Chapter Introduction
Section 1: The Nervous System:
The Basic Structure
Section 2: Studying the Brain
Section 3: The Endocrine
System
Section 4: Heredity and
Environment
Chapter Objectives ·
Section 1
The Nervous System: The
Basic Structure
Understand that the nervous
system helps us know how
messages that are sent to and
from the brain cause behavior.
Chapter Objectives ·
Section 2
Studying the Brain
Discuss the many parts of the
brain that work together to
coordinate movement and
stimulate thinking and emotions.
Chapter Objectives ·
Section 3
The Endocrine System
Explain how the endocrine system
controls and excites growth and
affects emotions and behavior.
Chapter Objectives ·
Section 4
Heredity and Environment
Identify heredity and environment
and analyze how they affect your
body and behavior.
Main Idea
Learning about the nervous system helps us
know how messages that are sent to and
from the brain cause behavior.
Vocabulary
• central nervous
system (CNS)
• neurotransmitters
• spinal cord
• somatic nervous
system (SNS)
• peripheral nervous
system (PNS)
• automatic nervous
system (ANS)
• neurons
• synapse
Objectives
• Identify the parts of the nervous system.
• Describe the functions of the nervous
system.
What does the nervous system
control?
A. emotions
B. movements
C. thinking
D. behavior
0%
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A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
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D
How the Nervous System Works
• The nervous system controls your
emotions, movements, thinking, and
behavior—almost everything you do.
• It is divided into two parts:
– The central nervous system (CNS)—the
brain and spinal cord.
– The peripheral nervous system (PNS)—
these small branches of nerves conduct
information from the bodily organs to the CNS
and take information back to the organs.
How the Nervous System Works (cont.)
• All parts of the nervous system are
protected in some way (the skull protects
the brain and so forth).
The Nervous System
How the Nervous System Works (cont.)
• Neurons are the long, thin cells of nerve
tissues along which messages travel to
and from the brain (much like a flame
travels along a firecracker fuse).
• Transmission between neurons, or nerve
cells, occurs whenever the cells are
stimulated past a minimum point and emit
a signal.
Anatomy of Two Neurons
How the Nervous System Works (cont.)
• Neurons have four basic parts:
– Dendrites
– Cell body
– An axon
– Axon terminals
How the Nervous System Works (cont.)
• A white, fatty substance called the myelin
sheath insulates and protects the axon
from some neurons.
• A synapse is a junction or connection
between the neurons.
The Synapse
How the Nervous System Works (cont.)
• A neuron transmits its impulse or message
to another neuron across the synapse by
releasing neurotransmitters.
– Neurotransmitters can excite the next
neuron or stop it from transmitting.
– The synapse only allows signals to
move in one direction.
How the Nervous System Works (cont.)
• There are many different neurotransmitters
including:
– Norepinephrine
– Endorphin
– Acetylcholine
– Dopamine
– Serotonin
How the Nervous System Works (cont.)
• The actual destination of nerve impulses is
limited by what tract in the nervous system
they are on.
– Ascending tracts carry sensory impulses
to the brain.
– Descending tracts carry motor impulses
from the brain.
How the Nervous System Works (cont.)
• There are different types of neurons:
– Afferent (sensory)—relay messages
from the sense organs to the brain.
– Efferent (motor)—send signals from the
brain to the glands and muscles.
– Interneurons—process signals
connecting only to other neurons.
How the Nervous System Works (cont.)
• Somatic nervous system (SNS)—the
part of the peripheral nervous system that
controls voluntary movement of skeletal
muscles.
• Autonomic nervous system (ANS)—the
part of the peripheral nervous system that
controls involuntary internal biological
functions.
How the Nervous System Works (cont.)
• The ANS has two parts:
– The sympathetic nervous system
– The parasympathetic nervous system
How many basic parts does a neuron
have?
A. one
B. two
C. three
D. four
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A
A.
B.
C.
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D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
Main Idea
There are many parts in the human brain
that work together to coordinate movement
and stimulate thinking and emotions.
Vocabulary
• hindbrain
• midbrain
• forebrain
• lobes
• positron emission
tomography (PET)
• magnetic
resonance imaging
(MRI)
• electroencephalograph (EEG)
• computerized axial tomography (CT)
Objectives
• Identify the structure and functions of the
human brain.
• Discuss the different ways psychologists
study the brain.
How many general areas comprised
the human brain?
A. Two
B. Three
C. Four
D. Five
0%
A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
The Three Brains
• The brain is composed of three parts:
– The hindbrain
– The midbrain
– The forebrain
The Parts of the Brain
The Three Brains (cont.)
• The higher thinking processes are located in
the forebrain:
– Cerebral cortex
– Cerebrum
– Limbic system
The Three Brains (cont.)
• The forebrain includes the:
– Hypothalamus
– Amyglada
– Thalamus
– Hippocampus
The Cerebral Cortex
The Three Brains (cont.)
• The cerebrum is two hemispheres
connected by a band of fibers called the
corpus callosum.
• Each cerebral hemisphere has deep
grooves, some of which mark regions, or
lobes (the different regions into which the
cerebral cortex is divided).
The Three Brains (cont.)
• There are four lobes:
– Occipital lobe
– Parietal lobe
– Temporal lobe
– Frontal lobe
The Three Brains (cont.)
• The right and left hemispheres of the brain
complement and help each other.
• They are roughly mirror images of each other.
Functions of the Brain’s
Hemispheres
The Three Brains (cont.)
• Each hemisphere is connected to one-half
the body in crisscrossed fashion (the right
side of the brain controls the left side of
the body and vice versa).
Functions of the Brain’s
Hemispheres
The Three Brains (cont.)
• The right side controls:
– Visual and spatial relations
– Perceptual tasks
– Recognition of patterns
– Creativity and intuition
Functions of the Brain’s
Hemispheres
The Three Brains (cont.)
• The left side controls:
– Speech
– Mathematical ability
– Calculation
– Logic
Functions of the Brain’s
Hemispheres
The Three Brains (cont.)
• Severing the corpus callosum can decrease
the severity and amount of grand mal
seizures a person is experiencing.
• This results in a split brain—the person
has two brains that operate independently
of each other.
Roger Wolcott Sperry
Which part of the brain controls your
heart rate?
A. Hindbrain
B. Midbrain
0%
C
A
0%
A. A
B. B
C.0%C
B
C. Forebrain
How Psychologists Study the Brain
• Psychologists who study the brain are
known as physiological psychologists,
psychobiologists, or neuroscientists.
How Psychologists Study the Brain
(cont.)
• The methods used to explore the brain
include:
– Recording with an electroencephalograph
(EEG)
– Stimulation
– Lesioning
– Accidents
How Psychologists Study the Brain
(cont.)
• Imaging is also used to study the brain:
– Computerized axial tomography (CT)
– Positron emission tomography (PET)
– Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Brain Activity on a PET
Scan
Which method of studying the brain
is the least likely to be used on
humans?
A. recording
B. stimulating
C. lesioning
D. imaging
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A
A.
B.
C.
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D.
B
A
B
C
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D
C
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D
Main Idea
The endocrine system controls and excites
growth and affects emotions and behavior in
people.
Vocabulary
• endocrine system
• hormones
• pituitary gland
Objectives
• Describe the endocrine system.
• Identify hormones and their function in the
endocrine system.
Have you experienced a situation in
which your body responded by giving
you a “rush”?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Not sure
0%
A
A. A
B. B
C.0% C
B
0%
C
The Endocrine Glands
• The endocrine system is a chemical
communication system that uses hormones
to send messages through the bloodstream.
• Hormones—chemical substances that
carry messages through the body in blood.
The Endocrine System
The Endocrine Glands (cont.)
• Hormones affect:
– your behavior.
– the growth of bodily structures such as
muscles and bones.
– your metabolic processes.
– how your body acts in a stressful situation.
– the brain (your moods and drives).
– the differences between boys and girls.
The Endocrine Glands (cont.)
• The pituitary gland is the center of control
of the endocrine system and secrets a
large number of hormones.
• It is directed by the hypothalamus.
The Endocrine Glands (cont.)
• These hormone messages regulate cell
metabolism and control growth and
reproduction.
• The thyroid gland produces the hormone
thyroxine, which stimulates certain
chemical reactions that are important for
all tissues of the body.
The Endocrine Glands (cont.)
• The adrenal glands become active when a
person is angry or frightened.
• They release epinephrine and
norepinephrine, which cause the heartbeat
and breathing to increase.
The Endocrine Glands (cont.)
• There are two types of sex glands:
– Testes—these produce sperm and
testosterone.
– Ovaries—these produce eggs and
estrogen and progesterone.
Which of the following are some
examples of duct glands?
A. sweat glands
B. tear glands
C. salivary glands
D. All of the above
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A
A.
B.
C.
0%
D.
B
A
B
C
0%
D
C
0%
D
Hormones Vs. Neurotransmitters
• Neurotransmitter—a chemical used as a
neurotransmitter is released right beside
that cell that it is to excite or inhibit.
• Over time, this system developed to send
rapid and specific messages.
Hormones Vs. Neurotransmitters (cont.)
• Hormone—when a chemical is used as a
hormone it is released into the blood,
which diffuses it throughout the body.
• Over time, this system developed to send
slow and widespread communication.
Do you agree or disagree: Hormones are
more useful to promote long-term change or
stability in the body?
A. Agree
B. Disagree
A. A
B. B
0%
B
A
0%
Main Idea
Heredity is the transmission of characteristics
from parents to children. Environment is the
world around you. Heredity and environment
affect your body and behavior.
Vocabulary
• heredity
• identical twins
• genes
• fraternal twins
Objectives
• Give examples of the effects of heredity
and environment on behavior.
• Summarize research on the effects of
heredity and environment on behavior.
Do you think we are shaped more by
our heredity, our environment, or
both?
A. Heredity
B. Environment
C. Both
D. None of the above
0%
A
A. A
B. B
C. C
0%
0%
0%
D. D
B
C
D
Heredity and Environment
• Most psychologists agree that both nature
and nurture contribute to human behavior.
• Nature refers to the characteristics that
person inherits—his or her biological
makeup.
Heredity and Environment (cont.)
• Nature is also referred to as heredity, or the
genetic transmission of characteristics from
parents to their offspring through genes.
• Nurture refers to environmental factors,
such as family, culture, education.
DNA and Genes
Heredity and Environment (cont.)
• One way to find out if a trait is inherited is
to study twins.
– Identical twins develop from a single
fertilized egg (also called monozygotic)
and share the same genes.
– Fraternal twins come from two different
eggs fertilized by two different sperm
(also called dizygotic).
Do you believe that someone can be
“shaped” into any kind of specialist?
A. Very much so
B. Somewhat
C. Not very much
D. Not at all
0%
A
A.
B.
0%
C.
D.
B
A
B
0%
C
D
C
0%
D
The Nervous System
The nervous system is divided into
two parts: the central nervous
system (CNS) and the peripheral
nervous system (PNS).
Anatomy of Two Neurons
The human body contains billions of neurons. The neuron receives messages from
other neurons via its dendrites. The messages are then transmitted down the axon
and sent out through the axon terminals. The myelin sheath often is wrapped around
the axon.
Photomicrograph of neurons
The Synapse
Neurons do not touch one another.
Instead, a neuron sends its
messages across a gap called a
synapse by releasing
neurotransmitters. These
neurotransmitters are received by
the dendrite of another neuron.
The Parts of the Brain
The brain is the largest, most complex part of the nervous system.
The Cerebral Cortex
The functions of the cerebral
cortex are not fully understood.
Indicated here are some areas
of behavioral importance.
Functions of the Brain’s Hemispheres
The idea of whether we are “right-brained” or “left-brained” has been exaggerated. We
constantly use both hemispheres of our brain, since each hemisphere is specialized
for processing certain kinds of information.
Brain Activity on a PET Scan
A computer transforms the different levels of absorption by neurons of radioactive
solution into colors. Red and yellow indicate maximum activity of neurons, while blue
and green indicate minimal activity.
The Endocrine System
The endocrine system, which consists of
ductless glands and the hormones they
produce, works closely with the nervous
system in regulating body functions.
DNA and Genes
The molecules of DNA make up chromosomes that contain the codes for our biological
makeup.
Roger Wolcott Sperry
1913–1994
“In other words, each
hemisphere [of the brain]
seems to have its own
separate and private
sensations; its own
perceptions; its own concepts;
and its own impulses to act. . . .
Following surgery, each
hemisphere also has thereafter
its own separate chain of
memories that are rendered
inaccessible to the recall
processes of the other.”
Chapter Concepts
Transparencies
Types of Neurotransmitters
Functions of the Somatic Nervous
System
Select a transparency to view.
central nervous system (CNS): the
brain and spinal cord
spinal cord: nerves that run up and
down the length of the back and transmit
most messages between the body and
the brain
peripheral nervous system (PNS):
nerves branching beyond the spinal cord
into the body
neurons: the long, thin cells of nerve
tissue along which messages travel to
and from the brain
synapse: the gap that exists between
individual nerve cells
neurotransmitters: the chemicals
released by neurons, which determine
the rate at which other neurons fire
somatic nervous system (SNS): the
part of the peripheral nervous system
that controls voluntary movement of
skeletal muscles
automatic nervous system (ANS): the
part of the peripheral nervous system
that controls
hindbrain: a part of the brain located at
the rear base of the skull that is involved
in the basic processes of life
midbrain: a small part of the brain above
the pons that arouses the brain,
integrates sensory information, and
relays it upward
forebrain: a part of the brain that covers
the brain’s central core, responsible for
sensory and motor control and the
processing of thinking and language
lobes: the different regions into which
the cerebral cortex is divided
electroencephalograph (EEG): a
machine used to record the electrical
activity of large portions of the brain
computerized axial tomography (CT):
an imaging technique used to study the
brain to pinpoint injuries and brain
deterioration
positron emission tomography (PET):
an imaging technique used to see which
brain areas are being activated while
performing tasks
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): a
measuring technique used to study brain
structure and activity
endocrine system: a chemical
communication system, using hormones,
by which messages are sent through the
bloodstream
hormones: chemical substances that
carry messages through the body in
blood
pituitary gland: the center of control of
the endocrine system that secretes a
large number of hormones
heredity: the genetic transmission of
characteristics from parents to their
offspring
identical twins: twins who come from
one fertilized egg; twins having the same
heredity
genes: the basic building blocks of
heredity
fraternal twins: twins who come from
two different eggs fertilized by two
different sperm
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