The Behaving Brain
• Understanding of the brain’s structure and
composition
• Explains how bio chemical reactions
determine our thoughts, feelings and
actions
Chapter 6
Body and Behavior
Section 1
The Nervous System
How the Nervous System Works
• The nervous system is never at rest.
There is always a job for it to do. Even
when you are sleeping the nervous system
is busy regulating your body functions.
The nervous system controls your
emotions, movements, thinking and
behavior.
Nervous System
• Central Nervous
System CNS (the
brain and spinal
cord)
• Peripheral PNS (the
smaller branches of
nerves that reach
the other parts of
the body)
• Neurons – long thin
cells of nerve tissue
along which
messages travel to
and from the brain
Parts of a Neuron
• The cell body
• Produces energy to fuel
neuron activity
• Dendrites
• Receive impulses from
other neurons and send
to cell body
• Axon
• Carries impulse away
from cell body to
dendrites of another
neuron
The Neuron Connection
• Synapse – the gap
that occurs between
individual nerve cells
• Synapse releases
neurotransmitters
• Neurotransmitters
either activate or
inhibit the next neuron
Different nt’s
for memory,
pain,
movement,
learning, and
emotions
Voluntary and Involuntary Activities
• Somatic Nervous
System
• Autonomic Nervous
System
• The part of the
peripheral NS that
controls voluntary
muscle movement
• The part of peripheral
NS that controls
internal biological
(“automatic”)functions
(heartbeat, digestion)
Autonomic
• Sympathetic
• Prepares body for an
emergency (heart
rate, blood flow to
needed muscle
group)
• Parasympathetic
• Brings the body back
to a resting state
The Brain
• Draw and make a key of
the Parts of the Brain and
the Lobes of the brain.
• Include in your key what
each part and lobe
does.
• Put Parts on one side
and Lobes on the other.
Make brain drawing
proportional with
supplied paper
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Parts to include :
Cerebellum
Medulla
Pons
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Cerebral cortex
Cerebrum (you will need
to add)
• There are 4 lobes
Nervous System
Diseases/Disorders
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Alzheimer’s disease
Huntington’s disease
Multiple Sclerosis
Parkinson’s disease
Tourette Syndrome
• Level One For each of the above
conditions, research and note
• What it is
• Causes/Symptoms
• Treatments/Cures?
• Research and find what part(s) of the
nervous system is/are affected
• Level Two- In addition to Level One
material, Research and find out who or
how it was discovered
• Level Three: Choose one additional
disease/disorder and do Level 0ne/Two
work on that disease/disorder
• Completed assignment is a word
document
D/D Graphic Organizer
• Use your Nervous System D/D research
to create a Graphic Organizer showing the
similarities and differences
(comparing/contrasting) among your D/D’s
• Organizers can be computer generated or
on print paper
Brain Hemispheres
• Left
Verbal
Mathematical
Analytic
Left hemisphere controls the
movements of the right
side
• Right
Nonverbal
Spatial (things occupying
space)
Holistic (whole parts)
Right hemisphere controls
the left side of the body
Split Brain Operation
• Removal of the corpus callosum
Endocrine System
(Hormonal System)
• Second communication system for
messages to and from the brain
• Chemical messages (hormones)
• Sent through blood and other fluids
Endocrine System
• Pituitary Gland
• Hypothalamus
• Adrenal Glands
• Neurotransmitters vs.
Hormones?
Pituitary Gland
• “Master Gland”
takes direction from
the hypothalamus
• Hypothalamus
monitors the amount
of hormones in the
blood and corrects
imbalances
Thyroid Gland
(produces thyroxine)
• Hypothyroidism =
too little thyroxine
(lazy and lethargic
feeling)
• Hyperthyroidism =
too much thyroxine
(lose weight and
sleep and be
overactive)
Adrenal Glands
• Release adrenaline
into the bloodstream
when angry or
frightened (get you
“pumped”)
Neurotransmitters
vs.
Hormones
• NT’s released next
to the cell
rapid and specific
messages
• Hormones released
into the bloodstream
slow and
widespread
messages
Brain Injuries
Research and Respond
Use the back side of Ch. 6 Part II
• Describe what happens to the brain during the impact of
an accident.
• What are the symptoms of brain injury as a result of a
concussion and/or other types of brain damage?
• Why can injury to the frontal lobes cause the widest
variety of symptoms?
• Describe how brain injury can cause personality changes