The brains only weights 3 pounds but has over 100 billion cells.

BrainThe brains only weights 3 pounds but has

over 100 billion cells.

HUMAN BRAIN

The brain is divided into two hemispheres- the right and the left hemisphere.

RIGHT AND LEFT HEMISPHERES OF THE BRAIN

Left Hemisphere- linear thinking mode

Right hemisphere-holistic thinking mode

RIGHT AND LEFT HEMISPHERESRight Hemisphere

Organizes or groups information togetherRole in putting things togetherVisual activities MusicExpressing emotionsReading emotionsUnderstanding geometric properties

RIGHT AND LEFT HEMISPHERESLeft Hemisphere

Analyzes information collected by the right. Takes information from the right hemisphere

and applies language to it. Language skillsSkilled movementAnalytical time sequence processing

Parts of the BrainThe brain is divide

into three major sections

ForebrainMidbrainHindbrain

Parts of the BrainsForebrain-covers brains central core-higher thinking processes.

Midbrain- integrates sensory information and relays it upward

Hindbrain- rear base of the skull-basic processes of life

FOREBRAINForebrain-covers brain’s central core

Cerebral cortex (cerebrum) higher thinking processes

Thalamas-integrates sensory input

Hypothalamus- controls hunger, thirst, and sexual behavior as well as changes in temperature .

MIDBRAINMidbrain-integrates sensory information and relays in upward

Alerts brain to incoming signals

Involved in sleep and wake cycle

HINDBRAIN At rear base of skull-basic processes of lifeHelps control posture, balance and voluntary movements as well as breathing, heart rate and reflexes

What are lobes?Different regions into which the cerebral cortex is divided (cerebral cortex is in the forebrain)

Lobes of the brains

LOBES

Four types of lobesOccipital-visual signals are processed

Parietal-information from senses from all over the body

Temporal-hearing memory emotion and speaking

Frontal –organization, planning and creative thinking

CORPUS CALLOSUMThe function is to connect the left and right side of

brain (hemisphere).

The two hemispheres are physically separate and their only connection is through the corpus callosum, a thick white band of nerves deep within the brain.

It allows the two hemispheres to communicate and coordinate their activities.

The Nervous SystemConsists of the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system

Biological theories of crimeGenetic vulnerabilities, neuropsychological

abnormalities, or biological irregularities that predispose a person to crime

Biological theories of crimeTwins:Monozygotic (identical) – share the exact same

genesDizygotic (fraternal) – no more alike than siblings

Twin studies: (Nature v. Nurture)Nature: tendencies of violent behavior,

aggression, personality traits, etcNurture: If raised apart, how alike are they in

terms of traits mentioned above? Are they different because of environment?

Biological theories of crimeGenetic and biological influences on crime:

1. Low MAO-A in combination with a history of maltreatmentMAO-A – an enzyme in the body that affects

neurotransmitters (people with borderline personality disorder and mental retardation were completely lacking this enzyme)

Could affect impulsivity and a chance of anti-social behavior (psychopath)

Biological theories of crimeNeuropsychological abnormalities:

Neuro (of the brain):

Slow brain wave patterns for instance can indicate under arousal – need for thrill seeking and will seek out violent crimes

Biological theories of crimeAutonomic nervous system (ANS) differences:

Heart rate, blood pressure, skin conductance, respiration (all of these effect emotional arousal)

Offenders have shown a lower level of autonomic arousal

Biological theories of crimePhysiological differences

1. high levels of testosterone – could lead to higher levels of aggression

2. increased secretion of insulin – sluggish/under aroused

3. lower levels of serotonin – less levels of the happy hormone

Biological theories of crimePersonality and temperament differences:Temperament – agitated, fussy, etcPersonality traits:

Under control or lack of controlUnfriendlinessIrritabilityLow empathyCallous emotionalityTendency to become easily frustrated

Central Nervous System

Made up of the brain and the spinal cordSends messages out to the peripheral nervous system and back to the brain

Central Nervous System

Brain is the crowning glory of the central nervous system.

Spinal cord- extension of the brain, runs down the center of the back ending at the waist.

Peripheral Nervous SystemSmaller branches of nerves that reach the other parts of your body from the spinal cord

Sends messages to the central nervous system and back

Peripheral Nervous SystemConsists of two parts

Somatic nervous system- part of the peripheral nervous system that controls voluntary activity

Autonomic nervous system-part of the peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary activities

Peripheral Nervous System

Somatic Nervous SystemControls voluntary activity Movement commands to muscles

Examples Include:BendingStretchingWalkingKicking

Autonomic Nervous SystemInvoluntary Movements

Examples include: heart rate

digestion blood pressure

blinking gas pupil contraction and dilation breathing

Nervous System and CriminalitySome criminals are thought to differ from

non-criminals in that they show chronically low levels of autonomic arousal and weaker physiological reactions to stimulation.

These could causeDifficulty learning how to inhibit behavior

likely to lead to punishmentHigh need for extra stimulation that they

gratify through aggressive thrill seeking.

Other vocabularyGene: molecular unit of heredity of a

living organism

Chromosome: an organized structure of DNA. Normally, humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes (23 from mom and 23 from dad)