One Minute Manager Period 5
Biological Bases of Behavior
Your objective is to research your assigned term and create a one minute
lesson about the term with as many facts, names, definitions, examples
or other pertinent information for the study of biopsychology. You will
need to create a slide with the following items on it:
1. The term
2. Several bulleted points about the term
3. A visual to graphically represent the term
Biological Psychology
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Focuses on physical and chemical changes that either
o cause certain behaviors/mental processes
o occur in response to behaviors
Study of cells and organs
Examines relationship between the brain and behavior
Roger Sperry,
neuropsychologist
1. Nervous System - Connor
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The nervous system regulates and coordinate body activities.
The nervous system is made up of two major divisions the central nervous system
which is made up of the brain and the spinal cord. It also houses the peripheral
nervous system which is made up of other neural elements. It also is the network
for communication for the body
The left side of the human brain controls the right side of the body and the right
side of the brain controls the left side of the
body.
There are about 13 million 500 thousand neurons in
the human spinal cord.
As we get older the brain loses almost 1 gram per year.
The total surface area of the human brain is about 25,000 cm
2.Neurons
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Neurons and other body cells both contain a nucleus that holds genetic information.
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Neurons and other body cells are surrounded by a membrane that protects the cell.
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The cell bodies of both cell types contain organelles that support the life of the cell, including mitochondria, Golgi
bodies, and cytoplasm.
Differences that make neurons unique:
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Unlike other body cells, neurons stop reproducing shortly after birth. Because of this, some parts of the brain have
more neurons at birth than later in life because neurons die but are not replaced. While neurons do not reproduce,
research has shown that new connections between neurons form throughout life.
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Neurons have a membrane that is designed to sends information to other cells. The axonand dendrites are
3. Glial Cells
● Non-neural cells that perform “housekeeper” duties
○ clears out debris and excess material
○ they support neural cells by providing support and nutrition
○ 10-50 times more glial cells than neurons in the brain
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short for neuroglia
many types
o radial cells, astrocytes, satellite
cells and many more
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Axon
The axon is the elongated fiber that extends from the cell body to the terminal endings and transmits the neural signal. The larger
the axon, the faster it transmits information. Some axons are covered with a fatty substance called myelin that acts as an insulator.
These myelinated axons transmit information much faster than other neurons.
Axon Characteristics
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Most neurons have only one axon
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Transmit information away from the cell body
5. Dendrites
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The branched projections of a neuron
that act to conduct the
electrochemical stimulation received
from other neural cells to the cell
body, or soma, of the neuron from
which the dendrites project
Some contain small projections
referred to as "appendages" or spines
Appendages increase receptive
properties of dendrites to isolate
signals
The structure strongly influences how
it integrates the input from other
neurons
6. Synapses - Emily
❏ Space between the terminal buttons of one neuron and the dendrites of the
next neuron
❏ Structure that permits
a neuron(or nerve cell) to pass
an electrical or chemical signal
to another cell (neural or
otherwise)
7. Action Potential - Alexis
(AB)
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occurs when a neuron sends information down an axon, away from the
cell body
an explosion of electrical activity that is created by a depolarizing current
for any given neuron, the size of the action potential will always be the
same meaning the neuron either does or does not reach the threshold
8. Myelin
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layers
rich in lipids and proteins
present in CNS and PNS
CNS myelin - produced by oligodendrocytes
PNS myelin - produced by Schwann cells
both chemically different but same function
body heals damaged nerves naturally by stimulating oligodendrocytes in
the area
9. Refractory Period
❖ A neuron has a membrane gate that opens briefly and then closes causing neurons to fire over
and over.
❖ The refractory period is when there is a very short rest between firing when the neuron can’t
fire.
❖ As positive charged molecules are pumped outside the membrane again, the cell returns to its
polarized state and after the repolarization process is complete, the neuron can fire again.
❖ Firing rate can vary from a few action potentials per second to as many as 1,000 per second
and these patterns of neuron firing send coded messages that tell us about the intensity of light
or sound.
10. Receptors
● Sites on the surface of a cell that allow only one type of neurotransmitter
to fit into them, triggering a chemical response that may lead to an action
potential.
● Proteins which neurotransmitters attach to
● puzzle pieces
● electrochemical signal = channels open,
charged molecules flow in or out, causing
a change in membrane potential
● strong signal starts another action potential
13. Postsynaptic Potentials
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The change in the membrane potential of a neuron that has received stimulation from another neuron
occurs when an action potential is altered in any way
used to stop a transmission or divert it or speed it up
14. Excitatory and Inhibitory
Types of Neurotransmitters
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The changes that takes place in the membrane potential of the postsynaptic cell is called
the postsynaptic potential
Excitatory Postsynaptic Potential is caused by depolarization of the membrane, which leads
to the neuron to fire an action potential
Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potential is caused by hyperpolarization of the membrane, which
makes it less likely that the neuron will fire an action potential
15. Neural Networks
Definition: Interconnected neural cells that, with experience, learn,
which causes feedback to strengthen or inhibits connections that
produce certain results.
- done through dendrites and axons
Motor System
16. Sensory System
Definition: Parts of the nervous
system that provide info about
the environment
Include:
Hearing
Vision
Taste
Smell
Touch
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Sage Fazzone Per. 5
Definition: Parts of the nervous
system that influence muscles
and other organs to respond to
the environment
When your environment is hot,
motor system helps muscles
respond appropriately
Flinching when you see
something in your face
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17. Peripheral Nervous System
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Two types of cells in the peripheral nervous system.
-These cell, the sensory nervous cell and the
motor nervous cells, carry information to and from the
central nervous system.
-Cells of the sensory nervous system send
information to the CNS from internal organs or from
external stimuli.
18. Autonomic Nervous System - Anna
*is the part of the peripheral nervous system that acts as a control system,
functioning largely below the level of consciousness, and controls visceral
functions.
* located in the medulla oblongata in the lower brainstem
*affects heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, salivation, perspiration,
pupillary dilation, micturition (urination), and sexual arousal
19. Nuclei
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Collections of nerve cell bodies in the central nervous system.
The cell's chromosomes are housed within the nucleus. Chromosomes
contain DNA which provides the genetic information necessary for the
production of other cell components and for the reproduction of life.
20. Fiber tracts
★ Axons in the central nervous system and
travel together in bundles. aka
pathways.
★ Not one part of the brain works in
isolation because of fiber tracks.
★ “Association tracts” are fiber tracts
associated with emotional
regulation,social behavior,attention and
planning.
21. Spinal Cord & Reflexes
● the part of the central nervous system within the spinal column that relays
signals from peripheral senses to the brain and conveys messages from the
brain to the rest of the body.
● A reflex action, differently known as a reflex, is an involuntary and nearly
instantaneous movement in response to a stimulus.
22. Cerebral Hemisphere
Cerebral Hemispheres are the left and
right halves of the rounded,outermost
part of the brain
The Right hemisphere is more active in musica
and artistic tasks.
The Left Hemisphere is more active in
language and logical tasks
Andres Sanchez
23. Cerebral Cortex - Chelsea
Outermost covering of gray matter over the brain
*2-3mm thick
Most highly developed part of brain
Grey due to lack of insulation in nerves
Responsible for: thinking, perceiving, producing & understanding language
Function:
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Determining Intelligence
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Determining Personality
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Motor Function
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Planning and Organization
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24. Sensory
Cortex
contains a map of the body parts.
The body parts which require more
sensory input take up a larger space
in the cortex.
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receives incoming messages about
touch and limb movements from the
body.
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The somatosensory cortex is
responsible for our sense of touch.
Motor Cortex
❏ region responsible for the
coordination of planning, control,
and executing voluntary movemen
❏ right hemisphere controls the left
side of the body and vice versa.
❏ Experiments showed that stimulati
a specific area of the motor cortex
leads to different body movements
25. Association cortex
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Most developed part of the cerebral cortex, and the
brain in general
Cortical areas that are neither motor or sensory but are
thought to be involved in higher processing of
information
These areas are necessary for perceptual activities, like
recognizing objects (toasters, horses, trees, words, etc),
rather than simple contours, edges or sensory qualities
like color or pitch.
Higher order association cortex carries out complex
mental processes not associated with any particular
sense.
26. Corpus Callosum - Erica Z
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The transverse band of nerve fibers that connects the right and left cerebral
hemispheres. allowing communication between both hemispheres.
The corpus callosum transfers motor, sensory, and cognitive information between
the brain hemispheres.
The corpus callosum is involved in several functions of the body including:
❖ Communication Between Brain Hemispheres
❖ Eye Movement
❖ Maintaining the Balance of Arousal and Attention
❖ Tactile Localization
27. Lateralization
★ the left and right sides of the
brain the specialized functions
skills such as language is a left
brain skill and a right brain skill
would be visual and spatial
relationships.
★ lateralization is when there is a
preference to one side
for a function or activity.
28. Synaptic Plasticity- Carson
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Synaptic plasticity is the ability of synapses to strengthen or weaken over
time
o in response to activity
one of the most important neurochemical foundations of learning and
memory
brain doesn’t grow in size, but rather in efficiency
29. Neurotransmitters
Def: chemicals that assist in the transfer of signals from one neuron to another
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stored in numerous little “bags”called vesicles, at the tips of axons
when an action potential reaches the end of an axon, a
neurotransmitter is released into the synapse
30. Endocrine System
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Cells that form organs called glands and that communicate with one
another by secreting chemicals called hormones
Regulates things such as:
-metabolism
-blood pressure
-digestion
-growth
31. Glands and Hormones
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Glands
- controlled directly by stimulation from the nervous system
- regulates the functions of organs in the body
-maintains homeostasis
Hormones
- chemicals released by cells that affects cells in other parts of the organism
- Secreted into bloodstream and affects emotion and movement
32. Fight or Flight Syndrome
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American Psychologist Walter Cannon, 1920
A reaction that occurs in the presence of something that is
terrifying, either mentally or physically.
-reactions inside the body help mobilize the body's resources to deal with threatening
circumstances.
• Your body reflexes releases a rush of adrenaline hormone.
• The fight-or-flight response is also known as the acute
Brain becomes alert and concentrating only on the present dangerous situation.
stress response. Essentially, the response prepares the body
to either fight or flee the threat.
33. Negative Feedback Systems
● A feedback system is a series of processes in which information about the
consequences of an action goes back to the source of the action so that
adjustments can be made.
● Negative = suppresses further action
reduces output
● ex: thermostat
fight or flight syndrome
34. Phineas Gage - Anna
* permanently unstable if not an uncontrollable personality
*Phineas was transformed into a boastful, unpredictable, moody, depraved,
slovenly, quarrelsome, aggressive, and drunken bully who had fits of
temper, and whose sexuality was impaired
*Doctor John Martyn Harlow of Cavendish took charge of his treatment,
which lasted about 3 months, until Phineas was well enough to return to his
parents’ farm in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
* railroad spike went through eyeball
35. Immune System
The body’s system of defense against invading substances and
microorganisms
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monitors the internal state of the body and detects
invading cells and toxic substances
recognizes and remembers foreign substances
engulfs and destroys foreign cells as well as cancer
cells
36. Autoimmune Disorder
Definition: Physical problems caused when cells in the Immune System
attack normal body cells as if foreign invaders.
● When system becomes overactive
● Arthritis
● Diabetes
● Multiple Sclerosis
a chronic, typically progressive
disease involving damage to the
sheaths of nerve cells in the brain
and spinal cord, whose symptoms
may include numbness, impairment
of speech and of muscular
coordination, blurred vision, and
severe fatigue.
37. Chromosomal
Abnormalities
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Refers to an abnormality of chromosomesstructure
function
Organized into 2 basic groups
Numerical Abnormalities
o (ie Down Syndromeextra 21 chromosome, Turner
Syndrome-monosomy>1 X chromosome)
Structural Abnormalities
o (ie deletion, duplications, or inversions)
Occur when there is an error in cell division (mitosis/ meiosis)
Factors that can affect chromosomes:
o Maternal Age
o Environment