Objectives Chapter 3 Biological Psychology Read pages Chapter 3 1 Know the parts of a neuron and their functions Define synapse Neurons are brain cells that specialize in communication There are around 100 billion neurons with around 160 billion connections between them Oddly shaped Synapse is the place where the axon of one neuron meets the dendrite of another neuron A synaptic gap is defined as the space between two neurons the neurons don t quite touch 2 Know how communications are sent within a neuron Dendrites receive info as electrochemical messages and the myelin sheath accelerates this information as info travel down axon 3 Know how neurons use neurotransmitters to communicate with each other Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that neurons use to communicate with one another Neurons respond to neurotransmitters by generating electrical activity When there are not neurotransmitters acting on a neuron it is at the resting potential When there is enough of a charge inside the neuron threshold an action potential will occur During an action potential positive particles rapidly flow into the axon Action potential is abrupt waves of electric discharge triggered by a change in charge inside the axon This is the neuron firing an all or none response Between firings there is a brief absolute refractory period Neurons can fire 100 to 1000 times per second Communication inside neurons is electrical but communication between neurons is chemical via neurotransmitters When neurotransmitters are released they bind with the receptor sites of the next neuron The process is halted by reuptake when neurotransmitters go back into the axon terminal Different neurotransmitters are different messengers some excite and others inhibit the nervous system 4 Know the function of GABA Glutamate Serotonin and Dopamine Two most common neurotransmitters in central nervous system are GABA and Glutamate GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter it decreases the chance neurons will communicate Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter increasing the chance neurons will communicate Serotonin governs mood and temperature regulation aggression and sleep cycles Dopamine governs motor function and reward 5 Know Glial Cells Glial cells are supporting cells 1 1 ratio with neurons clear up debris repair neurons help speed up neuronal communication 6 Identify the two major divisions of the nervous system and describe their functions Central Nervous System Processes interprets stores information issues order to muscles glands and organs Mainly brain and spinal cord Peripheral Nervous System Transmits information to and from the nervous system Autonomic involuntary movement parasympathetic sympathetic and somatic voluntary movement 7 Identify the two major components of the peripheral nervous system and describe their functions The Somatic Nervous System Interacts with external environment Sends signals from the sense organs eyes ears tongue etc and skin to the central nervous system Sends signals from the central nervous system to the skeletal muscles directing your voluntary movements 8 Identify the two major components of the autonomic nervous system and describe their functions The Autonomic Nervous System is the regulation of internal environment It connects the central nervous system to involuntary muscles and organs e g the heart the stomach the liver and to the body s hormone producing glands Made up of Sympathetic Nervous System Active during flight or fight response arousing Dilates pupil Accelerates heartbeat Inhibits digestion Stimulates glucose release by liver Stimulates secretion of epinephrine norepinephrine Relaxes bladder Stimulates ejaculation in male Parasympathetic Nervous System Active during rest and digestion calming Contracts pupil Slows heartbeat Stimulates digestion Contracts bladder Allows blood flow to sex organs 9 Know the structure of the cerebral cortex and explain the various functions of the four lobes The forebrain is the most developed area of the human brain Each hemisphere is divided into four lobes separates by fissures and two hemispheres left right connected by the corpus callosum The frontal lobe assists motor function language and memory It has an executive functioning Motor cortext extend fingers move lips etc The prefrontal cortex is responsible for thinking planning and language Plays a role in personality and mood Phinneaus Gage spike through skull lived normal but mentally changed Broca s area is in charge of language production If damaged there is a loss of ability to produce language written or spoken Parietal lobe is specialized for touch and perception It contains the somatosensory cortex making it sensitive to pressure pain and temperature Every time we reach grasp or move our eyes the parietal lobe communicates information to the motor cortex Temporal lobe plays a role in hearing and understanding language Sustains autobiographical memories It consists an auditory cortex and Wernicke s area Wernicke s aphasia severely impairs reading and writing ability Occipital lobe is specialized for vision and contains the visual cortex 10 Know the basal ganglia Forebrain structure that helps control movement Allows us to perform movements to obtain rewards and reinforcement Damage to the basal ganglia can contribute to Parkinson s disease 11 Know the functions of the limbic system thalamus hypothalamus hippocampus and amygdala The limbic system is the emotional center of the brain and also plays a role in smell motivation and memory Thalamus Sits on top of the brainstem known as the brain s sensory switchboard The Thalamus receives sensory input except smell and sends info to specialized regions of the brain Hypothalamus Regulates the body s internal environment and select emotions anger fear and drives hunger thirst sexuality Hippocampus Fighting fleeing feeding and sex Amygdala Tied to emotions such as aggression and fear Is important in the information of emotional memories 12 Know the structure of the brain stem and hindbrain and the functions of the parts The brain stem connects the cerebral cortex and spinal cord It can perform some basic bodily functions and serves as a relay station between the cortex and rest of the nervous system 13 Know the ways we ve figured out what the various parts of the do Actively manipulating the brain Lesion studies electrical stimulation Electroencephalograph EEG Measures electrical activity via electrodes placed on skull Can tell
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