EXPLORING PSYCHOLOGY EIGHTH EDITION IN MODULES David MyersThe Biology of MindSlide 3Slide 4Neural CommunicationNeuronNeuronsHow Neurons CommunicateHow Neurons CommunicateHow Neurotransmitters Influence UsSerotonin PathwaysDopamine PathwaysNeurotransmittersSlide 14Nervous SystemThe Nervous SystemSlide 17Peripheral Nervous SystemAutonomic Nervous System (ANS)Slide 20Central Nervous SystemA Simple ReflexThe Endocrine SystemHormonesSlide 25EXPLORINGPSYCHOLOGYEIGHTH EDITION IN MODULESDavid MyersPowerPoint SlidesAneeq AhmadHenderson State UniversityWorth Publishers, © 2011The Biology of MindNeural and Hormonal Systems Module 3Neural CommunicationNeurons How Neurons CommunicateHow Neurotransmitters Influence UsThe Nervous SystemThe Peripheral Nervous SystemThe Central Nervous SystemThe Endocrine SystemNeural CommunicationBy studying the links between biological activity and psychological events, biological psychologists are gaining a better understanding of how biology underlies our behavior and mental processes.Neuron A nerve cell, or a neuron, consists of many different parts.Neurons Dendrites: the neuron’s bushy, branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.Axon: the neuron’s extension that passes messages through its branching terminal fibers that form junctions with other neurons, muscles, or glands.Action Potential: a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon.Threshold: the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulseHow Neurons Communicate Synapse [SIN-aps] the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or cleft.Neurotransmitters (chemicals) released from the sending neuron travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing it to generate an action potential. Then, in a process called reuptake, the sending neuron reabsorbs the excess neurotransmitters.How Neurons CommunicateHow Neurotransmitters Influence UsA particular pathway in the brain may use only one or two neurotransmitters and particular neurotransmitters may have particular effects on behavior and emotionsSerotonin PathwaysSerotonin pathways are involved with mood regulation. From Mapping the Mind, Rita Carter, © 1989 University of California PressDopamine pathways are involved with diseases such as schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease.From Mapping the Mind, Rita Carter, © 1989 University of California PressDopamine PathwaysNeurotransmittersHow Neurotransmitters Influence UsEndorphins [en - DOR-fins]: “morphine within”— natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure.Drugs and other chemicals affect brain chemistry at synapses: Agonist molecules bind to a neurotransmitter’s receptor and mimics its effects. Antagonists bind to receptors and block a neurotransmitter’s functioning.Nervous SystemThe Nervous SystemNervous System: Consists of all the nerve cells. It is the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication system.Central Nervous System (CNS): the brain and spinal cord.Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body.The Nervous SystemNerves consist of neural “cables” containing many axons. They are part of the peripheral nervous system and connect muscles, glands, and sense organs to the central nervous system.Information travels in the nervous system through three types of neurons. Sensory Neurons carry incoming information from the sense receptors to the CNS. Motor Neurons carry outgoing information from the CNS to muscles and glands. Interneurons connect these two.Peripheral Nervous SystemSomatic Nervous System: The division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles.Autonomic Nervous System: Part of the PNS that controls the glands and other muscles.Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)Sympathetic Nervous System: Division of the ANS that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations.Parasympathetic Nervous System: Division of the ANS that calms the body, conserving its energy.Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)Sympathetic NS “Arouses”(fight-or-flight)Parasympathetic NS “Calms”(rest and digest)Central Nervous SystemThe brain enables thinking, feeling, and acting through tens of billions of neurons, all communicating with thousands of other neurons. The brain’s neurons cluster into work groups called neural networks. The spinal cord connects the peripheral nervous system with the brain.Reflexes, simple, automatic responses tosensory stimuli, illustrate the spinal cord’s work.A Simple ReflexThe Endocrine SystemThe Endocrine System is the body’s “slow” chemical communication system. Communication is carried out by hormones synthesized by a set of glands.HormonesHormones are chemical messengers that aremanufactured by the endocrine glands,travel through the bloodstream, and affectother tissues..For example, epinephrine (adrenaline) increases heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar, and feelings of excitement during emergency situations.adrenal [ah - DREEN-el] glands: pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys and secrete hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress.pituitary gland: the endocrine system’s most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, it regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.The Endocrine
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