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The History and Origins of Neuropsychology: Exploring the Brain-Behaviour Relationship

Discover the fascinating journey of neuropsychology and its exploration of the brain's influence on human behavior. From ancient theories to modern advancements, this course delves into key questions surrounding the brain's role in shaping our identity, behavior, and existence. Join us on an intriguing quest to uncover the secrets of the mind-brain connection.

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The History and Origins of Neuropsychology: Exploring the Brain-Behaviour Relationship

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  1. Psychology 2617 Dr. D Brodbeck

  2. History and Origins of the Study of Neuropsychology • The course is about the relationship between brain and human behaviour • This is a question that has involved many people, philosophers, physicians, psychologists and neuroscientists • The book has 4 major questions to keep in mind and, as this is an historical rant, I think they are pretty good

  3. Questions questions • Does our brain constitute a major part of who we are? • Is the brain the source of all behaviour? • Where do we go when our brain dies? • Is there a soul? • You might note those last 2 are not that scientific…. • Vitalism vs materialism

  4. History is cool • History can be gory • Back in the flintstone days… • Trephination • Probably released pressure on the brain • (probably thought it was to release evil spirits….)

  5. Its all Greek to me • Pythagoras and his followers did more than look at triangles • First to suggest that reasoning was in the brain • Hippocrates figured out the left right thing • Plato said the brain was for reasoning as it was closer to heaven….

  6. Aristotle • Believed that the heart was the seat of behaviour • He noted the importance of the brain (but it was for cooling blood he figured)

  7. Walk like an Egyptian • Cell doctrine • Importance of ventricles • Would hold different faculties, both reasoning and spirit • DaVinci liked it too • Course it is dead wrong

  8. Galen • Physician to the gladiators • Figured out that brain was key • Figured out that different bits did different stuff, looking at head injuries basically

  9. Rene Descartes • Descartes said that we were machines with a soul • The notion was that the mind and the body were separate • Animals have no soul

  10. Localization and Phrenology • Franz Gall • Thought mental faculties were localized • Not really a bad idea, indeed, he was, in VERY general terms correct

  11. Localization though is not all bad • Broca and productive language • Werknicke and receptive language • Freud was critical of them and not just because they were not potty trained properly • Not strictly localizaion

  12. Hughlings Jackson • Like usually happens when there are two opposing camps, the middle ground is probably right…. • Hierarchical and Parallel functioning of the human nervous system • Reasoned that there just could not be single areas that controlled individual functions but more like nodes • Luria doing his Russian thing

  13. Modern ideas • Penfield • Hebb • Milner • (All Canadian content there) • The idea of putting psychology and neurology together can be credited to Hebb and Milner far as I can tell

  14. Today • Everything from test batteries to fMRI • Indeed, much of what neuropsychologists and neurologists do involves non invasive procedures • Often leads to scans etc

  15. Predictions • Dinosaurs will die • More understanding of brain and beahviour relationships • Stuff we can’t imagine

  16. Questions questions • Does our brain constitute a major part of who we are? • Is the brain the source of all behaviour? • Where do we go when our brain dies? • Is there a soul? • So, what do you think of these questions now?

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