SOC SCI H1E Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Evolutionary Game Theory, Phineas Gage, Reward System
30 May 2019
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Methodology & studies looking at what causes happiness. Attempted to look at skull shape with idea that reflected shape of brain underneath & that could draw conclusions about personality. European & american discipline -> white skull shapes corresponded with positive personality traits. Tried to show that women & ethnic people had defective personalities. Areas of the brain that show some sort of activity when seem to experience feelings of pleasure. In a rat -> about 1 mm3 therefore about 1 cm3 in humans but that is speculative. *a lot of theories we"re are studying are being currently challenged -> field of neuroscience is likely going to keep evolving in this area. 1950"s onwards: use of electrical stimulation as technique to identify pleasure centers of the brain. In 1953: first case where one of hedonic hotspots located -> old & milner. Had a rat in a cage with a button that they could press.
