings and relations have your genes too! Prosocial Behaviour Nepotism in Action 80 60 % Helping 40 20 0 High Medium Low Degree of Relation None Learning Prepared Learning – Some things are easier to learn than others Language – We learn some associations but not others Animal Specific What’s Love Got to Do With It? Argument that “love” is just an adaptation to insure survival of the species – It keeps parents together to provide protection of offspring who require a lengthy period of development before they can fend for themselves – Evident in gender differences Mate selection Sexual Relations Desirable Qualities in Mate Views on Infidelity Human Reproductive Strategies Male Strategy – Inseminate as many females as possible – Promiscuous sexual behaviour – Devote only minimal resources to child care Female Strategy – Choose mate very carefully – Monogamous sexual behaviour – Remain attached to mate for resources When to Have Sex Number of Partners Chastity Success Physical Attractiveness Age Fidelity What would bother you more? – Sexual Infidelity – Emotional Infidelity
