CHAPTER 3 – BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF PSYCHOLOGY

Biological Psychology – study of the cells and organs of the body and the physical and chemical changes involved in behavior and mental processes

NERVOUS SYSTEM

* Complex combination of cells that allows you to gain information about what is going on inside and outside your body and to respond appropriately


Neuron - cells that are specialized to rapidly respond to signals and quickly send signals of their own


* Dendrites – fibers that ____________ signals from the _________ of other neurons and carry those signals to cell body

* Soma – cell body

* Axon – fibers that carry signals away from the _____________

* Synapse –


Action Potentials

* Cell body surrounded by membrane that is _______________________

* Uneven distribution of positive and negative charged ions (molecules with electrochemical charge) inside and outside of cell

* Internal environment – “polarized”



* Depolarization - 




* Action potential = fire!


o All-or-none –


* Myelin – fatty substance covering axon that speeds up transmission

* Refractory period – “break time” until cell is repolarized (before neuron can fire again)


Synapses and Communication Between Neurons

* Must change electrochemical signal to chemical signal (neurotransmitter)

* Receptor sites of neighbor “postsynaptic” cell – 



* Postsynaptic potential – 


o If more positive cells enter --> cell _______________ --> excitatory postsynaptic potential = ______________


o If more negative cells enter --> cell _______________ --> inhibitory postsynaptic potential = ______________

o Firing of neuron depends on relative number of EPSPs and IPSPs 



PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (DIAGRAM ON P. 64)

* Somatic Nervous System

o Transmits information from ___________ to ________________

o Carries signals from the _____________ to ____________ for movement

* Autonomic Nervous System

o Carries messages to and from ______________ and __________________

o Outside of conscious control

* Sympathetic system – mobilizes body for _________ in face of __________


* Parasympathetic system – regulates body’s function to ________________


CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (DIAGRAM ON P. 64)

* Brain (more detail below)

* Spinal cord – receives signals from senses and relays them to the brain

o Direct simple behaviors or ____________


THE BRAIN

Subdivisions

* Hindbrain

o Medulla –


o Reticular formation –



o Locus coeruleus –



o Cerebellum –


* Midbrain – composed of nuclei called substantia nigra that is necessary for :


* Forebrain

o Thalamus –


o Hypothalamus –


o Cerebrum 

* Limbic system

* Amygdala –


* Hippocampus –


o Cerebral cortex – analysis of information from all senses, voluntary movements, higher order thought

o Sensory cortex

* Visual – 


* Auditory –


* Somatosensory –


o Motor cortex – frontal lobe, voluntary movement


o Association cortex –


* Broca’s area -



* Wernicke’s area –



THE DIVIDED BRAIN IN A UNIFIED SELF

* Corpus callosum –


* Lateralization - 



NEUROTRANSMITTERS – THE BIG SEVEN

Chemical that transfer information from the axon of one neuron to the dendrite of another

* Acetylcholine – 


* Norepinephrine – 


* Serotonin – 


* Dopamine – 


* GABA – 


* Glutamate – 


* Endorphins – 


ENDOCHRINE SYSTEM AT A GLANCE

**  Be sure to know about the major glands of the ES (page 93)

* Regulates functions from _____________ to physical __________

* Glands secrete ____________ onto target organs

* The ES influences the following:

* Fight-or-flight syndrome

* Release of androgens (sex hormones)


IMMUNE SYSTEM AT A GLANCE

* Body’s sensory and surveillance system

* Improper activity can have disruptive or deadly consequences (e.g., AIDS)


ADDITIONAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES

* Define nuclei and fiber tracts. (see The Central Nervous System:  Making Sense of the World)

* Describe the experimental methods used by scientists in their study of Alzheimer’s disease. (see Focus on Research Methods:  Manipulating Genes in Animal Models of Human Disease)

* Define synaptic plasticity. Explain why it is impossible for the brain to heal damaged neurons. Describe the methods used to help people recover from brain damage today. (see Plasticity:  Repairing Damage in the Central Nervous System)

* Describe the changes that occur in the nervous system throughout development. (see Linkages:  Human Development and the Changing Brain)

* Describe the effects of nootropic drugs and the conclusions that are most reasonable about their use as “smart drugs.” (see Thinking Critically:  Are There Drugs That Can Make You Smarter?)