Biological/Genetic/Biological/Genetic/Evolutionary PerspectiveEvolutionary Perspective

Ancient Conceptions Ancient Conceptions About MindAbout Mind

Plato correctly placed mind in the Plato correctly placed mind in the brain. However, his student Aristotle brain. However, his student Aristotle believed that mind was in the heart.believed that mind was in the heart.

Aristotle posited body humors Aristotle posited body humors that controlled personalitythat controlled personality

PhrenologyPhrenology

In 1800, Franz Gall suggested that bumps of the In 1800, Franz Gall suggested that bumps of the skull represented mental abilities. His theory, skull represented mental abilities. His theory, though incorrect, nevertheless proposed that though incorrect, nevertheless proposed that

different mental abilities were modular.different mental abilities were modular.

Body types Body types SheldonSheldon

EndomorphEndomorph: plump (relaxed, : plump (relaxed, social, complacent)social, complacent)

MesomorphMesomorph: muscular (assertive, : muscular (assertive, adventurous)adventurous)

EctomorphEctomorph: thin (reserved, : thin (reserved, anxious, uptight, self-conscious)anxious, uptight, self-conscious)

Ways into the “black Ways into the “black box” ?????box” ?????

clinical observationclinical observation lesion/ablation studieslesion/ablation studies stimulation studiesstimulation studies

EEGEEG CT, MRI, fMRICT, MRI, fMRI PET scansPET scans

Clinical ObservationClinical ObservationClinical observations have shed light on a Clinical observations have shed light on a

number of brain disorders. Alterations in number of brain disorders. Alterations in brain morphology due to neurological and brain morphology due to neurological and psychiatric diseases are now being psychiatric diseases are now being catalogued.catalogued.

EEGEEG

MRIMRI

Limbic SystemLimbic System

CORTEXCORTEX

EysenckEysenck Introversion/Extroversion Introversion/Extroversion

ARAS (Ascending Reticular Activating ARAS (Ascending Reticular Activating System)System)

Extros: lowExtros: low Intros: highIntros: high

Geen (1984) study Geen (1984) study recent fMRI evidence recent fMRI evidence

BAS/BIS (Gray)BAS/BIS (Gray)

BAS: “gas pedal”BAS: “gas pedal” reward/pleasure seekingreward/pleasure seeking left frontal cortexleft frontal cortex dopaminergicdopaminergic BIS: “brake pedal”BIS: “brake pedal” inhibition, avoidance, cautioninhibition, avoidance, caution right frontal cortexright frontal cortex serotonergicserotonergic

Brain Laterality Brain Laterality (Davidson) (Davidson)

Left brain/ Right brain (frontal Left brain/ Right brain (frontal lobes)lobes)

Positive emotion states/Negative Positive emotion states/Negative emotion statesemotion states

Pleasure, Calm/Anxiety, DepressionPleasure, Calm/Anxiety, Depression

e.g., “monk studies”e.g., “monk studies”

HormonesHormones

Testosterone:Testosterone:a. correlational researcha. correlational researchb. animal studiesb. animal studiesc. genetic abnormalityc. genetic abnormality

Oxytocin “the love hormone”Oxytocin “the love hormone”

NeurotransmittersNeurotransmitters Dopamine: reward/pleasure systemDopamine: reward/pleasure system Serotonin: anxiety and depressionSerotonin: anxiety and depression

PsychopharmacologyPsychopharmacology ((Listening to ProzacListening to Prozac)) Implications??? Implications???