Warning: This historic film contains images of experiments that used animals as test subjects, which some viewers may find disturbing.

This 1957 educational film : Focus on Behavior: The Brain and Behavior” presented by National Educational Television and the American Psychological Association introduces viewers to advancements in experimental psychology. It includes footage of several experiments in the field conducted on both human and animal subjects. Furthermore, scientists explain the implications of these studies for the field of psychology in addition to other disciplines such as space flight. John Darley, the executive officer of the APA hosts the program. The laboratory featured is the UCLA Brain Research Institute, featuring Dr. Donald B. Lindsley and Dr. Norman Weinberger.

(01:27) Experimental psychologists study man’s behavior

(02:34) Electrodes are a key element of brain research

(02:53) Astronomers, biochemists, atomists, physiologist and psychologists study how the brain responds to space flight

(04:08) A magnified electrode on a diagram of a cat’s brain

(04:47) A hydrologic control device allows the scientist to lower the electrode into the cat’s brain.

(06:29) The scientist explains the history of psychology and brain research.

(06:39) The Greeks had a tripartite division of the soul.

(06:58) They believed the brain had three main parts, or chambers.

(07:27) These ideas persisted into the 16th century but in the 18th century, Descartes placed the soul inside the head and when it tipped, it regulated the flow of humors to and from the brain.

(08:06) Phrenologists mapped brain sections to highly specific functions. It is now discredited.

(08:45) Lower parts of the brain are now considered to be responsible for many base instincts.

(09:06) While other parts of the human brain are responsible for higher-level cognitive tasks.

(09:42) In the 20th century, Dr. Berger used electrodes to measure brain activity.

(12:27) Brain activity waves during mathematical reasoning.

(12:56) Alpha waves and beta waves are seen on the oscilloscope.

(13:18) Delta waves appear when the patient sleeps.

(13:51) Even young babies have electrical activity in the brain.

(14:12) The psychologist assesses a 3-month-old’s behavior development by evaluating her brain’s wave activity as she follows an object with her eyes and head.

(14:59) Alpha waves start to appear at 3 or 4-months-old and then increase in frequency as the child ages. At the age of 10, alpha wave activity is similar to that of an adult’s.

(16:28) Electrodes can be implanted very deep into an animal’s brain which allows scientists to conduct experiments on animals that they could not perform on humans.

(17:14) The scientists monitor a cat’s brain activity. The cat is anesthetized and supposedly does not feel pain.

(18:46) The scientist demonstrates how stimulation to the brain stem of a cat causes the cat to wake up.

(19:27) This leads to a change from slow waves to fast waves.

(21:16) The cat presses a lever to get a food reward.

(21:37) A different stimulation leads to the cat sleeping.

(22:07) The cat becomes tired and prepares to sleep.

(22:41) This also prevents learning activity.

(22:52) The cat’s interest in the rat wanes.

(23:17) Monkeys are more similar to humans.

(23:36) The monkey is placed in a box. He has learned to recognize squares and triangles. He receives a reward.

(24:18) Recording electrodes are placed on his head.

(24:40) This monkey prepares to undertake a 14-day simulation of space flight. The monkey is placed in a restraint suit and is subjected to prolonged isolation as well as other tests. This study hopes to understand how humans would respond to longer periods of time in space.

(27:48) In the future, brain research will seek to understand higher-level cognition.

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