UNIT THREE: BIOLOGY
TO BEGIN CLASS
Think back on the 5 minutes of passing
time before you got to class today. Make
a list of all of the things that your body
did, saw, felt, thought, etc.
Write these ideas on a separate sheet of
paper
TODAY
The Nervous System
How is it structured?
How does our brain communicate with
the rest of the body?
OUR GOALS FOR TODAY
I can understand the basic structures of
the nervous system
I can explain how neurons communicate
with one another inside the human body
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
The human nervous system has two
parts:
CENTRAL Nervous System: consists of
the BRAIN and SPINAL CORD
PERIPHERAL Nervous System: made up
of nerve cells that send messages
between the central nervous system and
the rest of the body
NEURONS
Neurons, or NERVE CELLS, run through
our bodies to SEND and RECEIVE
messages from structures such as
muscles and glands
Examples of messages: pain, pleasure,
heat, cold, etc.
PARTS OF A NEURON
CELL BODY: produces energy to fuel the
cell’s activity
DENDRITES: thin fibers that RECEIVE
information from other neurons and pass
messages through the cell body
AXON: carries messages away from the
neuron
PARTS OF A NEURON (CONT.)
MYELIN: a white fatty substance that
insulates and protects the axon, helping
to speed up messages
AXON TERMINALS: fibers at the end of
the axon, they branch out to other
neurons to send messages
HOW NEURONS COMMUNICATE
Messages are sent across a SYNAPSE,
which is where the axon terminals of one
neuron meet the dendrites of another
neuron
Messages travel in only ONE direction
NEW synapses develop when we learn
something
HOW NEURONS COMMUNICATE (CONT.)
Types of neurons: motor neurons
(movement), sensory neurons (touch)
Communication between neurons can be
disrupted, especially by blows to the
head, such as in contact sports like
football, which supports the idea of
memory as a BIOLOGICAL process
Video: How A Neuron Fires
NEUROTRANSMITTERS
Neurons send messages across synapses
by using chemicals in the axon
terminals, called NEUROTRANSMITTERS
There are several types of
neurotransmitters, each with their own
UNIQUE structure
Some conditions have been connected to
an abundance or a lack of certain
transmitters
Acetylcholine: involved in control of
muscles; a lack of acetylcholine can lead to
impaired memory formation
Dopamine: involved with motor behavior;
NOT ENOUGH dopamine is linked to
Parkinson’s disease; TOO MUCH dopamine
has been linked to schizophrenia
Noradrenaline; aids in preparing the
body for action
Serotonin: related to emotional arousal
and sleep
PHANTOM LIMB PAIN
Yesterday, one of my psychology students
brought up this idea of phantom limbs and
how it connects to the way our neurons
communicate
I wanted to share this video with you to help
you see that even with a missing limb, the
neurons are still communicating with each
other
THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
The central nervous system contains the
brain (to be discussed later) and the
spinal cord, which reaches from the
brain down the back and delivers
messages between the BRAIN and the
MUSCLES AND GLANDS throughout the
body
The spinal cord is involved with
REFLEXES, or automatic responses to
something that happens
THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
Contains Two Systems Within Itself:
Somatic Nervous System
Autonomic Nervous System
SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
The somatic nervous system transmits
SENSORY messages to the central
nervous system
It is activated by TOUCH, PAIN,
temperature changes, and body position
changes
It helps us maintain POSTURE and
BALANCE
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
Autonomic means “OCCURRING
INVOLUNTARILY,” or automatically
The autonomic nervous system regulates
the body’s vital functions, like your
HEART RATE, BLOOD PRESSURE, and
BREATHING
This system is especially important in
times of stress because stress responses
tend to be automatic
Sympathetic: often described as your
“fight or flight” response, this system
prepares your body for ACTION
Suppresses DIGESTION, increases HEART
rate, etc.
Parasympathetic: the opposite of the
sympathetic nervous system, the
parasympathetic nervous system
RELAXES the body after an action
heart rate and blood pressure are
DECREASED, digestion resumes, etc.
PARASYMPATHETIC V. SYMPATHETIC
SYSTEMS
NOW LETS MAKE SOME NOTECARDS!
The Nervous System
Central Nervous
System
Peripheral Nervous
System
Neuron
Dendrite
Axon
Myelin
Synapse
Neurotransmitter
Somatic Nervous
System
Autonomic Nervous
System
Sympathetic Nervous
System
Parasympathetic
Nervous System
OUR GOALS FOR TODAY
I can identify the different structures of
the human brain
I can recognize how drug use/abuse alter
the human body
ARTICLE: CELL TO CELL SIGNALING AND
DISRUPTION
Independently read the article and answer the
following questions on a separate sheet of
paper
What is the research question/questions?
How do drugs alter neurotransmission?
What is a key effect that all abused drugs
appear to have in common?
Which neurotransmitter does ecstasy affect?
What are the physical results of this?
THE BRAIN
We have not always had a clear
understanding of where thoughts come
from. Some believed the soul, some
believed it was almost as if it were an art
The ancient Egyptians believed that a
LITTLE PERSON dwelled within the skill
and regulated our behavior instead of
believing in brain functions
PARTS OF THE BRAIN:
The brain is
divided into
three sections:
the
HINDBRAIN,
the MIDBRAIN,
and the
FOREBRAIN
The hindbrain is the LOWER PORTION of
the brain and is involved in many vital
functions such as HEART REATE,
RESPIRTION, AND BALANCE
The midbrain includes areas that are
involved in VISION and LANGUAGE
The forebrain is the FRONT PORTION OF
THE BRAIN and is involved in complex
functions such as THOUGHT and
EMOTIONS
THE HINDBRAIN:
The MEDULLA,
PONS, and the
CEREBELLUM
are important
structures of the
hindbrain
THE HINDBRAIN (CONT.)
The medulla is involved in vital functions
such as HEART RATE, BLOOD PRESSURE,
and BREATHING
The pons is located in front of the
medulla and is involved in REGULATING
BODY MOVEMENTS, ATTENTION, SLEEP,
and ALERTNESS
THE HINDBRAIN (CONT.)
The cerebellum (Latin word for ‘little
brain’) is involved in BALANCE and
COORDINATION. A person whose
cerebellum is injured may have trouble
with coordination which could result in
walking unevenly and even occasionally
falling down
THE MIDBRAIN:
Located between the hindbrain and the
forebrain
Areas within the midbrain are involved in
VISION and HEARING
Contains the RETICULAR ACTIVATION
SYSTEM
THE MIDBRAIN
RETICULAR ACTIVATION SYSTEM
This system is important for ATTENTION,
SLEEP and AROUSAL
Some drugs, such as ALCOHOL, reduce the
activity of the reticular activating system, thus
affecting ALERTNESS and REACTION TIME
This system can screen out some noises. For
example, a person who lives in a loud city will
sleep through traffic noises but will be awaken
by a soft bird chirping
THE FOREBRAIN:
The four main areas of the forebrain are
the THALAMUS, the HYPOTHALAMUS, the
LIMBIC SYSTEM, and the CEREBRUM.
The forebrain is the part of the brain that
makes it possible for humans to engage
in COMPLEX THINKING PROCESSES
THE FOREBRAIN (CONT.)
THE THALAMUS
The thalamus (Latin word for ‘inner
chamber’) relays SENSORY STIMULATION.
Thalamus transmits sensory information,
such as pain, to the areas of the brain
that INTERPRET and RESPOND to the
information
THE HYPOTHALAMUS
Located below the thalamus
Is vital to the REGULATION OF BODY
TEMPERATURE, THE STORAGE OF
NUTRIENTS, and various aspects of
motivation and emotion. Also
involved in hunger, thirst, caring for
offspring and aggression.
HYPOTHALAMUS (CONT.)
Disturbances within the hypothalamus
can lead to UNUSUAL DRINKING AND
EATING BEHAVIORS
THE LIMBIC SYSTEM
Involved in LEARNING, MEMORY, and
EMOTION
If a particular part of the limbic system
is damaged, people can recall old
memories but do not create new
memories.
THE CEREBRUM
Cerebrum is Lain for ‘brain’
Accounts for about 70 PERCENT of the
weight of the brain
The outer layer of the brain (known as
the CEREBRAL CORTEX) is WRINKLED
with ridges and valleys
LETS ADD TO OUR NOTECARDS
Hindbrain
Midbrain
Forebrain
Medulla
Pons
Cerebellum
Reticular activation
system
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Limbic system
Cerebrum
ADD TO NERVOUS SYSTEM
NOTES
Nucleus: The part of the neuron is
where cell history and basic
information are stored. It is located
inside the cell body.
MINI QUIZ
Dendrite
Nucleus
Cell Body
Axon
Axon Terminals
Myelin
THE NERVOUS
SYSTEM
Central NS
Brain
Spine
Peripheral NS
Somatic NS
Autonomic NS
Parasympathetic Sympathetic
MONDAY:
ALL notecards need to be made (24
total so far)
You will have a quiz on the nervous
system! If you do the review and
study your notecards you will be
successful on this quiz 
BACK SIDE OF YOUR QUIZ REVIEW
Heart rate and blood pressure increase,
digestion stops (SYMPATHETIC NS)
Leg swings forward in response to being hit on
kneecap (SPINAL CORD)
Heart rate and blood pressure lower, digestion
resumes (PARASYMPATHETIC NS)
Body registers heat and removes hand from
hot plate delivered to your dinner table
(SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM)
BACK SIDE OF YOUR QUIZ REVIEW
Neurotransmit Function
ters
Acetylcholine Control Of
Muscles
Serotonin
Dopamine
Sleep And
Emotional
Arousal
Motor
Behavior
Noradrenaline Prepares Body
For Action
Too much
causes….
Not enough
causes…
Impaired
Memory
Formation
Schizophrenia Parkinson’s
Disease
NOW LETS TAKE OUR QUIZ
Please put away all notes that you have on
your desk
When you are done with the quiz hang onto it
NERVOUS SYSTEM QUIZ
ANSWERS
Dendrites
Nucleus
Cell Body
Axon
Axon Terminals
Myelin
NERVOUS SYSTEM QUIZ
ANSWERS
2. D
10. New connections
between neurons are
3. A
formed when you learn
4. C
something new
5. E
BONUS: Drugs can alter
6. B
communication. Also,
7. I, E, C, H, D, F, A, B, G accidents can damage
8. B, A, C, D
the brain resulting in
loss of communication
9. A, D, C, A, B
SCORING YOUR QUIZ
Each question (not including the bonus) is
worth half a point. This makes this quiz worth
15 points total
The bonus is worth one full point
Put your total score out of 15 (including the
bonus if you got that) and the top of your quiz
by your name
JUST A QUICK RECAP
Brain is divided into three sections (hindbrain,
midbrain and forebrain)
The hindbrain includes the medulla, pons and
cerebellum
The midbrain includes our reticular activation
system
The forebrain includes the thalamus,
hypothalamus, the limbic system and the
cerebrum
INSIDE THE CEREBRAL CORTEX
**Remember: The Cerebral Cortex is the outer
layer of the brain that is wrinkled
The cerebral cortex is what makes us uniquely
human
The cortex is made up of two sides, or
HEMISPHERES
OUR TWO HEMISPHERES
The left and right hemispheres are connected
by the CORPUS CALLOSUM, which helps
communicate information between the two
sides of the brain
Information from one side of the body is sent
to the OPPOSITE side of the brain
Example: If you touch something hot with your
left hand, this is processed by the right side of
your brain
Right Brain: recognizes faces, controls
movement, communicates with the left side of
the body
Left Brain: controls language, much complex
thought and reasoning, and communicates
with the right side of the body
SPLIT BRAIN STUDY
Split Brain Behavioral Experiment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMLzP1V
CANo
Left Brain vs. Right Brain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82tlVcq6
E7A
LOBES OF THE BRAIN
Each side of the brain has four lobes:
FRONTAL, TEMPORAL, PARIETAL, and
OCCIPITAL
Different actions and sensations are
controlled by one specific lobe, but most
actions require MULTIPLE lobes
Lobe
Basic Facts
Frontal
Temporal
Motor Skills, Problem
Solving
Hearing
Parietal
Sensory Information
Occipital
Vision
DAMAGE TO THE BRAIN
While the lobes control many specific skills,
ASSOCIATION AREAS in the brain also help to
put together information from multiple
regions of the brain
Damage to certain regions of the brain can
lead to specific problems
Wernicke’s Area: In the temporal lobe, it puts
together SIGHTS AND SOUNDS; damage to this
area makes it difficult to understand speech
and speech is often MEANINGLESS
Broca’s Area: In the frontal lobe, it controls
areas of the face used for PRODUCING
language; damage to this area leads to
trouble SPEAKING
Prosopagnosia (Face Blindness): Occurs when
damage occurs in the temporal lobe of the
brain
WAYS TO STUDY THE BRAIN
Hemisphere/Split-Brain Studies
Accidents
Phineas Gage
Scans
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
ADD TO YOUR FLASHCARDS 
Right hemisphere
Left hemisphere
Corpus Callosum
Frontal Lobe
Temporal Lobe
Parietal Lobe
Occipital Lobe
Wernicke’s Area
Broca’s Area
Prosopagnosia