Worth listening to: 25 online lectures of the Stanford course on human behavior in Russian

Sexual behavior, genetics, schizophrenia, and much more in the 25 lectures of the course “Human Behavior Biology” by Professor Robert Sapolsky in Russian.

Фото: Depositphotos

Edition TJournal published all the 25 lectures of Professor Robert Sapolsky's “Biology of Human Behavior” course given by him at Stanford University in 2010.

Robert Sapolsky is an American neuroendocrinologist, professor of biology, neurology and neurosurgery at Stanford University, researcher and author of books. Awarded a number of top awards, including the Carl Sagan Prize for the popularization of science.

Who is the course for?

For the development of the material from the listener does not require a deep knowledge of biology. The professor talks in detail and in an accessible form about the many factors that influence our actions, and also examines various types of behavior with specific examples: aggressive, sexual, parental and others. Sapolsky himself in an introductory lecture claims that it is worth familiarizing yourself with this subject to absolutely every person, regardless of his specialization.

Lecture #1: Introduction. Professor Robert Sapolsky introduces students to the basic principles of the course. He demonstrates the relationship between our actions and biological factors on the example of very strange behavior. The professor also talks about the importance of using an interdisciplinary approach in order not to repeat the mistakes of scientists who tried to explain behavior in one direction.

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

Lecture #2: Behavior Evolution, I. Professor Robert Sapolsky talks about the fact that you can learn about the behavior of the whole species just by a pair of skulls. The professor explains the basic mechanisms of natural selection, how they shape the behavior of animals, making it more altruistic or selfish, and how it relates to mathematical models of game theory.

Lecture #3: Behavior Evolution, II. Professor Robert Sapolsky talks about the complex interdisciplinary relationships in different species, about how infanticide increases the reproductive success of the male, and physiological tricks help the females to save offspring. The professor also introduces students to genomic imprinting, evolutionary entrevolts and various types of selection, developing the theme of pair and tournament types in an attempt to determine where a person belongs.

Lecture #4: Molecular Genetics, I. Professor Robert Sapolsky talks about the principles of evolution at the molecular level, the gradual model and the role of point genetic mutations. We familiarize ourselves with the theory of discontinuous equilibrium put forward by Gould and Eldridge, according to which long periods of stasis give way to abrupt changes in evolutionary changes in a short period of time.

Lecture #5: Molecular Genetics, II. In the second lecture on molecular genetics, Robert Sapolsky focuses on the role of the environment and promoters in gene expression. He explains what lies behind the popular phrase “In humans and chimpanzees, DNA coincides by 98%” and develops the theme of DNA variability, affecting mutations of splicing enzymes, transcription factors and the phenomenon of “jumping genes”, which have long been considered impossible. The professor also talks about antibiotic resistant bacteria and the unexpected consequences of trying to domesticate black foxes.

Lecture #6: Behavioral Genetics, I. Robert Sapolsky talks about the successes and failures in searching for the genetic basis of behavior, unsuccessful attempts to isolate the “mathematical gene” and other misconceptions 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 influence their children much more than fathers, even at the biological level.

Lecture #7: Behavioral Genetics, II. Professor Robert Sapolsky talks about how scientists establish a link between an external trait and the DNA segment that is responsible for it, and also what is meant when they talk about the "heritability of the trait." Particular attention is paid to the role of chance in the formation and development of the organism, as well as the fact that living conditions predict human behavior better than its genome.

Lecture #8: Recognition of relatives. Professor Robert Sapolsky talks about what epigenetics is and how to interpret 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 reproduction and building hierarchical relationships.

Lecture #9: Ethology. Professor Robert Sapolsky talks about successful and not very methods of studying the behavior of animals. He presents students with a brief history of ethology, based on the principle of communicating with animals "in their language." We will also learn from the lecture about innate reactions and fixed action patterns, bee dances, sensory triggers, the theory of the mind and the secret of universal love for Mickey Mouse.

Lecture #10: Introduction to Neuroscience, I. Nathan, a graduate student at Stanford University, talks about the nervous system and brain, its departments and functions, the structure and principle of operation of neurons. Anthony, a Stanford undergraduate student, explains the processes occurring at the synapse and how they affect human behavior. It introduces students to neuropharmacology, as well as the different types and functions of neurotransmitters.

Lecture #11: Introduction to Neuroscience II. Patrick House, a Stanford graduate student, reveals the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying memory and its various impairments. He talks about the problems associated with the isolation of the necessary information about neural networks and categorical thinking. From Dana Tarker, a junior teacher, we learn about the autonomic vegetative nervous system, its effects on human organs and sexual life, as well as the role of norepinephrine and acetylcholine.

Lecture #12: Endocrinology. Assistants William Peterson and Tom McFadden tell how single-celled 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 the endocrine glands and neurotransmitters, as well as the complex interactions between the hormonal system and the brain.

Lecture #13: Neurology and Endocrinology. Professor Robert Sapolsky 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 failure in their work are illustrated by the example of clinical depression and diabetes.

Lecture #14: Limbic system. Professor Robert Sapolsky returns to the examination of the brain, revealing the concept of “Peipets emotional circle”, dwelling on the limbic system and the functions of its components. He talks about the main methods used to study the functions of various areas of the brain: anatomical, biochemical, and functional visualization. Special attention is paid to the mechanisms of mutual regulation between our body and the limbic system.

Lecture #15: Sexual behavior, I. Professor Robert Sapolsky talks about the basic elements of animal sexual behavior, introducing students to the concepts of attractiveness, proceptivity and receptivity, and also explains the role of fixed action patterns and the limbic system. He focuses on how we are affected by a sense of anticipation of reward and the effect of randomness. The difficult question of the connection between dopamine, oxytocin and vasopressin with the monogamy of various animals, including humans, is raised. The topics of homosexuality, transsexuality and starting incentives are also covered.

Lecture #16: Sexual behavior, II. In this lecture, Professor Robert Sapolsky talks about existing strategies for sexual behavior in different species, and how this could lead to licentiousness, promiscuity and high competition among males. A variety of methods that they use to reduce the reproductive success of rivals, as well as protective measures by which females try to protect themselves and their offspring are considered.

Lecture #17: Sexual Behavior, III; Aggression, I. In this lecture, Professor Sapolsky talks about the evolution of homosexuality, criticizes theories of criminology of the 19th century, talks about the attractiveness, criteria for choosing a partner and homogamy. In the second part, he proceeds to discuss the manifestations of aggression and empathy, as well as the role of one of the brain zones, amygdala, in our behavior.

Lecture #18: Aggression, ІI. Professor Robert Sapolsky tells how our brain processes information in the presence of a threat, how the frontal lobe helps us to keep ourselves “within the bounds of decency” and what happens when it is damaged. The complex issue of the role of the environment, education and physiology in the context of the justice system is touched upon. The professor also explains why love and hate are closer than they seem, and almost the same brain areas are responsible for physical and emotional sensations. In the end, he shares a curious story of how, almost half a century ago, the US Army suddenly became interested in the behavior of coyotes, woodchucks and hyenas.

Lecture #19: Aggression, ІII. 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 Sapolsky talks about various factors that may affect your behavior, in particular, about alcohol, testosterone levels and PMS, the effect of which is different from the usual. It considers various hypotheses about the connection of aggression with disappointment, fear, emotions, empathy, as well as a possible causal link between the legalization of abortions in the fall of the crime rate in the US at the end of 80.

Lecture #20: Aggression, IV. The final session on the topic of aggression discusses the effects of male hormones, in particular, girls who have undergone prenatal androgenization. Possible genetic and cultural background of aggressive behavior are considered. Robert Sapolsky talks about pseudo-kinship and pseudo-alienation, which can be used both to support the war and to create peace. At the end of the lesson, the professor shares personal memories of the tragic events in Uganda 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 the reductive approach to the study of the surrounding world. Both the advantages that laid the foundation of modern science and the limitations that began to manifest themselves in attempts to describe the human brain. Professor Robert Sapolsky retells the main principles of the theory of chaos, introduces the concept of a fractal, and then brings it to the modern understanding of the structure of living systems, in particular, neural connections in the human brain.

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

Lecture #22: Emergence and complexity. Professor Robert Sapolsky talks about cellular automata and neural networks, the neurophysiology of creativity and how fractals and the blood system, potato chips and mathematical equations, the behavior of insects and the formation of our brain are related. He also explains why the classical reductionist scientific approach stops working when it comes to the most interesting.

Lecture #23: Language. In this lecture, Robert Sapolsky talks about the general features of languages ​​and explains how human language differs, whether sign or sound, from the way other animals communicate. Like any other question, Sapolsky considers language from the point of view of neuroscience: in which areas of the brain the language is “stored”, which are violations of speech synthesis and perception. It also discusses cases of learning the language of monkeys, the results and conclusions from the experiments conducted.

Lecture #24: Schizophrenia. The first 20 minutes of the lecture are devoted to the topic of the previous session. The professor explains the role of genes in the emergence of language and the possibility of the existence of "innate grammar." In the main part, Robert Sapolsky explains what is meant by the broad concept of "schizophrenia." He tells the story of the search for the causes of schizophrenia, the genes responsible for it. Robert Sapolsky describes the ways in which the schizophrenic spectrum disorders occur and their dependence on the culture in which the person lives with the corresponding symptoms.

Lecture #25: Individual characteristics. In the last lecture of the course, Robert Sapolsky explains the difficulties of separating disorders and disorders from the individual characteristics of any person. The professor also discusses an important topic: how to apply the knowledge that he shared in his lectures.

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