Aim: how does sensory deprivation affect the brain?

Situation: Monks went on a 72-hour pilgrimage to a holy mountain, where they did not eat, drink, or speak.

Results: Monks experienced hallucinations because of increased serotonin levels, which activated the hypothalamus and frontal cortex.

Phineas Gage

(1823-1860)

people with brain damage in the left frontal lobe are unable to understand and make grammatically complex sentences. 

Broca's aphasia is a condition in which people can't form speech, but can understand it. ("Tan" - only word he could say; autopsy revealed significant damage to brain)

describe the left posterior superior gyrus as crucial for language comprehension (now called Wernicke's Area). 

Wernicke's Aphasia: patients could produce speech, but couldn't understand it.

Conducted experiments that involved electric stimulation of brain in depressed patients. Allowed patients to control their own stimulation, and one patient (B-19) pressed the button around 1,500 times.

Not ethical.

Tested the stimulation of pleasure centers in rats, by having them push on a lever to recieve stimulation. Found that rats were willing to walk across electrified grids to push the lever, and even preferred stimulation to eating and drinking.

Ethical.

Found higher levels of melatonin contribute to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Reduced levels of sunlight in fall and winter are believed to disrupt circadian rhythms in people, which leads to SAD. 

*Melatonin: hormone that is secreted by the pineal gland and is responsible for regulation of sleep

Argue that criminal behavior is the result of cognitive distortions, such as:

*blaming others for your failure

*super-optimism (extremely wishful/magical thinking)

*Minimizing (reducing/limting true signifcance of a behavior)

*Build-up (exaggerating accomplishments and abilities to make themselves look better)