Myers’ PSYCHOLOGY
(7th Ed)
Chapter 2
Neuroscience, Genetics
and Behavior
James A. McCubbin, PhD
Clemson University
Worth Publishers
1
Understanding the Brain….D—Ohhhhh!!!
2
3
Neural Communication
 Biological Psychology
 branch of psych concerned w/ links between biology
& behavior
 some biological psychologists AKA:
 behavioral neuroscientists
 neuropsychologists
 behavior geneticists
 physiological psychologists…..or
 biopsychologists
 Neuron
 a nerve cell
 It’s the basic building block of the nervous system
4
Parts of a Neuron:
 Dendrite: bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that
receive messages & conduct impulses toward the cell body
 Axon: extension of a neuron, ending in branching
terminal fibers,
-messages are sent thru it to other neurons or to muscles
or glands
 Myelin [MY-uh-lin] Sheath: a layer of fatty cells
segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons
 enables vastly greater transmission speed of neutral
impulses… deterioration can = multiple sclerosis
 Another “demyelinating” disease: Guillain-Barre
Syndrome: Action potentials in peripheral NS
--faulty immune reaction attacks the myelin
5
Neural Communication
6
7
Neural Communication
 Synapse [SIN-aps]
 Where the end of 1 neuron (axon terminus) &
dendrite of next neuron join up…
 tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or
cleft
 EACH neuron can make up to 10,000 connections!!!
 Neurotransmitters
 chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps
between neurons
 when released by the sending neuron, N-T’s travel
across the synapse & bind to receptor sites on the
receiving neuron, & this influences whether it will
generate a neural impulse
8
Cell A: Sending neuron
Cell B: Receiving neuron
9
Neural networks or connections
Inset shows vesicles + receptor sites + neurotransmitters
being released from axon of sending to dendrite of
10
receiving..
Neural Communication
 Action Potential:
 a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge
that travels down an axon
 generated by the mov’t of positively charged
atoms in and out of channels in the axon’s
membrane
 
 Threshold
 the level of stimulation required to trigger a
neural impulse
11
Neuron’s (elec.) impulse = action potential:
[“I sing the body electric!” (WW) ]
Signals from other neurons can be excitatory
(accelerator) or inhibitory (brakes)
“party animal vs. party pooper”: fires if animals
win!
Reaction = is “All-or-nothing”:
Like a gun: It fires …or doesn’t
Strength of stimulus does NOT = stronger a
impulse
It IS just more neurons firing
EX: Light touch … or big hug?
12
Synapse = 1/millionth of inch wide! N-T’s jump this &
carry impulse across thru chem. Process
(What does “N-T” stand for???)
Chemical process: is “selectively permeable”
 i.e., blocks out sodium ions when “resting”…
 When hits threshold, charge comes …
 GATES open & let in sodium (Na)
 This carries charge down to terminal buttons…
 Then neurotransmitters (N-T’s) take over
13
(+) & (-) ions:
• Fluid inside = (-) ions
• Fluid outside = (+) ions
When it’s like this it is a resting potential
(ain’t fired up yet!)
 Gates open …..(+)Na ions get in = firing as reaches
threshold…when +Na inside = more than -Na inside
 Refractory (resting) period: As each section of
axon fires & carries the impulse, it then “rests”
(refractory) & it pumps the Na back out…
Analogy: like a camera battery..get green light…take pic…
get red light… camera has to “rest & recharge
 It’s then able to fire again
14
Neural Communication
Cell body end
of axon
Direction of neural impulse: toward axon terminals
15
Neural Communication
16
Neural connections in a neural network: What they
really look like…
17
Neural
Pathways:
• Neurotransmitters:
Each N-T has specific
routes thru brain…
…& these = “pathways”
• Functions: see table 2.1, p. 62
EX: Endorphins (“morphine
w/in”): released to deal w/
pain….w/ psych. stress….&
also w/ strenuous exercise
(Endor. can also affect moods)
18
Pathways: Route each N-T takes…
Route thru brain is different for each N-T
Serotonin Pathways
Dopamine Pathways19
The
Dopamine
Pathway hits
a LOT of
areas that
deal with
pleasure,
emotion, etc.
Dopamine is
plays a large
role in many
drug
addictions
20
Neural Communication…p. 62
 KNOW THESE!!!
21
Some major N-T’s:
 Acetylcholine [ah-seat-el-KO-leen] = ACh
 Some of its functions: triggers muscle contractions… motor
activ.
 muscle action + invol. mov’t (heart, etc.)
 joints
 possible memory & arousal (Alzheimer’s)
 NOTE: many poisons block or mimic Ach
 Endorphins [en-DOR-fins]
 “morphine within”
 natural, opiate-like N – T’s
more 
 linked to pain control & to pleasure
 Ease pain sensation, help mood: happiness, feel good
(“sense of well-being”), etc…
 Stress…pain….strenuous exercise
22
Dopamine: involved in volun. mov’t
• Also atten. & basic learning
• “reward centers” (pleasure)
• too little: Parkinson’s too much: Schizophrenia
Serotonin: affects mood; also pain control…
 control of eating, sleep, & arousal
 May affect dreaming
 too much = mania
too little, depress.
Norepinephrine: alertness, wakefulness…& mood
GABA: Sleep
eating disorders
Glutamate: a major excitatory N-T
• Involved in memory
• Too much: over-stimulates brain & = migraines
(MSG in Chinese food?)
23
SSRI’s
(selective
serotonin
reuptake
inhibitors)
Stops
re-absorption
of serotonin
back into
vesicles,
allowing
more to be
processed
used to fight
depression
24
Agonists & Antagonists:
 Agonist: similar enough to mimic NT
It excites & gets receptors going more than usual…
EX: morphine does this to endorphin receptor sites
Antagonist: it inhibits N-T’s
Similar enough to take NT’s place, but not cause needed action
in receptor
EX: ACh & poison curare: blocks reception of NT
Muscles (which?) don’t work…& we’re paralyzed …& die
2 ways: Antagonists can inhibit (hold back) NT's release
OR… can be enough like the NT that it occupies the site &
blocks (EX: curare) its effect, but can't mimic it, so does NOT
stimulate the receptor
 Note: DVD: Brain, Univ. w/in: Evolution
25
N-T “Lock & key” system
Neurotransmitter
molecule
Receptor site on
receiving neuron
Receiving cell
membrane
Agonist mimics
neurotransmitter
Antagonist
blocks
neurotransmitter
26
27
Other Neurotransmitters & drugs that block or mimic them…
(What are those called? Block? Mimic?) Note “alcohol!!”
28
Blood/Brain barrier & N-T’s
 Lets brain block out unwanted chem. in blood…So some
can't sneak thru…
Dr’s can't just inject dopamine for Parkinson's (has
a shortage of dopamine) b/c blood-brain barrier blocks
it…
But another substance, L-dopa, can get in…
THEN once it’s in, it converts to dopamine, so helps
those w/ Parkinsons
EX:
29
Facts RE: Dopamine & Parkinson’s:
Dopamine is found only in the brain
-produced in mid-brain & is chiefly
involved in movement & the “reward
system” (pleasure)
When production slows (like in Parkinson’s),
a person has tremors & shuffling
movement b/c of loss of dopamine's
ability to regulate large movts.
Usually also a loss of weight & less interest
in sex as there's less dopamine for the
pleasure pathways
There are dopamine agonists that could
treat Parkinson's symptoms, but the
problem is getting past the blood-brain
barrier.
-L-dopa will cross the barrier, but for
some reason the brain slowly stops
converting L-dopa into dopamine.
30
The Nervous System(s)
 Nervous System
 body’s speedy, electrochemical
communication system
 NS = all the nerve cells of the peripheral &
central nervous systems
 Central Nervous System (CNS)
 brain & spinal cord
 Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
 the sensory (afferent) & motor (efferent)
neurons that connect the central nervous
system (CNS) to the rest of the body
31
The Nervous System
Nervous
system
Central
(brain and
spinal cord)
Peripheral
Autonomic (controls
self-regulated action of
internal organs and glands)
Somatic: (controls
voluntary movements of
skeletal muscles)
Sympathetic
(arousing)
Parasympathetic
(calming)
Wants homeostasis
32
The Nervous System
 Nerves
 neural “electrical cables” made of
neurons …carries info
 are part of the peripheral nervous system
 connect the central nervous system with
muscles, glands, and sense organs
EX: optic nerve for vision, auditory for
hearing
*Are 3 kinds of neurons in nervous system…
33
The Nervous System
3 types of Neurons:
1) Sensory Neurons (aka afferent): sends info from
body's tissues & sensory organs into the brain &
Sp. cord for processing
-carry incoming info from sense receptors to the CNS
2) Interneurons: in sensory neuron’s processing,
these are used by CNS to allow internal
commmun. betwn. motor & sensory neurons
 CNS neurons that internally communicate & intervene
between the sensory inputs & motor outputs
3) Motor Neurons (aka efferent): CNS uses these to send
instructions back out to the body's tissues
 carry outgoing information from the CNS to muscles
& glands
34
Nervous System: = CNS (brain + sp.cord)
PNS 2 main parts...
+ PNS
 Somatic Nervous System: voluntary things…
 the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls
the body’s skeletal muscles
 Autonomic NS: involuntary
 the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the
glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the
heart)….
ANS is divided into 2 sections….
 Sympathetic NS
 division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the
body, mobilizing (Spends) its energy in stressful situations
 Parasympathetic NS (p. 66--functions)
 division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the
body, conserving (Preserves) its energy
35
The Nervous
System:
Sympathetic
nervous
system gets
you going for
physical
exertion &
exercise OR
for
emergencies
36
The Nervous
System:
The
ParaSympathetic
Nervous
System
calms you
down
and
brings you
back to
homeostasis
(what is that?)
37
The Nervous System
 Neural Networks
 interconnected neural
cells
Neurons in the brain
connect with one
another to form networks
Inputs
Outputs
The brain learns by modifying
certain connections in
response to feedback
 with experience
(learning), networks
can learn, as
feedback strengthens
or inhibits
connections that
produce certain
results
 computer simulations
of neural networks
show analogous
38
learning
The Nervous System: The spinal cord:
Reflex: simple neural paths to the sp-cord: often = 1
sensory neuron + 1 motor neuron "talking thru" a
interneuron
 simple, automatic, inborn response to a sensory
stimulus
EX: "knee-jerk"
…headless warm body could do this!
EX2: pain reflex…flame to fingers = auto reflex…in fact,
jerks away b4 info actually hits brain
Brain
Sensory neuron
(incoming information)
Muscle
Motor neuron
(outgoing
information)
Interneuron
Spinal cord
Skin
receptors
39
But if sp-cord severed at top, you'd not feel pain--or
pleasure…Would do the knee-jerk, but just wouldn't
feel the tap
So…Males could get erection & females could
auto-lubricate if stimulated…but can’t feel the
pleasurable feelings of sex-stim.
Neural networks: May put ?’s into the answers
Read (on p. 68) & explain this process:
a) How is your brain like a computer?
b) How do they use Kobe Bryant’s b-ball skills
as EX: for this?
c) How does Fig. 2.9 show this? Explain this
figure
d) But how is our brain beyond this simplistic
figure?
40
The Brain
 Lesion:
tissue destruction
 a brain lesion is a
naturally or
experimentally caused
destruction of brain
tissue
41
How do the brain & the mind differ? Read p. 69 & we will
discuss…
B4 PET, electron microscope, etc., How did ppl study the
brain?
Dead ppl: could look at & dissect…but is the mind there?
Brain vs. mind: the old philosp. ?
Alive: could use lesions…wounds, damage, disease, etc,
& have for 5000 yrs. (EX?)
-Only in last 200 yrs began to do it scientifically (E---?)
-areas of damage changed behaviors certain ways
NOW: can use elec., chem., or magnetic signals to
stimulate brain to see effects
In animals, can inflict lesions to see effects
EX: in hypothalamus: 1 area = starving self to
death…another = drastically overeating
New ways to study the brain: EEG’s, CT’s, PET’s, MRI’s:
 
42
Electroencephalogram(EEG) :
brain
gives off signals that can be picked up various
ways…thru EEG's: see brain elec. activity on graph
 an amplified
recording of the
waves of electrical
activity that sweep
across the brain’s
surface
 these waves are
measured by
electrodes placed
on the scalp
43
2 EEG views
44
The Brain today:
CT (computed tomography—
”CAT”) Scan: series of x-ray
photographs taken from different
angles & combined by computer
into a composite
Representation of a slice thru the
body; x-ray photos that show damage
PET (positron emission
tomography) Scan:
More dramatic: Shows use of ionized
glucose…
Neurons consume glucose as they are
being used, so inject radioactive
glucose & watch it being used as
person does stuff …“while the brain
performs a given task” (EX: p. 83,
bottom)
45
PET SCANS
5 Activities 
Parkinson’s/
Norm.

46
MRI (magnetic resonance
imaging):
Uses magnetic fields to show
soft tissues--like very detailed
photo (compared to CT)
fMRI's (functional MRI's)
 Special MRI that works by
monitoring blood flow
 Can photogr. activity, like a
more detailed PET scan
 Shows when things happen,
how areas change, & how
areas work together
47
MRI
Scans:
Noting 
ventricles
Below:
Pituitary
48
These techniques = what the microscope did for
biology & telescope for astronomy
New discoveries are constantly coming in
*Look at bottom of p. 71 for new samples of info
Parts of The Brain:
 Lower brain: Ratio of body wt. to brain wt. ?
-capabilities give better view:
-primitive vertebrates (EX:shark): breathe, rest,
feed…but lower mammals (EX: rats) = more
emotion & memory…
--even more advanced…humans…have
foresight--ability to plan & think ahead
49
The Lower Brain:
 Brainstem: the oldest part & central core of the
brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells
as it enters the skull…looks like “walking stick”
 responsible for automatic survival functions
 Medulla [muh-DUL-uh]
 base of the brainstem where sp-cord enters brain
 controls heartbeat and breathing
 can cut this from the higher brain & can still
breathe & live
50
The Lower Brain (cont’d.):
 Reticular Formation: nerve network in the brainstem
that plays an important role in controlling arousal
(aka reticular activation system: RAS)
-is higher into stem, above medulla, betwn. our
ears…& goes up into the thalamus
--responsible for arousal…activity levels: awake?
excited? asleep? EX: cat experiments…p. 72
 Thalamus [THAL-uh-muss]: 2 (joined) egg- shaped
structures at top of brainstem receives all sensory info
(except smell) & transmits replies to the cerebellum &
medulla (brain’s “relay station for info”)
 also seems to help w/ keeping us asleep & help us
come awake
51
The Lower Brain Pons: middle-”bump” =
Facial expressions + Sleep & attention
So…thalamus…pons…medulla…& reticular
form. goes across it all…( the blue section)
52
The Lower Brain functions = no conscious effort, as
is most brain activ. (we know we're seeing, but not
how we are seeing…)
Cerebellum [sehr-uh-BELLum]
 the “little brain” attached to
the rear of the brainstem
 automatic (nonverbal)
learning & memory
 but main function =
coordinating movement,
balance, etc.
 damage = mov’t.
becomes jerky,
exaggerated
53
The Brain: moving on up…
 Limbic System:
 Doughnut-shaped system of neural
structures at the border of the brainstem
& cerebral hemispheres
 associated w/ (not totally responsible for)
emotions such as rage, fear & aggression, &
drives such as those for food & sex (4 F’s??)
 also assoc. w/ forming emotional memories
 includes the hippocampus, amygdala, &
hypothalamus.
54
Ch 1 test info on grading
 Common problems in Ch 1 test:
 Need more &/or better details—more SPECIFIC
(“look in depth”…like how? Type of data
collected? “Collect testing info, med. records,
family interviews, subject interviews, etc.”)
 Write in complete sentences—do not just bullet
short phrases. To organize info well, may USE A)
B) C) etc., but still need to write out
 Clarify: info is often too vague—comes close but
“no cigar…” Be specific
55
Amygdala [ah-MIG-dah-la]:
2 almond-shaped neural
clusters that are components
of the limbic system & are
linked to emotions:
anger, joy/pleasure, & fear
Influences memory, especially
those tied to emotion
Hippocampus:
Part of limbic system that turns
short-term memory into longterm memory so it can be
retrieved later
Those w/ damaged hippocampus
can’t store new memories…
…so they live in the past
They don’t lose their old
memories, however
56
The Brain
Hypothalamus
 neural structure lying below
(hypo) the thalamus; directs
several maintenance activities
-Eating, drinking, & body temperature
 helps govern the endocrine
system via the pituitary
(master gland) gland
 is linked to emotion & the
“pleasure centers” (aka “reward
centers”…cortex= nucleus
accumbens)
--these centers seem to have
assoc. w/ dopamine release
57
The Limbic System
58
The Limbic System
(D-M Arch. #26, Motivation, disc 2)
 Electrode implanted in “reward center”
59
The Cerebral Cortex:
 Cerebral Cortex: the intricate fabric of
interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral
hemispheres (see p. 77: fig. 2.17)
-body’s ultimate control & info processing
center……that “wrinkly grey cap…”
--if opened w/o folds/wrinkles, would = about size of
large pizza
Glial Cells: N-S cells (“glue cells”) that…
-support
-nourish
-guide connections
-provide myelin
-protect neurons
-mop up ions & NT’s (“house-keeping cells”)
-may help w/ transmitting info & memory
60
61
The Cerebral Cortex:
**Be careful w/ saying “…is in this area”
…b/c it’s all tied & interrelated!!
Frontal Lobes: involved in …
-speaking
-muscle movements
-in making plans & judgments -higher level thinking
-contains motor cortex
 Parietal Lobes: include the sensory (aka
“somatosensory”) cortex: sense of body in space
 Occipital Lobes: include the visual areas, which receive
visual information from the opposite visual field; contains
visual cortex
 Temporal Lobes: include the auditory areas: (think
“temples”); left hemisphere contains Wernicke’s area &
the auditory cortex
62
The Cerebral Cortex
63
The Cerebral Cortex
 Motor Cortex
 area at the rear
of the frontal
lobes that
controls voluntary
movements
 Sensory Cortex
 area at the front
of the parietal
lobes that
registers and
processes body
sensations
64
The Cerebral Cortex (& the
“humunculus”):
65
The Cerebral Cortex
 Functional
MRI (f MRI)
scan
 Shows the
visual cortex
activated as
the subject
looks at faces
66
Phrenology:
1800’s: The
“science” that
wasn’t
Bumps were
thought to
indicate
character traits
& abilities
Was not tested
scientifically
…BUT…it did
lead to idea of
specific
abilities in
certain brain
regions
67
Brain Basics
68
Some brain areas are “uncommitted”
areas…But some are “dedicated”
…like Visual & Auditory Cortex
69
Association Areas
More intelligent animals have increased“uncommitted”
or association areas of the cortex:Extra memory banks
Discov. Psych: Prg. 25: Cognitive Neuroscience:
Phineas Gage Measuring brain’s activity
Vision; retinal-topic mapping
70
The Cerebral Cortex:
When things go wrong…what is affected?
 Aphasia
 Impairment of language, usually caused by left
hemisphere damage either to Broca’s area
(impairing speaking) or to Wernicke’s area
(impairing understanding)
 Broca’s Area: actually speaking
 an area of the left frontal lobe that directs
the muscle movements involved in speech
 Wernicke’s Area: understand & think of a
response
 an area of the left temporal lobe involved in
language comprehension & expression
71
QUICK QUIZ!!!!!!
Ck. yrself…
• 1. The molecular shape of some drugs prevents them from
passing thru the ______ ______
• 2. The CNS sends messages TO the body’s tissues by means
of __ ___.
• 3) Info comes into the CNS from the body by means of __
__.
• 4) The ____ division of the autonomic system produces
relaxation & brings the body back to homeostasis. (Write at
bottom!!)
• 5) At the top of the brain is the ____ which serves as the
brain’s “switchboard” to the areas of the brain.
• 6) The ability of the brain to repair itself is known as _____.
• 7) Between the brainstem & the cerebral hemispheres is the
____ system.
• 8) (See # 7) One part of this system that processes memory
is known as the ___ ___.
• 9) The non-neural cells that support, protect, & nourish
cortical neurons are called ____ cells.
• #10) 11) 12) & 13): In alphabetical order….what are the
4 lobes of the brain?
72
Specialization & Integration: “Dedicated” areas
(dedicated = “wired” for specific type of info)
73
Specialization & Integration
 Brain activity when hearing, seeing, & speaking
words
  
74
75
76
Brain Reorganization
 Plasticity
 The brain’s capacity for modification, as evident in
brain reorganization following damage (especially in
children) & in experiments on the effects of
experience on brain development
 Brain reorganizes info areas…
77
PRUNING:
1) “Use it …OR Lose it!”
Pruning the unused
neurons (“data
storage area” or ...
Association area)
2) Neural Networks:
How neurons form
collections of
connections &
can lead to a
“train of
thought…”
EX: Apple???
78
Our Divided Brain
Corpus callosum
 Corpus
Callosum
 large band of
neural fibers
 connects the
two brain
hemispheres
 carries
messages
between the
hemispheres
79
Our Divided Brain
 The
information
highway from
the eye to the
brain
80
Split Brain
 a condition in which
the two hemispheres
of the brain are
isolated by cutting
the connecting fibers
(mainly those of the
corpus callosum)
between them
 (1st in 1961)
(vid.: Sci. Am. )
81
Split Brain
or
2 words separated
by a dot are
momentarily
projected.
82
Hemispheres: Lateralization
Split brain shows different functions…left
controls rt., rt. controls left
But…vision doesn’t change b/c….?
Hemispheric dominance:
For about 10% of total population, right
hemisph. controls speech, etc. (but 25% of
left-handed folks)
--can put 1 hemisph. to sleep & look at
behaviors in other
Some...NOT ALL...hemispheric functions 83
LEFT BRAIN
Speech
Language
Logic, sequence
Writing
Math (arithmetic,
algebra)
Hearing hi tones
Broca’s & Wernicke’s
Language Areas
l
RIGHT BRAIN
.
Spatial reasoning
Art
Music
Geometry
Emotions
Recognizing faces
Hearing low tones
84
brilliantabacus.com/images/Brain_Functions_Pi
85
 Handedness:
(+ -) 10% = left-handed
-slightly more males
A human trait…most other
primates 50/50…
Chimps & gorillas = about 35% L
Left-handed: In past it =
Chimp gets termites
w/ left-hand
a negative trait (gauche, etc)
-more reading disabilities,
migraines, allergies
BUT… more musicians, artists,
certain ball-players,
mathematicians…& tends to
disappear w/ age
86
Disappearing Southpaws
 The % of left-handers decreases sharply in samples of
older people (adapted from Coren, 1993).
 Read pp. 90-91 & summarize: Why did some think this
was happening? Who disagreed? Who got angry &
why? Goes into writing folders….
Percentage of 14%
left-handedness
12
10
The percentage of
lefties sharply
declines with age
8
6
4
2
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Age in years
70
80
90
87
Summary: Brain Structures & their
Functions
88
Endocrine
System
 the body’s “slow”
chemical
communication
system
(Which is FASTER
system???)
 a set of glands that
secrete hormones
into the
bloodstream
 influence growth,
reproduction,
89
metabolism & mood
Hormones
 chemical messengers…mostly those manufactured
by the endocrine glands
 produced in 1 tissue & affect another
 Gonads:
Ovaries in females (estrogen & progesterone)
Testes in males (mainly testosterone, a type of
androgen that affects production of male sex traits)
 Pituitary Gland
 under the influence of the hypothalamus, the
pituitary regulates growth & controls other
endocrine glands: “master gland”
 hGH: human growth hormone (see BIG article)
90
aka somatotrophine
Gigantism & Dwarfism:
Problems in the
pituitary gland
Click for Video Below:
Leonid Stadnik Ukrainian with Gigantism
91
92
Adrenal [ah-DREEN-el] Glands
 a pair of endocrine glands just above the kidneys
 secrete the hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) &
helps to arouse the body in times of stress (F—F??)
-norepinephrine (aka noradrenaline): calms back
down/homeostasis; helps with mood, etc.
Adrenal glands also produce cortical steroids for
strength and muscle building
The HULK???
Endocrine system works w/ “feedback system”
brain  pituitary  other glands  hormones  brain
*Be sure to make note (p. 95) of all the other glands &
their functions from diagram
93
Endocrine system’s
“feedback”…
Epinephrine (aka??) &
Estrogen/Progesterone
94
95
Summary:
Remember… everything psychological is ___?____
And although sci. have learned tremendous amts., what
we still don’t know is way more than what we know.
Psych study has gone from phrenology—which did
make scientist start looking at the idea that certain
areas of the brain were associated w/ certain
functions—to neuroscience
-will continue w/ biological aspects with next
chapter, Genetics & Behaviors: Nature vs.
Nurture
96
Read & Respond:
Read pp. 92-93: Left/Right Brain?
Respond (paragraph form) w/ min. 3-4
sentences for each item below
A) What do people mean by left brained?
right brained?
B) Why is this an exaggeration?
C) Explain the problems with info in the
media that goes “...from scientist to
reader.”
D) Then why does the author caution
students to “…not discount everything
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you read?”
F. Neurotransmitters:
Name that N-T!!!!!!
1. controls muscle action + involuntary mov’t (heart,
etc.); joints
-possible memory & arousal
-poison works to block, etc.
2. voluntary mov’t
-atten. & basic learn.
-too little = Parkinson’s too much = schizophrenia
3. mood; also pain control…
-control of eating, sleep, & arousal; maybe dreaming
-too much = mania; too little = depress.
4. alertness, wakefulness…& mood (related to depres.)
5. sleep, eating disorders; too much can = migraines
6. pain sensation, mood: happiness, feel good, “sense of
well-being”, etc.; chem. related to opiates
7. inhibitory NT that affects seizures, tremors, & insomnia
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CH 2 (cont.’d)
MATCH each!
-thalamus
*Limbic system:
-medulla
-pons
-amygdala
-hippocampus
-hypothalamus
-reticular formation
-cerebellum
1. change STM  LTM
2.thirst, hunger & sex drives
+ aggression + reward ctr.
3. activity levels; attention
4. controls “4 F’s”
5. balance & some classic.
condi. + dexterity
6.emotions, aggression, fear
7.breathing & heart-rate
8.“switch board” of the
brain
9. facial expressions
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Endocrine system match-up:
-Adrenal glands
-Pituitary gland
-Pancreas
-Thyroid
-pineal gland
-gonads
1. set point; metabolism
2. fight/flight; stress
3. hGh (somatotrophine)
& master gland
4. puberty; sex hormones
5. maintains glucose
levels
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