PSYCH101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Myelin, Neural Pathway, Multiple Sclerosis

• School: University of Waterloo
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYCH101
• Professor: Christine Logel

Document Summary

Psych 101 - lecture 2 - basic neuroscience and neuroplasticity. Plato: correctly located mind in spherical head (idea of perfect form) Aristotle: believed mind was in the heart, pumping warmth and vitality to body heart: remains symbol of love, but it"s the brain, not the heart, that falls in love. Early 1800s, franz gall (german physician): proposed phrenology (study of bumps on the skull) could reveal person"s mental abilities and traits focused attention on localization of function : idea that various brain regions have particular functions. Biological perspective: links b/w bio and behaviour. (ex; psychologists in neuroscience, behavioral genetics & evolutionary psych) Myelin sheath: fatty tissue layer encasing axons of some neurons, enables greater transmission speed. If it degenerates, multiple sclerosis results (communication to muscle slows, eventually loss of muscle control) Sherrington (british psychologist): noticed neural impulses take long time to travel a neural pathway, interfered the brief interruption in transmission called: synapse.