“NEUROLOGICAL BASIS OF

BEHAVIOUR UNIT-3”
BY: Nida Syed(MPhil in Clinical
Psychology)
 TOPIC BREAKDOWN:
• Genetics, Evolution, Development and
Plasticity
• Cortical organization
• Sensory systems and sensation
• Motor systems and movement
• Cortical functions
 Genetics
• Charles Darwin first introduced the idea that evolution
and genetics play a role in human behavior. Natural
selection, first described by Charles Darwin, influences
whether certain behavior patterns are passed down to
future generations.
• Natural selection, first described by Charles Darwin,
influences whether certain behavior patterns are
passed down to future generations. Behaviors that aid
in survival are more likely to be passed down while
those that prove dangerous are less likely to be
inherited.
 IMPORTANCE OF TWIN STUDIES:
• Twin studies have long been a cornerstone of
behavioral genetics research. By comparing
identical twins (who share 100% of their DNA)
with fraternal twins (who share about 50%),
researchers can estimate the heritability of
various traits and behaviors. These studies
have provided some of the strongest evidence
for the genetic influence on behavior.
 EXAMPLE:
• Consider an issue like aggression. The
psychoanalytic perspective might view
aggression as the result of childhood experiences
and unconscious urges. The behavioral
perspective considers how the behavior was
shaped by association, reinforcement, and
punishment. A psychologist with a social
perspective might look at the group dynamics
and pressures that contribute to such behavior.
• ANOTHER Example of the Biological Perspective
• An example of the biological perspective in
psychology is the study of how brain chemistry may
influence depression. Antidepressants affect these
neurotransmitter levels, which may help REDUCE
depression symptoms.
• The use of brain imaging to understand how the
brain and nervous system influence human behavior
is another example of the biological perspective in
psychology.
 THE DNA BEHAVIOUR RESEARCH
• Heredity’s impact on human behavior also has implications
for genetic counseling. As we learn more about the genetic
components of various behavioral traits and disorders,
genetic counselors can provide more informed guidance to
individuals and families about their risk factors and
potential preventive measures.
• Education is another field that stands to benefit from our
growing understanding of DNA behavior. By recognizing that
children may have different genetic predispositions for
learning styles or cognitive abilities, educators can
potentially develop more personalized and effective
teaching strategies.
• Despite its potential, the field of DNA behavior
research is not without its controversies and
limitations. One major concern is the risk of
oversimplifying complex behaviors. Human
conduct is the result of intricate interactions
between numerous genes and environmental
factors. Reducing behavior to a handful of
genetic markers can lead to misleading or
even harmful conclusions.
 Evolution
• Evolutionary psychologists presume all human
behaviours reflect the influence of physical and
psychological predispositions that helped human
ancestors survive and reproduce.
• Darwins idea of natural selection is an example to it
• Nature vs. Nurture in Human Behavior: Unraveling
the Complex Interplay is not a simple either-or
proposition, but rather a nuanced collaboration
between our genetic inheritance and our lived
experiences.
• The brain has many evolutionary pathways,
each one intended to solve a particular
problem your ancestors faced. The more
diverse your pathways, the more challenges
you’re able to overcome. In other words, you
may have pathways in your brain that have not
been created by your behaviors but come
from the behaviors and experiences of your
ancestors.
 Development and Plasticity

• The process of brain development is complex

and involves a wide range of factors, including
genetics, nutrition, environment, and
experiences.
• During this time, the brain makes billions of
new connections between neurons, creating
the network that will support learning,
memory, emotional regulation, and other
essential skills.
Plasticity is the capacity to be shaped, molded, or altered; neuroplasticity, then, is the
ability for the brain to adapt or change over time, by creating new neurons and
building new networks.
• Neuroplasticity occurs due to learning, experience, and memory
formation or due to damage to the brain.
• Learning and new experiences cause new neural pathways to
strengthen, whereas neural pathways used infrequently become
weak and eventually die. This process is called synaptic pruning.
• Although traditionally associated with changes in childhood,
recent research indicates that mature brains continue to show
plasticity due to learning.
• Neuroplasticity provides protective effects in managing traumas
during human development (Cioni et al., 2011). Also, learning
music or second languages can increase neuroplasticity
(Herholtz & Zatorre, 2012).
 CORTICAL ORGANIZATION:
• The cerebral cortex is organized into distinct
functional areas. It is separated into two cortices,
by the longitudinal fissure that divides the
cerebrum into the left and right cerebral
hemispheres. Hierarchical cortical organization is
found in all sensory systems, in the reward
system, and in the memory systems. Another
fundamental aspect of cortical organization is the
alignment of diverse features of evolution AND
development.
FUNCTIONS OF CORTICAL ORGANIZATION:

• The cerebral cortex is the brain’s outermost

layer on top of the cerebrum and is associated
with our highest mental capabilities.

• The cerebral cortex is primarily constructed of

grey matter (neural tissue made up of
neurons), with between 14 and 16 billion
neurons found here.
• The cortex is also divided into two
hemispheres, the right and left, which are
separated by medial longitudinal fissure.

• The two hemispheres are connected via

bundles of nerve fibers called the corpus
callosum to allow both hemispheres of the
cerebral cortex to communicate and make
further connections.
• The cerebral cortex, which is the outer surface
of the brain, is associated with higher level
processes such as consciousness, thought,
emotion, reasoning, language, and memory.

• Each cerebral hemisphere can be subdivided

into four lobes, each associated with different
functions.
• Together, the lobes serve many conscious and
unconscious functions, such as being
responsible for movement, processing sensory
information from the senses, processing
language, intelligence, and personality.
• The frontal lobes are highly developed in
humans and critical for many higher-order
cognitive functions.
• Frontal Lobes
• The frontal lobes are the largest part of the
cerebral cortex, located at the front of the
brain behind the forehead. The frontal lobes
are highly developed in humans and critical
for many higher-order cognitive functions.
• Occipital Lobes
• The occipital lobes are located at the very back of the brain. This region processes visual
information received from the eyes.

• The main functions of the occipital lobes include:

• Vision – The primary visual cortex in the occipital lobe interprets visual signals from the
retinas of the eyes. This area handles basic visual functions like perceiving color, motion, and
shape.
• Recognition – Additional visual association areas help identify objects, faces, words, and
scenes that you see.
• Imagery – The occipital lobes contribute to visual imagery and picturing images in your mind.
• Communication – This region connects with other parts of the brain to integrate visual
perceptions with memories, sounds, and more.
• Damage to the occipital lobes can cause issues like blindness, difficulty recognizing objects or
words, and problems with visual processing. Overall, this area is essential for interpreting
visual stimuli.
• Parietal Lobes
• The parietal lobes are located near the top of the brain behind the frontal lobes. This area
integrates sensory information from different parts of the body.

• Key functions of the parietal lobes include:

• Touch – The primary somatosensory cortex receives information about touch, temperature,
pain, and the body’s position.
• Integration – It combines input from the senses to represent the body and its location in
space.
• Motion – The parietal lobes guide actions and movements in response to sensory stimuli.
• Attention – It plays a role in selective attention and focusing on relevant stimuli.
• Spatial orientation – This region helps construct a sensory map of the environment and
understand spatial relationships.
• Injury to the parietal lobes can cause issues with coordinating movement, directing
attention, and processing sensory information from the body and surroundings. Overall, it
integrates sensory signals to guide behavior.
• Temporal Lobes
• The temporal lobes are located on the sides of the brain above the ears. This part of the brain
helps with processing sounds, understanding language, forming memories, and regulating
emotions.

• The main roles of the temporal lobes include:

• Hearing – The temporal lobes receive auditory information from the ears and help interpret
sounds and words. A small area called the primary auditory cortex processes the basic aspects of
hearing.
• Memory – An important structure called the hippocampus is located in the temporal lobes. The
hippocampus helps form new memories about events, facts, places, and experiences.
• Language – A region called Wernicke’s area in the left temporal lobe is important for
understanding spoken and written language.
• Emotion – The amygdala, found deep in the temporal lobes, regulates emotions like fear, anger,
and aggression. It also links memories to emotional reactions.
• The temporal lobes work with other parts of the brain to help us recognize words, speak, form
memories of life events, perceive emotional cues, and understand language.
 Sensory systems and sensation

• Sensory systems attend to & translate specific

stimuli Stimuli are converted (transduced) into
neural messages Sensations are integrated to
produce perceptions Perceptions lead to
changes in behavior Specific mechanisms of
action Accessory structures and selective
attention are involved with initial stimulus
processing
• For example, light that enters the eye causes
chemical changes in cells that line the back of
the eye. These cells relay messages, in the
form of action potentials (as you learned
when studying biopsychology), to the central
nervous system.
 Motor system and movement
• The motor system is the set of central and peripheral
structures in the nervous system that support motor
functions, i.e. movement. Peripheral structures may include
skeletal muscles and neural connections with muscle
tissues. Motor behavior isn’t just about flexing muscles –
it’s a complex system with many moving parts (pun
intended). At its core, we have motor control processes,
the brain’s way of planning and executing movements.
• Example:It’s like a high-tech GPS system, constantly
calculating and recalculating the best route for your body
to take.
• ANY QUERIES???
• THANKYOU!!!