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▼LECTURE LAUNCHERS AND DISCUSSION TOPICS
2.1 – The Cranial Nerves
2.2 – Neurotransmitters: Chemical Communicators of the Nervous System
2.3 – Exceptions to the Rules
2.4 – The Glue of Life: Neuroglial Cells
2.5 – Hormone Imbalances
2.6 – Psychophysiological Measurement
2.7 – Berger’s Wave
2.8 – Lie Detectors 2.0
2.9 – Handedness, Eyedness, Footedness, Facedness
2.10 – Brain Metaphors
2.11 – Brain’s Bilingual Broca
2.12 – The Importance of a Wrinkled Cortex
2.13 – A New Look at Phineas Gage
2.14 – Freak Accidents and Brain Injuries
2.15 – The Results of a Hemispherectomy
2.16 – En Garde: Dualism versus Monism
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Lecture Launcher 2.1 – The Cranial Nerves
The textbook discusses various divisions of the nervous system. You may want to add a description of
the cranial nerves to your outline of the nervous system. Although the function of the cranial nerves is not
different from that of the sensory and motor nerves in the spinal cord, they do not enter and leave the
brain through the spinal cord. There are 12 cranial nerves (numbered 1 to 12 and ordered from the front
to the back of the brain) that primarily transmit sensory information and control motor movements of the
face and head. The 12 cranial nerves are:
1. Olfactory. A sensory nerve that transmits odor information from the olfactory receptors to the
brain.
2. Optic. A sensory nerve that transmits information from the retina to the brain.
3. Oculomotor. A motor nerve that controls eye movements, the iris (and therefore pupil size), lens
accommodation, and tear production.
4. Trochlear. A motor nerve that is also involved in controlling eye movements.
5. Trigeminal. A sensory and motor nerve that conveys somatosensory information from receptors in
the face and head and controls muscles involved in chewing.
6. Abducens. Another motor nerve involved in controlling eye movements.
7. Facial. Conveys sensory information and controls motor and parasympathetic functions
associated with facial muscles, taste, and the salivary glands.
8. Auditory-vestibular. A sensory nerve with two branches, one of which transmits information from
the auditory receptors in the cochlea and the other conveys information concerning balance from
the vestibular receptors in the inner ear.
13 CHAPTER 2 NEURONS, HORMONES, AND THE BRAIN
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9. Glossopharyngeal. This nerve conveys sensory information and controls motor and
parasympathetic functions associated with the taste receptors, throat muscles, and salivary
glands.
10. Vagus. Primarily transmits sensory information and controls autonomic functions of the internal
organs in the thoracic and abdominal cavities.
11. Spinal accessory. A motor nerve that controls head and neck muscles.
12. Hypoglossal. A motor nerve that controls tongue and neck muscles.
As is their custom, medical students have developed several mnemonics for memorizing the cranial
nerves. Some of the family-friendly ones include:
On Old Olympus’ Tiny Tops, A Friendly Viking Grew Vines And Hops
Oh Once One Takes The Anatomy Final Very Good Vacations Are Heavenly
One Of Our Two Timing Adults Found Very Good Values At Home
On Occasion Our Trusty Truck Acts Funny. Very Good Vehicle Any How
Orlando’s Overweight Octopuses Try To Avoid Fuddrucker’s And Grabbing Vienna Sausage Hamburgers
On Our Overseas Trip To Argentina Found Very Grand Villas And Huts
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Lecture Launchers 2.2 –
Neurotransmitters: Chemical Communicators of the Nervous System
In 1921, Otto Loewi put two living hearts in a fluid bath that kept them beating. He stimulated the vagus
nerve of one of the hearts. This is a bundle of neurons that serves the parasympathetic nervous system
and causes a reduction in the heart’s rate of beating. A substance was released by the nerve of the first
heart and was transported through the fluid to the second heart. The second heart reduced its rate of
beating. The substance released from the vagus nerve of the first heart was later identified as
acetylcholine, one of the first neurotransmitters to be identified. Although many other neurotransmitters
have now been identified, we continue to think of acetylcholine as one of the most important
neurotransmitters. For example, curare is a poison that was discovered by South American Indians, who
put it on the tips of the darts they shoot from their blowguns. Curare blocks acetylcholine receptors, and
paralysis of internal organs results. The victim is unable to breathe and eventually dies. As another
example, a substance in the venom of black widow spiders stimulates release of acetylcholine at
synapses. More commonly, botulism toxin, found in improperly canned foods, blocks release of
acetylcholine at the synapses and has a deadly effect. It takes less than one millionth of a gram of this
toxin to kill a person. Finally, a deficit of acetylcholine is associated with Alzheimer’s disease, which
afflicts a high percentage of older adults.
Many neurotransmitters have been identified in the years since 1921, and there is increasing evidence of
their importance in human behavior. Psychoactive drugs affect consciousness because of their effects on
synaptic transmission. For example, cocaine and the amphetamines prolong the action of certain
neurotransmitters and opiates imitate the action of natural neuromodulators called endorphins. It appears
that the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin are associated with some of the most
severe forms of mental illness.
Loewi, O. (1921). Über humorale übertragbarkeit der herznervenwirkung. [About humoral transmissibility of the heart nervous
system] Pflüger’s Archiv für die gesamte Physiologie des Menschen und der Tiere, [Pflüger’s Archive for the Whole
Physiology of Man and Animals], 189(1), 239-242.
Loewi, O. (1960). An autobiographic sketch. Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, 4(1), 3-25.
14 CHAPTER 2 NEURONS, HORMONES, AND THE BRAIN
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Lecture Launcher 2.3 – Exceptions to the Rules
In an introductory psychology class, students learn the basic rules that generally govern neuronal
communication. In many cases, however, the exceptions to these rules may be as important as the rules
themselves. Several of these exceptions are described below.
Rule #1: Neuron to neuron signaling is chemical, not electrical.
Exception: Gap junctions
Although it is generally the case that a neuron’s electrical signal must first be converted to a chemical
signal in order excite or inhibit another neuron, this is not always the case. Some neurons have gap
junctions, which connect their intracellular fluids. This means that the electrical signal can flow directly
from one neuron to another. Unlike chemical synapses, most electrical synapses formed by gap junctions
are bi-directional, meaning that electrical signals can travel in both directions through the gap junctions.
Gap junctions also contain gates, which can be closed to prevent the electrical signal from being passed
to the neighboring neuron.
Rule #2: Axons always synapse on dendrites.
Exception: Axo-axonic and axosomatic synapses
Axons can form synapses on all parts of a postsynaptic neuron. Synapses located on the soma (i.e., cell
body) of a neuron are often inhibitory. In other words, transmitters released at these axosomatic
synapses make it harder for the postsynaptic neuron to reach the threshold for generating an action
potential. When an axon synapses on the axon of another neuron, it is called an axo-axonic synapse.
Because these synapses usually occur near the end of the axon, they have no effect on whether the post
synaptic cell generates an axon potential or not. Instead, axo-axonic synapses usually modulate how
much neurotransmitter is released from the postsynaptic neuron.
Rule #3: Action potentials only travel in one direction.
Exception: Back-propagating action potentials
Action potentials begin at the axon hillock, where the axon emerges from the soma. From there, the
action potential travels down the axon, and away from the soma. At the same time however, a back-
propagating action potential can travel from the axon hillock, through the soma, and into the dendrites.
Back-propagating action potentials are thought to affect the functioning of receptors located in the soma
and dendrites.
Kandel, E., Schwartz, J., & Jessell, T. (2012). Principles of neural science (5
th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
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Lecture Launcher 2.4 – The Glue of Life: Neuroglial Cells
Glia is derived from the Greek word for glue and is an appropriate name for the cells that surround all
neurons, sealing them together. Glial cells outnumber neurons ten to one, and, although tiny in size, still
make up half of the brain’s bulk. Unlike neurons, glia do not possess excitable membranes and so cannot
transmit information in the way neurons do. Yet so many thousands of cells must be there for some
purpose.
15 CHAPTER 2 NEURONS, HORMONES, AND THE BRAIN
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Researchers studying the brain have suggested that glia can take up, manufacture, and release chemical
transmitters, and so may help to maintain or regulate synaptic transmission. Other researchers suggest
that glia can manufacture and possibly transmit other kinds of molecules, such as proteins. The anatomy
of some glial cells is striking in this regard, for they seem to form a conduit between blood vessels and
neurons, and so may bring nourishment to the neurons. It is thought that these cells may have important
functions during prenatal development and recovery from brain injury. One role of the glia is known
definitely: certain kinds of glia, called by the tongue-twisting name of oligodendroglia, form the myelin
sheath that insulates central nervous system axons and speeds conduction of the nerve impulse. A
counterpart called a Schwann cell performs the same role for the neurons that make up peripheral
nerves.
The study of glia is difficult because these tiny cells are inextricably entwined with neurons. As the most
numerous type of cell in the brain, their potential importance is vast, and investigation of their function
seems likely to yield exciting results in the near future.
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Lecture Launcher 2.5 – Hormone Imbalances
Various problems are caused by imbalances within the endocrine system. The following disorders and
medical problems are associated with abnormal levels within the pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands.
Pituitary malfunctions
Hypopituitary Dwarfism
If the pituitary secretes too little of its growth hormone during childhood, the person will be very small,
although normally proportioned.
Giantism
If the pituitary gland over-secretes the growth hormone while a child is still in the growth period, the long
bones of the body in the legs and other areas grow very, very long—a height of 9 feet is not unheard of.
The organs of the body also increase in size, and the person may have health problems associated with
both the extreme height and the organ size.
Acromegaly
If the over-secretion of the growth hormone happens after the major growth period is ended, the person’s
long bones will not get longer, but the bones in the face, hands, and feet will increase in size, producing
abnormally large hands, feet, and facial bone structure. The famous wrestler/actor, Andre the Giant
(Andre Rousimoff), had this condition, as did the great actor Rondo Hatton.
Thyroid malfunctions
Hypothyroidism
In hypothyroidism, the thyroid does not secrete enough thyroxin, resulting in a slower than normal
metabolism. The person with this condition will feel sluggish and lethargic, have little energy, and tend to
be obese.
Hyperthyroidism
In hyperthyroidism, the thyroid secretes too much thyroxin, resulting in an overly active metabolism. This
person will be thin, nervous, tense, and excitable. He or she will also be able to eat large quantities of
food without gaining weight (oh, if only we came equipped with thyroid control knobs!).
Adrenal Gland Malfunctions
16 CHAPTER 2 NEURONS, HORMONES, AND THE BRAIN
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Among the disorders that can result from malfunctioning of the adrenal glands are Addison’s Disease
(which is caused by adrenal insufficiency) and Cushing’s Syndrome (caused by elevated levels of
cortisol). In the former, fatigue, low blood pressure, weight loss, nausea, diarrhea, and muscle weakness
are some of the symptoms, whereas for the latter, obesity, high blood pressure, a “moon” face, and poor
healing of skin wounds is common. John F. Kennedy, Helen Reddy, and (perhaps) Osama bin Laden
were well-known Addisonians.
If there is a problem with over-secretion of the sex hormones in the adrenals, virilism and premature
puberty are possible problems. Virilism results in women with beards on their faces and men with
exceptionally low, deep voices. Premature puberty, or full sexual development while still a child, is a result
of too many sex hormones during childhood. (Puberty is considered premature if it occurs before the age
of 8 in girls and 9 in boys.) Treatment is possible using hormones to control the appearance of symptoms,
but must begin early in the disorder.
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Lecture Launcher 2.6 – Psychophysiological Measurement
There are various strategies for measuring activity in the brain, especially recently developed techniques
such as PET, TMS, or MRI. There are, of course, other bodily systems and other techniques for
measuring them, many of which rely on the electrophysical activity of the body.
◼ EMG—Electromyography. An electromyogram records the action potential given off by
contracting muscle fibers. A common example is the recording of facial EMG, in which either inserted
electrodes or surface electrodes record the activity of muscles as they pose various expressions.
◼ EGG—Electrogastrography. Electrogastrograms provide a record of smooth muscle activity in
the abdomen. The contractions of the stomach or intestines, for example, can be measured by comparing
the readings from a surface electrode attached to the abdomen with those of an electrode attached to the
forearm. In the special case of measuring contractions in the esophagus, surface electrodes are attached
to a balloon, which is “swallowed” by the person being measured. EGG may be used successfully to gain
information about fear, anxiety, or other emotional states.
◼ EOG—Electrooculography. Readings from electrodes placed around the posterior of the eyes
are the basis for EOG. Electrical signals result from small saccadic eye movements as well as more gross
movements that can be directly observed. EOG can be used for measuring rapid eye movements during
sleep.
◼ EKG—Electrocardiography. EKG records changes in electrical potential associated with the
heartbeat. Electrodes are placed at various locations on the body, and their recordings yield five waves
that can be analyzed: P-waves, Q-waves, R-waves, S-waves, and T-waves. EKG may be used by
psychologists to supplement observations relevant to stress, heart disease, or Type A behavior patterns.
◼ EDA—Electrodermal activity. Formerly called galvanic skin response, skin resistance, and skin
conductance, EDA refers to the electrical activity of the skin. As activity in the sympathetic nervous
system increases it causes the eccrine glands to produce sweat. This activity of the eccrine glands can
be measured by EDA, regardless of whether or not sweat actually rises to the skin surface. The folklore of
“sweaty palms” associated with a liar might be measured using this technique.
◼ EEG—Electroencephalography. As discussed in the text, EEG provides information about the
electrical activity of the brain, as recorded by surface electrodes attached to the scalp. EEG has been
used in a variety of ways to gather information about brain activity under a wide range of circumstances.
17 CHAPTER 2 NEURONS, HORMONES, AND THE BRAIN
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◼ Pneumography—Pneumographs measure the frequency and amplitude of breathing, and are
obtained through a relatively straightforward procedure. A rubber tube placed around the chest expands
and contracts in response to the person’s inhalations and exhalations. These changes can then be
recorded with either an ink pen or electrical signal.
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Lecture Launcher 2.7 – Berger’s Wave
Ask if anyone knows what is meant by the term Berger’s wave. Explain that the study of electrical activity
in the brain was once limited to studies in which different kinds of measuring devices were attached to the
exposed brains of animals. Studies involving humans were rare; researchers could only measure the
electrical activity of the living human brain in individuals who had genetic defects of their skull bones that
caused the skin of their scalps to be in direct contact with the surfaces of their brains. Yuck!
All this changed when a German physicist named Hans Berger, after several years of painstaking
research, discovered that it was possible to amplify and measure the electrical activity of the brain by
attaching special electrodes to the scalp which, in turn, sent impulses to a machine that graphed them. In
his research, Berger discovered several types of waves, one of which he called the “alpha” wave for no
other reason than being the first one he discovered (“alpha” is the first letter of the Greek alphabet). He
kept his research a secret until he published an article about it in 1929. The alpha wave is also
sometimes called Berger’s wave in honor of Berger’s discovery.
Obviously, Berger achieved one of the most important discoveries in the history of neuroscience.
However, his life was not a happy one. Shortly after his article was published, the Nazis rose to power in
Germany, which greatly distressed him. In addition, his work wasn’t valued in Germany; he was far better
known in the United States. As a result, Berger fell into a deep depression in 1941 and hanged himself.
Gloor, P. (1969). Hans Berger and the discovery of the electroencephalogram. Electroencephalography and Clinical
Neurophysiology: Supplement 28, 1–36.
Millett, D. (2001). Hans Berger: From psychic energy to the EEG. Perspectives in Biological Medicine, 44 (4), 522–542.
Tudor, M., Tudor, L., & Tudor, K. I. (2005), Hans Berger (1873-1941): The history of electroencephalography. Acta medica
Croatica: Casopis Hravatske akademije medicinskih znanosti, 59 (4), 307-313.
Wiedemann, H. R. (1994). Hans Berger (1873-1941). European Journal of Pediatrics, 153(10), 705.
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Lecture Launcher 2.8 – Lie Detectors 2.0
A staple of police and lawyer television shows is the “lie detector scene,” in which the suspect is
connected to a polygraph and asked a series of questions about a crime. As the questions are asked, the
needles on the machine record the suspect’s heart rate, breathing, skin conductance, and other
physiological responses to the questions. Polygraphs have been used in this way by various law
enforcement agencies for many years. The principle behind the test is that the act of lying causes an
involuntary change in the autonomic nervous system, which can be detected by the polygraph. The
accuracy of polygraphs, however, is controversial, and in many courts they are inadmissible evidence.
More recently, some researchers have tried to create a new generation of lie detectors, which can
measure activity in the brain directly. These techniques look for patterns in the brain that, at least in
theory, correlate with lying.
One technique that might be adapted to lie detection is electroencephalography, more commonly referred
to as EEG. During an EEG recording, electrodes are placed at various locations on the scalp. These
electrodes are capable of measuring the electrical activity produced by neurons located in different parts
18 CHAPTER 2 NEURONS, HORMONES, AND THE BRAIN
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of the brain. Although the activity of individual neurons cannot be identified, the patterns of electrical
activity produced by thousands of neurons working together can be a sign that the brain is functioning in a
particular way. One way EEGs may be useful as lie detectors is by identifying event-related potentials
(ERPs). An ERP is a brief electrical change that occurs at a reliable time point relative to a specific event.
For example, it has been found that 300 to 500 ms after a person has been shown something that is
unexpected or novel, there is a brief electrical change in that person’s EEG. Theoretically, this ERP could
be used to determine if a subject has previous knowledge of a piece of evidence. For instance, an ERP
occurring 300 ms after being shown a picture of the murder weapon might indicate that the suspect had
not seen the murder weapon before.
More recently, fMRIs have been suggested as potential lie detectors. fMRI, or functional magnetic
resonance imaging, works by detecting the increase in blood flow to more active regions in the brain. This
is not to be confused with structural MRIs, which can only create an image of tissues, bones, and so on.
When a person performs a task in an fMRI machine (adding two numbers together for example), the brain
regions required to perform the task will become active. This activity will cause a change in blood flow,
which the fMRI can detect. It is possible that, because different brain regions are involved in recounting
an actual event than are involved in making up a story, an fMRI is capable of determining whether
someone is lying or telling the truth. Some researchers have found that, even if a lie is well rehearsed, it
nonetheless appears to activate different brain regions than telling the truth does.
Despite media interest in new forms of lie detection, many experts agree that the EEG and fMRI
approaches currently suffer from the same issues that polygraphs do. For example, although the newer
techniques measure brain activity much more directly, there is concern about their reliability. Although
certain brain activity might suggest that a person is lying, unless the technology can be made almost
100% accurate, innocent people may be accused of crimes they did not commit. Also, it is unclear
whether people could find ways to “trick” the machines by performing certain mental tasks during testing.
Until these questions can be answered, it is unlikely that the polygraph will be replaced any time soon.
Farah, M. J., Hutchinson, J. B., Phelps, E. A., & Wagner, A. D. (2014). Functional MRI-based lie detection: Scientific and
societal challenges. Nature Reviews | Neuroscience, 15, 123-131.
Ganis, G., Kosslyn, S., Stose, S., Thompson, W., & Yurgelun-Todd, D. (2003). Neural correlates of different types of deception:
An fMRI investigation. Cerebral Cortex, 13(8), 830-836.
Wolpe, P., Foster K., & Langleben D. (2005). Emerging neurotechnologies for lie-detection: Promises and perils. The American
Journal of Bioethics, 5(2), 39-49.
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Lecture Launcher 2.9 –
Handedness, Eyedness, Footedness, Facedness
Although the title sounds like a Dr. Seuss rhyme, it actually denotes something sensible to
neuropsychologists. Most people are familiar with the concept of handedness. The human population is
distributed across many people who are adept at using their right hands for most tasks, some who have
greater skill using the left hand, and a smaller proportion of those who are equally skilled using either
hand (or who alternate hands for certain tasks). The concepts of footedness, leggedness, eyedness, and
facedness may be less familiar to the layperson, although they stem from the same principle as
handedness.
The basis of these distinctions lies in the concept of laterality. Just as the cerebral hemispheres show
specialization (e.g., left hemisphere language functions, right hemisphere visual–spatial functions), so too
are there preferences or asymmetries in other body regions. The concept of eyedness, then, refers to the
preference for using one eye over another, such as when squinting to site down the crosshairs of a rifle or
to thread a needle. Footedness and leggedness similarly refer to a preference for one limb over the other;
drummers and soccer players will attest to the importance of being equally adept at using either foot and
to the difficulty in achieving that. Finally, facedness refers to the strength with which information is
19 CHAPTER 2 NEURONS, HORMONES, AND THE BRAIN
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conveyed by the right or left side of the face. It has been suggested that verbal information shows a right-
face bias, whereas emotional expressions are more strongly shown on the left side of the face, although
these conclusions remain somewhat controversial.
Why are these distinctions useful? They play their largest role in the areas of sensation and perception,
engineering psychology, and neuropsychology. Studies of reaction time, human–machine interaction,
ergonomic design, and so on take into account the preferences and dominance of some body systems
over others. In the case of facedness and emotional expression, researchers are working to illuminate the
link between facial expressions and cerebral laterality. Given the right hemisphere’s greater role in
emotional activities, the contralateral control between the right hemisphere and the left hemiface
becomes an important proving ground for investigating both brain functions and the qualities of
expression.
Borod, J. C., Caron, H. S., & Koff, E. (1981). Asymmetry of facial expression related to handedness, footedness, and
eyedness: A quantitative study. Cortex, 17, 381-390.
Ekman, P., Hagar, C. J., & Friesen, W. V. (1981). The symmetry of emotional and deliberate facial actions. Psychophysiology,
18, 101-106.
Forrester, G. S. (2017). Hand, limb, and other motor preferences. Lateralized Brain Functions: Methods in Human and Non-
Human Species, 121-152.
Friedlander, W. J. (1971). Some aspects of eyedness. Cortex, 7, 357-371.
Kozlovskiy, S. A., Marakshina, J. A., Vartanov, A. V., & Kiselnikov, A. A. (2016). ERP study of the influence of handedness and
eyedness on the response inhibition in a go/nogo task. International Journal of Psychophysiology, (108), 104.
McGuigan, F. J. (1994). Biological psychology: A cybernetic science. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Ross, E. D., Gupta, S. S., Adnan, A. M., Holden, T. L., Havlicek, J., & Radhakrishnan, S. (2016). Neurophysiology of
spontaneous facial expressions: I. Motor control of the upper and lower face is behaviorally independent in
adults. Cortex, 76, 28-42.
Sackheim, H. A., Gur, R. C., & Saucy, M. C. (1978). Emotions are expressed more intensely on the left side of the face.
Science, 202, 434-436.
Wang, Z., & Newell, K. M. (2013). Footedness exploited as a function of postural task asymmetry. Laterality: Asymmetries of
Body, Brain and Cognition, 18(3), 303-318.
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Lecture Launcher 2.10 – Brain Metaphors
Metaphors are a toolbox of handiness in psychology, because they help us to understand systems that
aren’t directly observable through reference to things that are more familiar and perhaps better
understood (Weiner, 1991). Our understanding of the human brain and its activity has been helped
through a reliance on metaphor. The metaphors used, however, have changed over time.
◼ Hydraulic models. Thinkers such as Galen and Descartes described the brain as a
pneumatic/hydraulic system, relying on the “new-fangled” plumbing systems dominant during their
lifetimes. Galen, for example, believed that the liver generated “spirits” or gases that flowed to the brain,
where they then formed “animal spirits” that flowed throughout the nervous system. Descartes expanded
on this view, adding that the pineal gland (the supposed seat of the soul) acted on the animal spirits to
direct reasoning and other behaviors. In short, the brain was a septic tank; storing, mixing, and directing
the flow of spirit gases throughout the body for the purposes of behavior and action.
◼ Mechanical and telephone models. With the advent of new technology came new metaphors
for the brain. During the Industrial Revolution machine metaphors dominated, and in particular the brain
was conceived as a complex mechanical apparatus involving (metaphorical) levers, gears, trip hammers,
and pulleys. During the 1920s, the brain developed into a slightly more sophisticated machine resembling
a switchboard; the new technology of the telephone provided a new metaphor. Inputs, patch cords,
outputs, and busy signals (though no “call waiting”) dominated explanations of brain activity. This
metaphor, however, faltered by viewing the brain as a system that shut down periodically, as when no
one was dialing a number. We now know, of course, that the brain is continually active.
20 CHAPTER 2 NEURONS, HORMONES, AND THE BRAIN
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◼ Computer models. Starting in the late 1950’s, metaphors for the brain relied on computer
technology. Input, output, memory, storage, information processing, and circuitry were all terms that
seemed equally suited to talking about computer chips or neurons. Although perhaps a better metaphor
than plumbing or telephones, the computer model eventually showed its shortcomings. As a descriptive
device, however, this metaphor can at least suggest limits in our understanding and point the way to
profitable areas of research.
Weiner, B. (1991). Metaphors in motivation and attribution. American Psychologist, 46, 921-930.
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Lecture Launcher 2.11 – Brain’s Bilingual Broca
Se potete parlare Italiano, allore potete capire questa sentenza. Of course, if you only speak English, you
probably only understand this sentence. If you speak both languages, then by this point in the paragraph
you should be really bored.
Bilingual speakers who come to their bilingualism in different ways show different patterns of brain
activity. Joy Hirsch (now at the Yale School of Medicine) and her colleagues at Memorial Sloan-Kettering
Cancer Center in New York monitored the activity in Broca’s area in the brains of bilingual speakers who
acquired their second language starting in infancy and compared it to the activity of bilingual speakers
who adopted a second language in their teens. Participants were asked to silently recite brief descriptions
of an event from the previous day, first in one language and then in the other. An fMRI was taken during
this task. All of the 12 adult speakers were equally fluent in both languages, used both languages equally
often, and represented speakers of English, French, and Turkish, among other tongues.
Hirsch and her colleagues found that among the infancy-trained speakers, the same region of Broca’s
area was active, regardless of the language they used. Among the teenage-trained speakers, however, a
different region of Broca’s area was activated when using the acquired language. Similar results were
found in Wernicke’s area in both groups. Although the full meaning of these results is a matter of some
debate (do they reflect sensitivity in Broca’s area to language exposure or pronounced differences in
adult versus childhood language learning?), they nonetheless reveal an intriguing link between la testa e
le parole.
Coderre, E. L., Smith, J. F., Van Heuven, W. J., & Horwitz, B. (2016). The functional overlap of executive control and language
processing in bilinguals. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 19(03), 471-488.
Fabbro, F. (2013). The neurolinguistics of bilingualism: An introduction. Psychology Press.
Kim, K. H., Relkin, N. R., Lee, K. M., & Hirsch, J. (1997). Distinct cortical areas associated with native and second
languages. Nature, 388(6638), 171-174.
Marian, V., Spivey, M., & Hirsch, J. (2003). Shared and separate systems in bilingual language processing: Converging
evidence from eyetracking and brain imaging. Brain and language, 86(1), 70-82.
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Lecture Launcher 2.12 – The Importance of a Wrinkled Cortex
At the beginning of your lecture on the structure and function of the brain, ask students to explain why the
cerebral cortex is wrinkled. There are always a few students who correctly answer that the wrinkled
appearance of the cerebral cortex allows it to have a greater surface area while fitting in a relatively small
space (i.e., the head). To demonstrate this point to your class, hold a plain, white sheet of paper in your
hand and then crumple it into a small, wrinkled ball. Note that the paper retains the same surface area,
yet is now much smaller and is able to fit into a much smaller space, such as your hand. You can then
mention that the brain’s actual surface area, if flattened out, would be roughly the size of a newspaper
21 CHAPTER 2 NEURONS, HORMONES, AND THE BRAIN
Copyright © 2018, 2015, 2012, Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
page. Laughs usually erupt when the class imagines what our heads would look like if we had to
accommodate an unwrinkled, newspaper-sized cerebral cortex!
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Lecture Launcher 2.13 – A New Look at Phineas Gage
For over 30 years, Jack and Beverly Wilgus had a daguerreotype portrait—a type of early photograph—of
a well-dressed young man with one eye closed. Because the photo showed the young man holding what
appeared to be part of a harpoon, the Wilguses believed that the man was a 19th-century whaler who had
lost his eye, perhaps in a whaling accident. It was only after a copy of the portrait was posted online that
the couple was told that the object in the man’s hands did not appear to be a harpoon. Then, in 2008, a
person viewing the image online posted a comment that the young man may be Phineas Gage, making
the “harpoon,” the infamous tamping rod that was blasted through his skull and brain. By carefully
examining the rod in the daguerreotype, and by comparing the young man’s face to the cast made of
Gage’s head after his death, the Wilguses were able to confirm that the portrait is almost certainly that of
Phineas Gage, made sometime after his accident. Importantly, this is the only known photograph of the
man who became one of the most famous case studies in psychology.
One of the consequences of the portrait’s discovery has been a renewed debate about how Gage’s
injuries affected his personality and behavior. Many psychology textbooks explain that the accident left
Gage a permanently changed man following the accident, with his once well-balanced, gregarious, and
hard-working personality replaced with profane, inconsiderate, and impulsive behavior for the rest of his
life. This, however, is not necessarily supported by the few original sources researchers have to go on.
For example, although the evidence clearly indicates that Gage had major psychological changes for a
period after his accident, we also know that Gage later spent many years driving stagecoaches before he
died in 1860, 12 years after the accident. Many have questioned whether the post-accident Phineas Gage
commonly described in introductory psychology classes could have performed the tasks required to drive
a stagecoach, interact with passengers, and be reliable enough to maintain employment for long periods
at a time. Does this indicate that many of the psychological changes Gage suffered were temporary?
Certainly the newly discovered daguerreotype of a healthy-looking and well-kept Phineas Gage lends
further support to the idea that Phineas was able to largely recover from his accident, both physically and
mentally. If true, this may mean that the case of Phineas Gage may be as much a story about the
incredible plasticity of the brain and its ability to compensate for the loss of specific brain regions, as it is
about the localization of specific functions.
The newly discovered portrait of Phineas Gage can be found at: brightbytes.com/phineasgage or by
searching the Internet for “Phineas Gage daguerreotype.”
Jarrett, C. & Sutton, J. (2009, July 20). Face to face with Phineas Gage.
http://www.thepsychologist.org.uk/blog/11/blogpost.cfm?threadid=1035&catid=48
Macmillan, M. (2008). Phineas Gage–Unravelling the myth. The Psychologist, 21(9), 828-831.
Shetty, S. R., Wadhwa, S., Ganigi, P. M., Hegde, T., & Bopanna, K. M. (2017). Phineas Gage Revisited: An “Indian Crowbar
Case”. Journal of Neurological Surgery Part B: Skull Base, 78(S 01), P028.
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Lecture Launcher 2.14 – Freak Accidents and Brain Injuries
Students may be interested in the unusual cases of individuals who experience bizarre brain injuries due
to freak accidents with nail guns. The most fascinating example involved Isidro Mejias, a construction
worker in Southern California, who had six nails driven into his head when he fell from a roof onto his
coworker who was using a nail gun. (X-ray images of the embedded nails can be found at several sites
on the Internet.) Incredibly, none of the nails caused serious damage to Mejia’s brain. One nail lodged
22 CHAPTER 2 NEURONS, HORMONES, AND THE BRAIN
Copyright © 2018, 2015, 2012, Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
near his spinal cord, and another came very close to his brain stem. Immediate surgery and treatment
with antibiotics prevented deadly infections that could have been caused by the nails. In a similar
accident, a construction worker in Colorado ended up with a nail lodged in his head due to a nail gun
mishap. Unlike Mejia, Patrick Lawler didn’t realize he had a nail in his head for six days. The nail was
discovered when he visited a dentist due to a “toothache.” It appears that Lawler fired a nail into the roof
of his mouth. The nail barely missed his brain and the back of his eye.
Field, P. (2006). Variations on an historical case study. NSTA WebNews Digest,
http://www.nsta.org/publications/news/story.aspx?id=52587
Nail Gun Victim Lives. Current Science, A Weekly Reader publication, Sept. 10, 2004, v90 (1), Page 14.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4909827/
http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20050119/NEWS/50119002/0/FRONTPAGE
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Lecture Launcher 2.15 – The Results of a Hemispherectomy
When Matthew was 6 years old, surgeons removed half of his brain.
His first three years of life were completely normal. Just before he turned 4, however, Matthew began to
experience seizures, which did not respond to drug treatment. The seizures were both life threatening
and frequent (as often as every 3 minutes). The eventual diagnosis was Rasmussen’s encephalitis, a rare
and incurable condition of unknown origin.
The surgery, a hemispherectomy, was performed at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. A few dozen
such operations are performed each year in the United States, usually as a treatment for Rasmussen’s
and for forms of epilepsy that destroy the cortex but do not cross the corpus callosum. After surgeons
removed Matthew’s left hemisphere, the empty space quickly filled with cerebrospinal fluid.
The surgery left a scar that runs along one ear and disappears under his hair; however, his face has no
lopsidedness. The only other visible effects of the operation are a slight limp and limited use of his right
arm and hand. Matthew has no right peripheral vision in either eye. He undergoes weekly speech and
language therapy sessions. For example, a therapist displays cards that might say “fast things” and Matt
must name as many fast things as he can in 20 seconds. He does not offer as many examples as other
children his age. However, he is making progress in the use of language, perhaps as a result of fostering
and accelerating the growth of dendrites.
The case of Matthew indicates the brain’s remarkable plasticity. Furthermore, it is interesting to note that
Matt’s personality never changed through the seizures and surgery.
Boyle, M. (1997, August 1). Surgery to remove half of brain reduces seizures. Austin American-Statesman, A18.
Handley, S. E., Vargha-Khadem, F., Bowman, R. J., & Liasis, A. (2017). Visual Function 20 Years After Childhood
Hemispherectomy for Intractable Epilepsy. American Journal of Ophthalmology, 177, 81-89.
Rasmussen T, Olszewski J, Lloyd-Smith D (1958). Focal seizures due to chronic localized encephalitis. Neurology, 8 (6), 435–
445.
Sachdev, M., Vanags, J., Arehart, E., Grant, G., & Mikati, M. A. (2017). Visual Hallucinations as a Novel Complication
Following Hemispherectomy (P6. 224). Neurology, 88(16 Supplement), P6-224.
Schusse, C. M., Smith, K., & Drees, C. (2017). Outcomes after hemispherectomy in adult patients with intractable epilepsy:
institutional experience and systematic review of the literature. Journal of Neurosurgery, 1-9.
Swerdlow, J. L. (1995, June). Quiet miracles of the brain. National Geographic, 87, 2-41.
Vining, E. P., Freeman, J. M., Pillas, D. J., Uematsu, S., Carson, B. S., Brandt, J., Boatman, D., Pulsifer, M. B., & Zuckerberg,
A. (1997). Why would you remove half a brain? The outcome of 58 children after hemispherectomy-the Johns Hopkins
experience: 1968 to 1996. Pediatrics,100(2 Pt 1), 163-171.
find more hemispherectomy stories and information at: http://hemifoundation.intuitwebsites.com/
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23 CHAPTER 2 NEURONS, HORMONES, AND THE BRAIN
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Lecture Launcher 2.16 – En Garde! Dualism versus Monism
Rene Descartes certainly didn’t lack for credentials. As the “Father of Rationalism,” “Father of Modern
Philosophy,” (father of Francine, by the way), and originator of Cartesian geometry, he had more than
enough interests to fill his spare time. But his role as “Father of Skepticism” helped popularize a major
change in thinking about the nature of human experience. Dualism, or the doctrine that mind and body
are of two distinct natures, is one of the key philosophical problems inherited by psychology. In both
philosophy and psychology there have been several attempts to reconcile the mind and body.
On the dualism side of the argument, psychophysical parallelism and psychophysical interactionism have
been advanced as explanations for the workings of mind and body. Parallelism has it that mental and
physical events are independent of one another but occur simultaneously. Philosophers such as Leibnitz,
for example, held that the activities of the mind and body were predetermined, and that both simply ran
their course in a carefully orchestrated, synchronized, yet independent fashion. Interactionists, on the
other hand, hold that mental and physical events are related in a causal way, such that the mind can
influence the body and vice-versa. Descartes championed this idea with his notion that humans are
“pilots in a ship;” mental beings who guide physical bodies through the world. Both psychophysical
parallelism and psychophysical interactionism agree that the mind and body are of two different natures,
and disagree over how closely those natures may interact.
Monists, by comparison, argue that there is one nature to things, although they disagree about whether it
is primarily mental or primarily physical. Subjective idealism (or “mentalism,” as it is often called), argues
that there is only the mental world, and that the reality of the physical world is suspect. George Berkeley,
for example, provided numerous arguments as to why the essence of existence is to be perceived; when
not in direct perception the physical world cannot support the claim of its existence. (Berkeley, by the
way, apparently hated walks in the forest, for fear of all those falling trees that he may or may not have
heard.) In contrast, materialistic monism takes the position that there is only physical “stuff” to the world,
such that ideas, thoughts, and images are actually physical events in the body. Many modern biological
scientists would agree with this form of monism, arguing that the brain is primary while the “mind” is either
illusory or epiphenomenal.
Add to this mix a handful of specialty doctrines and you’ve got quite an argument. But why all the fuss?
As research on mind and behavior grows to embrace evidence gathered in the neurosciences, what once
was a stuffy philosophical issue takes on a new importance. Many thinkers, especially those in the
materialist camp, would claim that we are closer and closer to identifying the neural connections and
chemical actions that produce our experience of “an idea.” Fueled by the boom in neural network
modeling, the notion that the circuitry of the brain can be mapped to identify where thoughts, images,
memories, creativity, and similar “mental activities” originate seems more like science and less like
science fiction. Whether dualism will be completely resolved to everyone’s satisfaction seems doubtful,
but biopsychologists and neuropsychologists continue to contribute data to address this philosophical
puzzle.
Wegner, D. M., & Gray, K. (2016). The mind club: Who thinks, what feels, and why it matters. New York: Penguin.
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▼CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND EXERCISES
2.1 – Building a Robot
2.2 – Using Dominoes to Understand the Action Potential
2.3 – Stemming the Tide of Misinformation
2.4 – Environmental Influences on the Brain
2.5 – Demonstrating Neural Conduction: The Class as a Neural Network
2.6 – The Dollar Bill Drop
2.7 – Reaction Time and Neural Processing
2.8 – Football and Brain Damage
2.9 – Hemispheric Communication and the Split Brain
2.10 – Hemispheric Lateralization
2.11 – Left or Right?
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Activity 2.1 – Building a Robot
In this activity students apply their knowledge about the brain and nervous system to the design of a robot
with human capabilities. The handout for this exercise is included as Handout Master 2.1.
This is an opportunity for students to be creative. Answers should be evaluated for thoughtfulness and
understanding of concepts in the chapter, rather than for specific details. The answers below are not the
only ones possible.
1. A list including all the functions the robot would need to perform exactly like a human being would be
impossible to compose; it would have to contain entries such as “chew gum,” “roller skate,” and
“drive a car.” Also, some functions are components of others (e.g., “turn on ignition” is a component
of “drive a car”).
2. The autonomic nervous system might be less important for a robot, because a robot would probably
not need most of the internal organs regulated by that system (the bladder, heart, stomach, etc.).
The autonomic nervous system also regulates emotional “ups and downs.” Perhaps the robot can
do without emotions.
3. If the robot’s energy system is simpler than that of humans (it might, for example, run on
rechargeable batteries), it would not need brain mechanisms to control such functions as respiration,
digestion, elimination, cardiovascular functions, and sleep. Perhaps the analogs of the medulla and
pons could be smaller in the robot. Also, since the robot will not need to eat, drink, or have sex, the
area devoted to functions of the hypothalamus can be smaller.
4. The reticular activating system would be important because the robot must be able to monitor
environmental stimuli and make decisions concerning what is relevant to its ongoing behavior. The
cerebellum would be important because the robot needs coordination and balance. (It might be
easier to build a robot that has four legs or wheels than one with two legs.) The hippocampus would
be important because the memory function is essential in a robot. The cerebrum would be important
because the robot would need many megabytes of memory to be able to adapt its behavior to an
endless variety of situations, would need to be able to learn from its interactions with the
environment, and would need to make judgments, plans, and decisions. However, perhaps the size
of the cerebrum, where memories are stored, can be reduced somewhat by editing the contents of
memory periodically. There is probably no need for a robot to remember old telephone numbers or
jingles from TV commercials.
25 CHAPTER 2 NEURONS, HORMONES, AND THE BRAIN
Copyright © 2018, 2015, 2012, Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
5. We still do not fully understand the neural and biochemical basis of perception and cognition, and
even with miniaturized computer circuits, we do not yet have the technology to build a human-like
nervous system that could fit into a human-sized robot body. Also, the sheer complexity of the
human nervous system exceeds that of any existing computer system.
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Activity 2.2 – Using Dominoes to Understand the Action Potential
Walter Wagor suggests using real dominoes to demonstrate the so-called “domino effect” of the action
potential as it travels along the axon. For this demonstration, you’ll need a smooth table-top surface (at
least 5 feet long) and one or two sets of dominoes. Set up the dominoes beforehand, on their ends and
about an inch apart, so that you can push the first one over and cause the rest to fall in sequence.
Proceed to knock down the first domino in the row and students should clearly see how the “action
potential” is passed along the entire length of the axon. You can then point out the concept of refractory
period by showing that, no matter how hard you push on the first domino, you will not be able to repeat
the domino effect until you take the time to set the dominoes back up (i.e., the resetting time for the
dominoes is analogous to the refractory period for neurons). You can then demonstrate the all-or-none
characteristic of the axon by resetting the dominoes and by pushing so lightly on the first domino that it
does not fall. Just as the force on the first domino has to be strong enough to knock it down before the
rest of the dominoes will fall, the action potential must be there in order to perpetuate itself along the
entire axon. Finally, you can demonstrate the advantage of the myelin sheath in axonal transmission. For
this demonstration, you’ll need to set up two rows of dominoes (approximately 3 or 4 feet long) next to
each other. The second row of dominoes should have foot-long sticks (e.g., plastic rulers) placed end-to-
end in sequence on top of the dominoes. By placing the all-domino row and the stick-domino row parallel
to each other and pushing the first domino in each, you can demonstrate how much faster the action
potential can travel if it can jump from node to node rather than having to be passed on sequentially,
single domino by single domino. Ask your students to discuss how this effect relates to myelinization.
Wagor, W. F. (1990). Using dominoes to help explain the action potential. In V. P. Makosky, C. C. Sileo, L. G. Whittemore, C.
P. Landry, & M. L. Skutley (Eds.), Activities handbook for the teaching of psychology: Vol. 3 (pp. 72-73). Washington, DC:
American Psychological Association.
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Activity 2.3 – Stemming the Tide of Misinformation
Although there’s a lot of promise in stem cell research, it comes with a lot of controversy as well. Consider
these statements from various political figures over the years:
“While we must devote enormous energy to conquering disease, it is equally important that we pay
attention to the moral concerns raised by the new frontier of human embryo stem cell research. Even the
most noble ends do not justify any means.”
GEORGE W. BUSH, speech, Aug. 9, 2001
“I think we can do ethically guided embryonic stem cell research. We have 100,000 to 200,000 embryos
that are frozen in nitrogen today from fertility clinics. These weren’t taken from abortion or something like
that. They’re from a fertility clinic, and they’re either going to be destroyed or left frozen. And I believe if
we have the option, which scientists tell us we do, of curing Parkinson’s, curing diabetes, curing, you
know, some kind of a … you know, paraplegic or quadriplegic or, you know, a spinal cord injury —
anything — that’s the nature of the human spirit. I think it is respecting life to reach for that cure.”
JOHN KERRY, presidential debate, Oct. 8, 2004
26 CHAPTER 2 NEURONS, HORMONES, AND THE BRAIN
Copyright © 2018, 2015, 2012, Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
“The best that can be said about embryonic stem cell research is that it is scientific exploration into the
potential benefits of killing human beings.”
TOM DeLAY, Washington Post, May 25, 2005
“I am pro-life. I believe human life begins at conception. I also believe that embryonic stem cell research
should be encouraged and supported.”
BILL FRIST, speech, Jul. 29, 2005
“I’m very grateful that President Obama has lifted the restrictions on federal funding for embryonic stem
cell research.”
NANCY REAGAN, commentary, March 8, 2009
“The majority of Americans – from across the political spectrum, and of all backgrounds and beliefs – have
come to a consensus that we should pursue this research. That the potential it offers is great, and with
proper guidelines and strict oversight, the perils can be avoided.”
BARACK OBAMA, executive order, March 9, 2009
Unfortunately, there’s also a lot of misinformation about stem cells and stem cell research…in fact, one
might question the scientific credentials of Mr. DeLay, whose noteworthy accomplishments (apart from a
chequered political career) include running a pest control business and competing on Dancing With the
Stars.
Encourage your students to examine the evidence and decide for themselves. Ask them to prepare a
brief report on some aspect of stem cell research — it’s current legal status in the United States and
worldwide; options for gathering stem cells; potential cures indicated by the current scientific evidence,
and so on. You might ask different groups of students to tackle different issues, or ask all students to
investigate a small set of issues. Similarly, you might structure this as a brief discussion exercise, or you
might want to stage it as a more formal debate. There are many possible ways to implement this exercise.
The important underlying aspect, however, is to get students to think critically and discuss openly the
facts associated with stem cell research.
http://stemcells.nih.gov/research/pages/current.aspxhttp://www.tellmeaboutstemcells.org/
http://www.stemcells.com/view/0/index.html
http://www.physorg.com/news172072614.html
http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?event_id=161696&fuseaction=topics.event_summary&topic_id=116811
http://www.biotech.ucdavis.edu/TBCWebsites/TBC07/StemCells&TissueEngineering/Li-
MiraLoma/Biotech%20Website%20Design/index.html
http://www.notable-quotes.com/s/stem_cells_quotes.html
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Activity 2.4 – Environmental Influences on the Brain
You might want to remind students that brain function and structure are subject to environmental
influences. Ask students to identify the behaviors that are important for keeping the brain healthy and
functioning well. The following are some possibilities:
Good nutrition, especially during childhood Adequate nutrition is vital for proper brain
development. Even in adults, diet may influence brain function. Studies are showing that although
high levels of cholesterol may be bad for your heart, low levels of cholesterol may be bad for the
brain. Low cholesterol may be associated with low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin, that
can result in higher levels of aggression and depression.
Mental stimulation High levels of stimulation help to form neural connections that in turn enhance
27 CHAPTER 2 NEURONS, HORMONES, AND THE BRAIN
Copyright © 2018, 2015, 2012, Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
brain function.
Physical fitness Studies have shown that aerobic fitness has an impact on the density of capillaries
in the brain. More capillaries result in greater blood flow to the brain.
Maternal health during pregnancy The uterine environment can have an enormous impact on the
brain development of a fetus. Women who do not have adequate nutrition, or drink, smoke, or do
drugs, and who are exposed to certain environmental toxins are more likely to have children with
lower IQs and learning disabilities.
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Activity 2.5 –
Demonstrating Neural Conduction: The Class as a Neural Network
In this engaging exercise (suggested by Paul Rozin and John Jonides), students in the class simulate a
neural network and get a valuable lesson in the speed of neural transmission. Depending on your class
size, arrange 15 to 40 students so that each person can place his or her right hand on the right shoulder
of the person in front of them. Note that students in every other row will have to face backwards in order
to form a snaking chain so that all students (playing the role of individual neurons) are connected to each
other. Explain to students that their task as a neural network is to send a neural impulse from one end of
the room to the other. The first student in the chain will squeeze the shoulder of the next person, who,
upon receiving this “message,” will deliver (i.e., “fire”) a squeeze to the next person’s shoulder and so on,
until the last person receives the message. Before starting the neural impulse, ask students (as
“neurons”) to label their parts; they typically have no trouble stating that their arms are axons, their fingers
are axon terminals, and their shoulders are dendrites.
To start the conduction, the instructor should start the timer on a stopwatch while simultaneously
squeezing the shoulder of the first student. The instructor should then keep time as the neural impulse
travels around the room, stopping the timer when the last student/neuron yells out “stop.” This process
should be repeated once or twice until the time required to send the message stabilizes (i.e., students will
be much slower the first time around as they adjust to the task). Next, explain to students that you want
them to again send a neural impulse, but this time you want them to use their ankles as dendrites. That
is, each student will “fire” by squeezing the ankle of the person in front of them. While students are busy
shifting themselves into position for this exercise, ask them if they expect transmission by ankle-
squeezing to be faster or slower than transmission by shoulder-squeezing. Most students will immediately
recognize that the ankle-squeezing will take longer because of the greater distance the message (from
the ankle as opposed to the shoulder) has to travel to reach the brain. Repeat this transmission once or
twice and verify that it indeed takes longer than the shoulder squeeze.
This exercise — a student favorite — is highly recommended because it is a great ice-breaker during the
first few weeks of the semester, and it also makes the somewhat dry subject of neural processing come
alive.
Rozin, P., & Jonides, J. (1977). Mass reaction time measurement of the speed of the nerve impulse and the duration of mental
processes in class. Teaching of Psychology, 4, 91-94.
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Activity 2.6 – The Dollar Bill Drop
28 CHAPTER 2 NEURONS, HORMONES, AND THE BRAIN
Copyright © 2018, 2015, 2012, Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
After engaging in the neural network exercise, follow it up with the “dollar bill drop” (Fisher, 1979), which
not only delights students but also clearly illustrates the speed of neural transmission. Ask students to get
into pairs and to come up with one crisp, flat, one-dollar bill (or something larger, if they trust their fellow
classmates!) between them. First, each member of the pair should take turns trying to catch the dollar bill
with their nondominant (for most people, the left) hand as they drop it from their dominant (typically right)
hand. To do this, they should hold the bill vertically so that the top, center of the bill is held by the thumb
and middle finger of their dominant hand. Next, they should place the thumb and middle finger of their
nondominant hand around the dead center of the bill, as close as they can get without touching it. When
students drop the note from one hand, they should be able to easily catch it with the other before it falls to
the ground.
Now that students are thoroughly unimpressed, ask them to replicate the drop, only this time one person
should try to catch the bill (i.e., with the thumb and middle finger of the nondominant hand) while the other
person drops it (i.e., from the top center of the bill). Student “droppers” are instructed to release the bill
without warning, and “catchers” are warned not to grab before the bill is dropped. (Students should take
turns playing dropper and catcher). There will be stunned looks all around as dollar bills whiz to the
ground. Ask students to explain why it is so much harder to catch it from someone other than themselves.
Most will instantly understand that when catching from ourselves, the brain can simultaneously signal us
to release and catch the bill, but when trying to catch it from someone else, the signal to catch the bill
can’t be sent until the eyes (which see the drop) signal the brain to do so, which is unfortunately a little too
late.
Fisher, J. (1979). Body magic. Briarcliff Manor, NY: Stein and Day.
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Activity 2.7 – Reaction Time and Neural Processing
Yet another exercise that illustrates the speed of neural processing is suggested by E. Rae Harcum. The
point made by this simple but effective exercise is that reaction times increase as more response choices
become available (i.e., because more difficult choices in responses involve more neuronal paths and
more synapses, both of which slow neural transmission). Depending on your class size, recruit two equal
groups of students (10 to 20 per group is ideal) and have each group stand together at the front of the
room. First, explain that all subjects are to respond as quickly as possible to the name of a U.S. president.
Then give written instructions to each group so that neither group knows the instructions given to the
other. One group should be instructed to raise their right hands if the president served before Abraham
Lincoln and to raise their left hands if the president served after Lincoln. The other group should be
instructed simply to raise their left hands when they hear a president’s name. Ask participants and
audience members to note which group reacts more quickly. When all students are poised and ready to
go (i.e., hands level with shoulders and ready to raise), say “Ready” and then “Reagan.” The group with
the simpler reaction time task should be faster than the group whose task requires a choice.
Harcum, E. R. (1988). Reaction time as a behavioral demonstration of neural mechanisms for a large introductory psychology
class. Teaching of Psychology, 4, 208-209.
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Activity 2.8 – Football and Brain Damage
Coaches and medical experts have known for a while that the severe hits that football players take on the
field can lead to concussions, blacking out, and even permanent damage. More recently, however, there
has been increasing concern that the effects of repeated hits to the head may not manifest themselves
until decades later. Early studies suggest that former NFL players suffer high rates of memory and other
cognitive problems years after retiring, and that they also may develop these problems earlier than non-
29 CHAPTER 2 NEURONS, HORMONES, AND THE BRAIN
Copyright © 2018, 2015, 2012, Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
football players do. NFL players may also be vulnerable to higher rates of depression and Alzheimer’s
disease.
To investigate this problem, groups like the Sports Legacy Institute have begun to encourage former NFL
players to donate their brains to science when they die. Already, the brains of a handful of players have
been examined, with shocking results. Almost all of the brains show high levels of a protein called tau,
which is suspected of being involved in several neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s
disease. The presence of high levels of tau may explain why football players have a tendency to develop
cognitive impairments long after their playing days are over. More disturbing still, high levels of tau have
also been found in the brain of an 18 year-old high school football player who died.
After introducing students to this issue, have the class discuss the possible implications for social and
sports policy. Should football playing be stopped? Should the rules of the game be changed to eliminate
hard hitting? If necessary, pose the following additional questions to stimulate discussion: Everyone
knows football is dangerous, but does the fact that these cognitive impairments may take decades to
develop make them somehow different? Is the risk of permanent cognitive disability somehow different
than the risk of permanent physical disability? Wrestlers, soccer players, boxers, and other types of
athletes are also at risk for long term brain damage. Should these sports be changed of banned?
After discussing the issue in class, have students respond to the following writing prompt.
Writing Prompt: Describe a longitudinal and then a cross-sectional study that could be used to determine
if professional football players show higher than normal rates of cognitive impairment. Explain some of
the advantages and disadvantages of the two designs.
Sample answer: A longitudinal study might choose a few football players and then test them every 10
years using the same cognitive tests to see how their abilities change over time. A cross-sectional study,
on the other hand, might find a group of 65 year old retired football players and compare their cognitive
functioning to 65-year-olds who did not play football. The longitudinal study would provide a more
complete view of how cognitive function might decline, but would take decades to complete, and may
suffer from attrition. The cross-sectional study would be a lot easier to perform, but would only offer a
“snap-shot” of cognitive function. You could not tell, for example, if football players develop cognitive
impairment earlier than non-football players typically do.
Miller, G. (2009). A late hit for pro football players. Science, 7, 670–672.
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Activity 2.9 – Hemispheric Communication and the Split Brain
Even after reading the textbook and listening to your lecture, many students may have difficulty
conceptualizing the effects of a split-brain operation on an individual’s behavior. Morris (1991) described
five activities designed to simulate the behavior of split-brain patients. All of the activities have the same
basic setup. You will need to solicit two right-handed volunteers and seat them next to each other at a
table, preferably in the same chair. The volunteer on the left represents the left hemisphere, and the other
student is the right hemisphere. The students are instructed to place their outer hand behind their back
and their inner hands on the table with their hands crossed, representing the right and left hands of the
split-brain patient. Finally, the student representing the right hemisphere is instructed to remain silent for
the remainder of the activity. In one of the activities described by Morris, both students are blindfolded
and a familiar object (Morris suggested a retractable ball-point pen) is placed in the left hand of the “split-
brain patient” (the hand associated with the right hemisphere). Then ask the “right hemisphere” student if
he or she can identify the object, reminding him or her that they must do so nonverbally. Next, ask the
“right hemisphere” to try to communicate, without using language, what the object is to the “left
hemisphere.” Your more creative volunteers may engage in behaviors that attempt to communicate what
the object is through sound or touch. If your “right hemisphere” has difficulty in figuring out how
