PSY 338 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Histology, Brainstem, Diencephalon
Document Summary
No single theoretical orientation explains various behaviors or disorders: models considering more than one primary cause still limited by their discipline. Abnormal child behav best studied from multi-theoreticcal perspective. Brain = underlying cause of psych disorders. Fetal brain dev from all-purpose cells into complex organ. Prenatal dev by 5th month: most axons reach general destination. Early childhood: synapses multiply selective pruning reduces number of connections. Neural plasticity brain"s anatomical differentiation = use-dependent: nature & nurture both contrib, experience, stimulation, parental care play critical role in brain dev. Brain stem most of autonomic functions: hindbrain (medulla, pons, cerebellum) regulation of autonomic activities, midbrain coordinates mov"t w/ sensory input. Reticular activating syst (ras: diencephalon (thalamus, hypothalamus) Functions primarily as relay b/w forebrain and lower areas of brain stem. Forebrain highly specialized funct: limbic syst. Regulates emotional experiences and expressions; play role in learning and impulse control.
