- The Importance of Biological Psychologyo You will be expected to know the names and functions of major brain areas- Nervous Systemo- Major parts of the braino Frontal Lobeo Prefrontal Lobeo Central Fissureo Parietal Lobeo Occipital Lobeo Temporal Lobeo Motor Cortexo Sensory Cortexo Auditory Cortexo Visual Cortexo Pleasure Pathway- Endocrine Systemo SNSo PSNS- Epilepsyo Seizures have two distinct looks Trembling violently Blanking outo Construction of the neuron Dendrites- Receive stimulation Cell Body Axonal hillock- Just past the cell body where signals from a variety of stimuli are integrated Axon- Transmits electrical impulse to end of Axon (axonal terminals) where neurotransmitter chemicals are releasedo Types of Neurons Afferent- Sensory Efferent- Motor Interneuron Sensory and motor neurons look different from each othero Neural Firing Threshold- Minimum stimulation needed to cause the neuron to fire Transmission of current- (Action potential)- Sodium ions outside the axon flowing into the inside of the axon, force out the potassium ions. This local changein ionization potential creates an electrical pulse that flows down the axon.- After the impulse has passed, the sodium is pumped out.- There is a brief refractory period in which the neuron cant fire again (until the sodium has been completely pumped out and the potassium is back in) Neurotransmitters- Chemicals held in sacs at the end of the axon are released when the action potential reaches the end of the axon- The neurotransmitters flow into the space between the axon and nearby dendrites (space is called synapse)- Neurotransmitters (NT) link up with receptor sites based on physical compatibility; once enough sites are filled, the threshold is reached and the new neuron fires.- Block the release of NT- Suck up free NT- Block reception of NT- Prevent re-uptake of NT- Unforgettable demonstration of neural activity o A two-neuron reflex like the knee-jerk