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Neuroscience and
Behaviour
Md. Azharul Islam
Lecturer, DECP
©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007
Huffman: Psychology in Action (8e)
Lecture Overview

Neural Bases of Behavior

Nervous System Organization

A Tour Through the Brain

Our Genetic Inheritance
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Neural Bases of Psychology

Neuroscience:
interdisciplinary
field studying how
biological
processes relate to
behavioral and
mental processes
©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007
Huffman: Psychology in Action (8e)
Neural Bases of Psychology

The nervous
system consists of
neurons (cells
responsible for
receiving and
transmitting
electrochemical
information).
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Neural Bases of Psychology:
The Structure of a Neuron
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Huffman: Psychology in Action (8e)
Neural Bases of Psychology:
Neural Communication

Within a neuron, communication occurs
through an action potential (neural impulse
that carries information along the axon of a
neuron).
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Neural Bases of Psychology:
Neural Communication (Continued)

Between neurons,
communication occurs
through transmission of
neural information
across a synapse by
neurotransmitters
(chemicals released by
neurons that alter
activity in other neurons).
©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007
Huffman: Psychology in Action (8e)
Neural Bases of Psychology:
Neural Communication (Continued)

Receiving neurons
receive multiple
messages from
other neurons, and
these messages
determine if an
action potential
occurs or not.
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Neural Bases of Psychology:
Neural Communication (Continued)

Note how the
axon terminals
of sending
neurons almost
completely cover
the cell body of
the receiving
neuron.
©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007
Huffman: Psychology in Action (8e)
Neural Bases of Psychology:
Applying Psychology to Everyday Life

Major Neurotransmitters:
•
Serotonin
Acetylcholine (ACh)
Dopamine (DA)
Norepinephrine (NE)
Epinephrine (adrenaline)
GABA (gamma aminobutyric
acid)
Endorphins
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Neural Bases of Psychology:
Receptor Sites

normal message

blocked message (wrong shape)

agonistic drugs mimic shape
and enhance neurotransmitter

antagonistic drugs fill the site
and block neurotransmitter
©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007
Huffman: Psychology in Action (8e)
Neural Bases of Psychology: Functions
of Neurotransmitters
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Neural Bases of Psychology:
How Hormones Affect Us

Endocrine System:
collection of glands
that manufacture and
secrete hormones
©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007
Huffman: Psychology in Action (8e)
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANIZATION
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Nervous System Organization


Central Nervous System
(CNS): includes the brain and
spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System
(PNS): includes all nerves and
neurons connecting CNS to the
rest of the body (subdivided into
the somatic and autonomic
nervous systems)
©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007
Huffman: Psychology in Action (8e)
Nervous System Organization
©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007
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Nervous System Organization:
Central Nervous System (CNS)


Brain
Spinal Cord
(transmits
information into
and out of the
brain )
©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007
Huffman: Psychology in Action (8e)
Nervous System Organization:
Central Nervous System (CNS)

The spinal cord is
also responsible
for involuntary,
automatic
behaviors called
reflexes.
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Nervous System Organization:
Subdivisions of the
Peripheral Nervous System



Somatic Nervous System (SNS): connects
to sensory receptors and controls skeletal
muscles.
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS):
controls involuntary bodily functions
ANS is subdivided into: Sympathetic
Nervous System (arouses) and the
Parasympathetic Nervous System (calms)
©John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007
Huffman: Psychology in Action (8e)
Nervous System Organization:
 Parasympathetic and
Sympathetic Nervous
Systems
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References




Kolb, B and Whishaw, I. Q. (2003). Foundations of
Human Neuropsychology, 5th Edition, Worth Publishers,
NY 10010
Feldman, R. S. (2010), Essentials of Understanding
Psychology, 9th ed., McGraw-Hill Higher Education,
ISBN: 978-0071221481
Lahey, B. B. (2012). Psychology: An Introduction, 11th
Edition, McGraw-Hill
Karen Huffman (2008). Psychology in Action, 8th Edition,
John Wiley & Sons.
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