All 25 lectures of the Stanford course of Professor Robert Sapolski "Biology of Human behavior"

Sexual behavior, genetics, schizophrenia and much more in 25 lectures by Professor Robert Sapolski “Biology of Human behavior” in Russian!

Hi, tj!

We are pleased to present all 25 lectures of Professor Robert Sapolski “Human behavior”, read by him at Stanford University in 2010. The course was translated and voiced by Vert Dider , who expresses great gratitude to subscribers for supporting the transfer of lectures!

Robert Sapolski is an American neuroendocrinologist, professor of biology, neurology and neurosurgery at Stanford University, researcher and author of books. He was awarded a number of higher awards, including the Karl Sagan award for the popularization of science.

Who is the course intended for?

To master the material from the listener, deep knowledge of biology is not required. The professor talks in detail and in an accessible form about the many factors affecting our actions, as well as by specific examples, he considers various types of behavior: aggressive, sexual, parent and others. Sapolski himself in an introductory lecture claims that to get acquainted with this subject stands absolutely every person, regardless of his specialization.

Nice viewing!

Lecture #1: Introduction. Professor Robert Sapolski introduces students to the basic principles of the course. He demonstrates the connection between our actions and biological factors on the example of very strange behavior. The professor also talks about the importance of using the interdisciplinary approach so as not to repeat the mistakes of scientists who tried to explain the behavior within the same direction.

The lecture is voiced by the theory of synchronization of menstrual cycles, which was later refuted, and the hypothesis of the function of pheromones in people, which many scientists question.

Lecture #2: Evolution of behavior, I. Professor Robert Sapolsky talks about what can be found out about the behavior of the whole species only by a couple of skulls. The professor explains the main mechanisms of natural selection, how they form animal behavior, making it more altruistic or selfish, and how this is due to the mathematical models of the theory of games.

Lecture #3: Evolution of behavior, II. Professor Robert Sapolski talks about complex inter -sexual relations in various types, about how infanticide increases the reproductive success of the male, and physiological tricks help females preserve offspring. The professor also introduces students to the genomic imprint, evolutionary enthravltes and various types of selection, developing the theme of paired and tournament species in an attempt to determine where the person belongs.

Lecture #4: Molecular Genetics, I. Professor Robert Sapolski talks about the principles of evolution at the molecular level, a degree of degree model and the role of point genetic mutations. We get acquainted with the theory of intermittent equilibrium put forward by Guld and Eldridge, according to which long periods of stasis are replaced by sharp jumps of evolutionary changes in a short period of time.

Lecture #5: Molecular Genetics, II. In the second lecture on molecular genetics, Robert Sapolski is focused on the role of medium and promoters in the expression of genes. He explains that it is hidden behind the common phrase “in people and DNA chimpanzees coincides by 98%” and develops the topic of DNA variability, affecting the mutations of splashing enzymes, transcription factors and the phenomenon of “jumping genes”, which were considered impossible for a long time. The professor also talks about bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and unexpected consequences of attempts to dominate black -tower foxes.

Lecture #6: Genetics of behavior, I. Robert Sapolsky talks about successes and failures in the search for the genetic foundations of behavior, about unsuccessful attempts to highlight the “mathematical gene” and other errors inherent in this area. He explains in detail why it is so difficult to separate the influence of genes from environmental factors, and why mothers affect their children much stronger than fathers even at the biological level.

Lecture #7: Genetics of behavior, II. Professor Robert Sapolski talks about how scientists establish a connection between any external sign and a DNA area responsible for him, as well as what is meant when they speak of the “inheritance of the sign”. Particular attention is paid to the role of the case in the formation and development of the body, as well as the fact that living conditions are better predicting human behavior than his genome.

Lecture #8: recognition of relatives. Professor Robert Sapolski talks about what epigenetics is and how to interpret the news about the discovery of the “gene of something”. The main part of the lecture is devoted to the consideration of ways to recognize relatives in animals, their role in the propagation and construction of hierarchical relations.

Lecture #9: Ethology. Professor Robert Sapolski talks about successful and not very methods for studying animal behavior. It presents students with a brief history of ethology, which is based on the principle of communication with animals “in their language”. Also, from the lecture, we learn about innate reactions and fixed patterns of actions, bee dancing, sensory triggers, the theory of reason and the secret of universal love for Mickey Mouse.

Lecture #10: Introduction to Neuronauki, I. Naitan, graduate student of Stanford University, talks about the nervous system and brain, its departments and functions, the structure and principle of the work of neurons. Anthony, undergraduate Stanford, explains the processes taking place in Sinaps and how they affect human behavior. He introduces students to neuropharmacology, as well as various types and functions of neurotransmitters.

Lecture #11: Introduction to Neuronauki, II. Patrick House, a graduate student of Stanford, reveals the neurophysiological mechanisms that are the basis of memory and its various disorders. He talks about the problems associated with the isolation of the necessary information, about neural networks and categorical thinking. From the younger teacher Dana Tarker, we learn about the autonomous autonomic nervous system, its influence on the organs and the sexual life of a person, as well as the role of Norepinephrine and acetylcholine.

Lecture #12: Endocrinology. Assistants William Peterson and Tom McFadden tell how unicellular organisms survive and how cells communicate in more complex creatures. The lecture discusses the main types of hormones, the principles of their work, the role of endocrine glands and neurotransmitters, as well as complex interactions between the hormonal system and the brain.

Lecture #13: neurology and endocrinology. Professor Robert Sapolski reveals the nuances of the regulatory system of hormone secretion, talks about positive and negative feedback, autoreceptors and other control mechanisms. The possible consequences of the failure of their work are clearly demonstrated by the example of clinical depression and diabetes.

Lecture #14: limbic system. Professor Robert Sapolski returns to the consideration of the brain, revealing the concept of the “emotional circle of the Pape”, stopping in more detail on the limbic system and the functions of its components. He talks about the main methods used to study the functions of various zones of the brain: anatomical, biochemical, and functional visualization. Particular attention is paid to the mechanisms of mutual regulation between our body and the limbic system.

Lecture #15: Sexual behavior, I. Professor Robert Sapolski talks about the main elements of sexual behavior of animals, introducing students to the concepts of attraction, prospective and receptivity, and also explains the role of fixed patterns of actions and the limbic system. He focuses on how we are affected by the feeling of anticipation of the award and the effect of randomness. A complex issue of the connection of dopamine, oxytocin and vasopressin with monogamy of various animals, including people, raises. The topics of homosexuality, transsexuality and launch stimuli are also touched upon.

Lecture #16: Sexual behavior, II. In this lecture, Professor Robert Sapolski talks about the existing strategies of sexual behavior in various types, and how this could lead to licentiousness, illegibility and high competition among males. The various methods are considered in which they use to reduce the reproductive success of rivals, as well as the protective measures with which the females are trying to protect themselves and their offspring.

Lecture #17: Sexual behavior, III; Aggression, I. In this lecture, Professor Sapolski speaks of the evolution of homosexuality, criticizes the theory of forensics of the XIX century, talks about the attractiveness, criteria for choosing a partner and homogeneity. In the second part, he proceeds to the discussion of the manifestations of aggression and empathy, as well as the roles of one of the zones of the brain, tonsil, to our behavior.

Lecture #18: aggression, II. Professor Robert Sapolski tells how our brain processes the information into the presence of a threat, how the frontal share helps us to keep ourselves “within the framework of decency” and what happens when it is damaged. The complex question is addressed about the role of the environment, education and physiology in the context of the justice system. The professor also explains why love and hatred are closer than it seems, and almost the same areas of the brain are responsible for physical and emotional sensations. In the end, he shares a curious story about how almost half a century ago the US Army suddenly became interested in the behavior of coyots, surkits and hyenas.

Lecture #19: aggression, III. The third lecture on this topic is devoted to the connection of sensory and moral sensations, mirror neurons and research on the role of hormones in aggressive behavior. Professor Robert Sapolski talks about various factors that can affect your behavior, in particular, about alcohol, testosterone level and PMS, the effect of which differs from the generally accepted. Various hypotheses about the connection of aggression with disappointment, fear, emotions, empathy, as well as a possible causal relationship between the legalization of abortion in the fall of crime in the USA in the late 80s are considered.

Lecture #20: aggression, IV. The final lesson on the topic of aggression discusses the question of the influence of male hormones, in particular, among girls who have been subjected to prenatal androgenization. Possible genetic and cultural prerequisites for aggressive behavior are considered. Robert Sapolski talks about pseudo-infancy and pseudo-coming, which can be used both to maintain war and for creating peace. At the end of the lesson, the professor shares his personal memories of the tragic events in Uganda, which he witnessed.

Lecture #21: chaos and reductionism. The professor calls this lecture "one of the most difficult for the entire course." It discusses the history of a reductive approach to the study of the surrounding world. Both the advantages that have laid the foundation of modern science, and restrictions that began to manifest themselves when trying to describe the human brain. Professor Robert Sapolski retells the main provisions of the theory of chaos, introduces the concept of fractal, and then transfers this to a modern understanding of the device of living systems, in particular, neural connections in the human brain.

The material of the lesson is largely based on the book of James Glake “Chaos. Creating a new science. "

Lecture #22: Emerghenity and complexity. Professor Robert Sapolski talks about cell automatic machines and neural networks, neurophysiology of creativity and how fractals and circulatory systems, potato chips and mathematical equations, insect behavior and the formation of our brain are interconnected. He also explains why the classic reductionist scientific approach ceases to work when it comes to the most interesting.

Lecture #23: Language. In this lecture, Robert Sapolski tells about the general terms of languages ​​and explains how the human language is distinguished, whether it is brutal or sounding, from the ways of communicating other animals. Like any other issue, Sapolski considers the language from the point of view of neuronac: in which areas of the brain “stored” the language, what are the disorders of the synthesis and perception of speech. Cases of teaching the language of monkeys, the results and conclusions from the experiments conducted are also considered.

Lecture #24: schizophrenia. The first 20 minutes of the lecture are devoted to the topic of the previous lesson. The professor tells the roles of genes in the emergence of the language and the possibility of the existence of "innate grammar." In the main part, Robert Sapolski explains what is meant by the broad concept of “schizophrenia”. He talks about the history of the search for the causes of schizophrenia, genes responsible for it. Robert Sapolsky describes the manifestation of the schizophrenic spectrum disorders and their dependence on the culture in which a person lives with the corresponding symptoms.

Lecture #25: individual characteristics. In the last lecture of the course, Robert Sapolski explains what the difficulties of separating disorders and violations from the individual characteristics characteristic of any person are the difficulties of separating disorders. The professor also discusses on an important topic: how it is worth applying the knowledge that he shared in his lectures.

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