Neural Basis Of Behavior

Dr. Saif Ullah

Associate Professor
IPP (Karachi campus)
Learning objectives
 At the end of session student should be able to :

 Learn the methodological issues in neural

basis of behavior

(Study of brain & behavior)

Introduction
 Greek word

 Psyche means “ mind or spirit”

 Logos means “ sayings or study or speakings of”

Speakings of Mind
Definitions

 Science of mental life

(William James, 1890)

 Study of behavior
(Current)
NEUROSCIENCE
 The study of behavior and the mind through the study
of nervous system

 Mind & Brain

 Today some peoples still believe that there is a mind-
brain problem that somehow the human mind is distint
from the brain
 We shall see modern neuroscience research supports
conclusion

Mind has a Physical basis which is the brain

Examples

 Combustion of Gasoline is the Physical

basis of car’s movement but the cars
movement is distinct from the
combustion of gasoline
Methodological issues (Study of brain)

Nerve cell Electrical Activity

(Structure) (Action Potential)

Communication of Relation between

Neurons Brain Activity &
(Cell Signaling) Behavior
Nerve cell structure
Nerve cell Structure
Nissl & Traditional Stains
Nerve cell Structure
Golgi Methods

Silver and mercury salts precipitate within neurons

CAMILO GOLGI, 1870S
Nerve cell Structure
Fluorescence Labelling

Fused Neurons

Process of binding Fluorescent dyes to functional

Groups contained in biomolecules so that they
Can be visualized by fluorescence imaging
Nerve cell Structure
Electron Microscopy

Cell
membrane

Short wave length= Higher Resolution

 Nerve cell Structure
Inject (Plant Enzyme) Horseradish
Peroxidase
INJECT
HRP
IN TO
LEFT EYE

It is transported down nerve axons, and it creates

colored product when tissue exposed to hydrogen
peroxide (H2O2)
(H2O2 H2O + O, O + chromogen color)
 Electrical Activity
(Action Potential)
Electrical Activity of Neurons

Studying the Electrical activity of neurons

“Electro Physiology”
Sudden, Rapid, brief, large and spontaneous change in membrane potential from
negative value to positive value and again return back to its original position is
called as Action Potential

Action Potential (Electrical Nature)

 Chemical Signaling
(Cell communication)
How can chemicals have effects in the body
at very low conc.?

Cell communicates to one another

through different intercellular mechanisms
 Autocrine

Paracrine Fashion Endocrine

Neurotransmitter Gap junctions

Cell to Cell Communication

Relationship between
Brain & Behavior
 Brain

Correlates

Behavior
Brain Activity / Effect on Behavior

• Lesions
Decrease • Chemical Block
Activity

• Electrical or
Increase • Chemical stimulation
Activity
Tools for studying Nervous system
Microelectrode Techniques
 Very small electrodes
inserted into individual
neurons

 Used to study activity of a

single neuron

(Neuronal recordings with

solid conductor)
Macro electrode Techniques
 Used to get a picture of
overall activity in the brain

 An example is an EEG,
which uses electrodes
placed on a person’s scalp
to measure brain activity
Structural Imaging
 Computerized axial
tomography (CT SCAN)

 Magnetic Resonance
Imaging (MRI)
Functional Imaging
 EEG
 Magneto encephalography (MEG)
 Magnetic source Imaging (MSI) (Localize activity
more precisely than EEG)
 Positron Emission tomography (PET)
 Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
shows function and structure by measuring
movement of blood molecules with in the brain
Techniques to identify brain
Lesion
(Summary)
1. Microscopy
2
3.Electro Physiology
Precordial Leads

Adapted from: www.numed.co.uk/electrodepl.html

Were introduced in clinical medicine in 1930

Look at cardiac electrical activity in a horizontal plane
 Visual
Electrophysiology

Visual Evoked Potential Electrooculography

4.Electroencephalography (EEG)
5.Electromyography (EMG)

Electromyography (EMG) is a diagnostic procedure to assess

the health of muscles and the nerve cells that control
them (motor neurons). EMG results can reveal nerve
dysfunction, muscle dysfunction or problems with nerve-
to-muscle signal transmission
6.Computed Tomography (CT Scan)

A computerized tomography (CT) scan combines a series of X-ray images

taken from different angles around your body and uses computer processing
to create cross-sectional images (slices) of the bones, blood vessels and soft
tissues inside your body.
Gives detailed information than plain x-rays
CT SCAN PLAIN CT SCAN CONTRAST
7.Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Brain lesions appear as dark or light
spots that don't look like normal brain
tissue
8.X-RAY BRAIN (Plain & Contrast)
9.Positron emission tomography (Pet Scan)
10.Arteriogram (Angiogram)
11.Evoked Potentials
12.Neurosonography
 Uses ultrahigh frequency sound waves to
evaluate structure of the neurons
13. Head Frame
 Doctors use a special head frame (like
a halo) and CT scans or MRI to
pinpoint the exact location of the tumor.

 The surgeon makes a small hole in the

skull and then guides a needle to the
tumor. Using this technique to do a
biopsy or for treatment is called
stereotaxis.
Genes, Evolution & Behavior
Genetics
 Heredity - transmission of trait from one
generation to next

 Chromosomes
◦ Pairs of thread like bodies that contain genes

 Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

◦ Organic molecule arranged in a double-helix
◦ Contains the “code of life”
Behavior Genetics
 Study of behavior from a genetic perspective

 Animal behavior genetic studies include:

◦ Strain studies

◦ Selection studies
Human Behavior Genetics
 Family studies
 Assume that close family members share more of a trait
than non-relatives
 Used to assess the heritability of psychological disorders
or traits

 Twin studies
 Used to determine how heritable a trait or disorder may be
 Identical twins would have highest heritability
Human Behavior Genetics

 Adoption studies

Used to assess the influence of environment

 Molecular genetics

Direct study of the genetic code

Evolutionary Psychology

 Natural selection

“Survival of the fittest”

 Evolutionary psychology looks at the adaptive

or survival value of be