Chapter 6
Body and Behavior
Chapter Preview
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Building blocks of the mind: neurons and how
they communicate (neurotransmitters)
Systems that build the mind: functions of the
parts of the nervous system
Supporting player: the slower-communicating
endocrine system (hormones)
Star of the show: the brain and its structures
http://quizlet.com/56848347/psych-ch-6-flash-cards/
Terms pg 155
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Central nervous system (CNS)
Spinal cord
Peripheral nervous system
Neurons
Synapse
Neurotransmitters
Somatic nervous system (SNS)
Autonomic nervous system (ANS)
Quiz Section 1
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T/F The central nervous system is never at rest.
Messages that are sent to and from the brain
travel along nerves, which are strings of long,
thin cells called __________.
The space between the neurons is called
_______.
List at least one type of neuron.
The part of the nervous system that controls
involuntary activities is ______.
YES/NO Did you read the assignment.
Nervous System
Neuroscience…study of the body’s
electrochemical communication circuitry
Characteristics of the nervous system
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complexity
integration
adaptability (plasticity)
electrochemical transmission
Nervous System: Pathways
Afferent Nerves
carry information  spinal cord and brain
Efferent Nerves
carry information  muscles
Nervous System: Divisions
Central Nervous System (CNS)
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brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
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somatic nervous system – sensory nerves
 muscular activity
autonomic nervous system – internal organs
 sympathetic nervous system – arouses
 parasympathetic nervous system – calms
Nervous System: Divisions
Nervous System - Cells
Neurons
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information processing
about 100 billion in brain
mirror neurons (in primates)
Glial Cells
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provide support and nutrition
Neurons: Structure
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cell body
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dendrites
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axon
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myelin sheath
Neurons: Structure
Neural Impulse
Axons
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ions/ion channel
negatively/positively charged
semipermeable membrane
polarization
Resting Potential
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stable charge of an inactive neuron
Neural Impulse
Action Potential
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depolarization (ion channel opens)
repolarization
ion exchange sweeps along length of axon
all-or-none principle
once initiated, cannot be stopped
Synapses and
Neurotransmitters
Synapse/Synaptic Gap
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space between sending axon’s terminal buttons and
the receiving dendrite or cell body
Synaptic Transmission
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electrical impulse is converted into a chemical signal
axon vesicle releases neurotransmitter into gap
dendrite receptor site detects neurotransmitter
Synapses and
Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters carry information
across the synaptic gap to next neuron.
Acetylcholine
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muscle actions, learning, memory
black widow venom ↑ Ach levels
botox (botulin) ↓ Ach levels
Alzheimer’s disease: ↓ Ach levels
GABA
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anxiety: ↓ GABA levels
Neurotransmitters
Glutamate
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excitatory
learning & memory
involved in many psychological disorders
Norepinephrine
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stress and mania: ↑ norepinephrine levels
depression: ↓ norepinephrine levels
regulates sleep states in conjunction with ACh
Neurotransmitters
Dopamine
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voluntary movement
reward anticipation
stimulant drugs: activate dopamine receptors
Parkinson’s disease: ↓ dopamine levels
schizophrenia: ↑ dopamine levels
Neurotransmitters
Serotonin
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regulation of sleep, mood, attention, learning
depression: ↓ serotonin levels
prozac: ↑ serotonin levels
Endorphins
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natural opiates
mediate feelings of pleasure and pain
Neurotransmitters
Oxytocin
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both a hormone and a neurotransmitter
related to onset of lactation in new mothers
related to attachment/emotional bonds
Note: Drugs can interfere with neurotransmitters
 mimics or enhances NT effects
 blocks effects of NT
Neural Networks
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interconnected pathways of nerve cells
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integrate sensory input and motor output
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take years to develop
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a given piece of information embedded in
multiple connections between neurons
Studying the Brain
Brain Lesioning
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naturally occurring or induced
Electrical Recording
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electroencephalograph (EEG)
single-unit recording
Section 2
Terms page 160
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Hindbrain
Midbrain
Forebrain
Lobes
Electroencephalograph (EEG)
Computerized axial tomography (CT)
Positron emission tomography (PET)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Objectives:
•Identify the structure
and functions of the
human brain.
•Discuss the different
ways psychologists
study the brain.
Brain Imaging
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X-Ray
CT Scan
PET
MRI
fMRI
TMS
THE THREE BRAINS
Hindbrain
The hindbrain is involved
in the most basic process of life.
 The 3 parts of the hindbrain are:
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Cerebellum—controls posture, balance, and voluntary
movements.
Medulla—control breathing, heart rate, and regulates reflexes
(located on brainstem)
Pons—bridge between the spinal cord and the brain. Responsible
for sleeping & arousal (located on brainstem)
THE THREE BRAINS
Midbrain
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Location
The medulla and pons
extend up into the midbrain
 The medulla, pons, and midbrain compose
most of the brain stem
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Function
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The reticular activating system (RAS) uses
all of these parts and it serves to alert the
rest of the brain to incoming signals and is
involved in the sleep/wake cycle
Integrates sensory information and relays it
upward.
THE THREE BRAINS
Forebrain
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Limbic System
(includes the hypothalamus, amygdala, thalamus, and hippocampus)
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Memory, emotions, and motivations
Hypothalamus
 Eating, drinking, sexual behaviors
 Regulate body’s internal state
 Emotion, stress, reward
Amygdala
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Discrimination of objects needed for survival
Emotional awareness and expression
Continued on next slide
THE THREE BRAINS
Forebrain
(Continued)
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Thalamus
Relay station for much
sensory information. Relays all information
that travels to and from the cortex (information
seen from eyes, ears, and skin)
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Hippocampus
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Formation and recall of memories
Brain: Structure and Function
© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Cerebral
Cortex
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Neocortex:
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outermost layer
Four Lobes:
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occipital (vision)
temporal (hearing, language processing, memory)
frontal (intelligence, personality, voluntary muscles)
parietal (spatial location, attention, motor control)
Cerebral Cortex
© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Are Brains Wired to
Recognize Faces?
 prosopagnosia
 fusiform face area (FFA)
 FFA – specifically for
processing faces?
© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
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Left and Right Hemispheres
Split-Brain Operations
© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
How Psychologists Study the
Brain
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Recording
Stimulation
Lesions
Accidents
Images
Case Study pg 169
© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Somatosensory, Motor, and
Association Cortex
Somatosensoy Cortex (in parietal lobe)
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body sensations
Motor Cortex (in frontal lobe)
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voluntary movements
Point-to-Point Mapping
Association Cortex (75% of cortex)
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not sensory or motor, but associations between
© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
The Brain in Different Species
What brain structures are similar
across species?
How is the brain suited to each species?
Split-Brain Research
Corpus Callosum
x
Large bundle of axons that connects
X the two hemispheres of the brain
Wikipedia article
 W.J., the Split Brain Patient
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Hemispheres of the Cortex
Hemispheric Specialization of Function
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left hemisphere
verbal processing, speech, grammar
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Broca’s Area
Wernicke’s Area
right hemisphere
spatial perception, visual recognition, emotion
Happy Brains?
Happiness: Prefrontal Lobe Asymmetry
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positive emotional responses
more left prefrontal lobe activity
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negative emotional responses
more right prefrontal lobe activity
Biofeedback
Mindfulness (Awareness) Meditation
Section 3 (pg 170)
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Endocrine system
Hormones
Pituitary gland
Objectives:
 Describe the endocrine
system.
 Identify hormones and
their function in the
endocrine system.
Endocrine System
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Set of glands that regulate the body by
secreting hormones into the bloodstream
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Hormones = chemical messages
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Relatively slow communication system
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Interconnected with the nervous system
Endocrine System
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Group summary/discussion
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Pituitary gland
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Thyroid gland
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Adrenal glands
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Sex glands
Section 4 (pg 174)
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Heredity
Identical twins
Genes
Fraternal twins
Objectives:
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Give examples of the effects of
heredity and environment on
behavior.
Summarize research on the
effects of heredity and
environment on behavior.
Heredity and Environment
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Nature vs Nurture
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Sir Francis Galton (nature)
John Watson (nurture)
Genes and Behavior
Twin Studies
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Identical vs Fraternal Twins
Genes and the Environment
Genotype – genetic heritage
+ the effects of experience =
Phenotype – observable characteristics
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environment alters how genetic traits develop
both physical & psychological characteristics
genetic expression
Genetics and Behavior
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chromosomes, genes, and DNA
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Human Genome Project
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dominant-recessive genes principle
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molecular genetics
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selective breeding
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behavior genetics and adoption studies
Biological Foundations and
Health and Wellness
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stressors
…circumstances and events that threaten
individuals and/or tax their coping abilities
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stress
…our response to those stressors
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causes/effects of acute and chronic stress
Brain Damage and Plasticity
Recovery from brain damage depends on
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age of the individual
extent of the damage
Repairing the damaged brain
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collateral sprouting
substitution of function
neurogenesis
brain tissue grafts
Chapter Summary
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Discuss the nature and basic function of the
nervous system.
Explain what neurons are and how they process
information.
Identify the brain’s levels and structures and
summarize the function of those structures.
Identify the endocrine system and describe how
it affects behavior.
Chapter Summary
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Describe the brain’s capacity for recovery and
repair.
Explain how genetics increases understanding
of behavior.
Describe the role of the biological
foundations of human psychology in the
body’s stress response.
Chapter Summary
The Nervous System
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structure and function of the nervous systems
structure of a neruon
electrochemical communication
neurotransmitters and their effects
Brain: Structure and Function
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brain imaging techniques
hindbrain, midbrain, forebrain
cerebral lobes and functions
Chapter Summary
Brain Damage and Plasticity
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collateral sprouting, substitution of function,
neurogenesis, brain tissue grafts
Genetics and Behavior
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“genes v. environment” and adoption studies
Biological Foundations & Health and Wellness
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acute and chronic stress