Lecture Guide Chapter 2 The Science of Psychology Gen Psych Sciartelli S10 Based on the text Psychology Ciccarelli and White 2009 Introduction to this Chapter Overview of Nervous System see slide CHART Nervous System extensive network of specialized cells that carry info to and from all parts of body Neuroscience examines the structure and function of neurons nerves and nervous tissue Also interested in relationship of nervous system to behavior and learning deals with structure and function of Nervous System neurons nerves and nervous tissue and its relationship to behavior and learning Structure of the Neuron Neurons basic cell in the nervous system The receiver and sender of messages Parts of a Neuron see slide in order message flows Dendrites receive Soma cell body responsible for maintaining life of cell Axon long tube like structure carries message to other cells sender Other Types of Brain Cells Glial cells grey fatty cells that 1 Provide support for neurons to grow on around 2 Deliver nutrients to neurons 3 Produce myelin to coat axons Myelin fatty substances produced by certain glial cells coat axons to insulate protect and speed up the neural impulse 4 Clean up waste products and dead neurons Neurons in the Body Nerves bundles of axons in body that travel together How do neurons communicate Generating the Message Neural Impulse Sending the message within the cell electrical All or none either fires completely or not at all Different Stength responses How are different strengths responses indicated The more neurons you have the more stronger your response is Sending the Message to Other Cells CHEMICAL Neurotransmitters NT Chemical used to pass message to next cell Synapse synaptic gap microscopic space between neurons Receptor sites holes in surface of dendrites or muscle or gland cells shaped to fit only certain neurotransmitters Neuron Communication Neurons must be turned ON and OFF Neurotransmitters Excitatory neurotransmitter causes receiving cell to fire Inhibitory neurotransmitter causes receiving cell to stop firing Chemical substances can affect neuronal communication Agonists mimic or enhance effect of NT o Example black widow venom Antagonists block or reduce response to NTs o Example curare betablockers Types of neurotransmitters Acetylcholine ACH Serotonin GABA Glutamate Norepinephrine Dopamine Endorphins Cleaning up the Synapse 1 Reuptake NTs taken back into sending cell 2 Diffusion drift away 3 Enzyme a protein made by cells breaks down n t Central Nervous System CNS brain and spinal cord Spinal cord a long bundle of neurons that carries messages to and from the body and brain is responsible for very fast lifesaving reflexes Three Types of Neurons Sensory neuron Motor neuron Interneuron 1 Sensory pathway 2 Motor pathway Peripheral Nervous System PNS all nonCNS nerves and neurons running through body divided into A Somatic Nervous System carries sensory info and controls skeletal muscles B Autonomic Nervous System ANS controls involuntary muscles organs and glands 1 Sympathetic division fight or flight system responsible for reacting to stressful events and bodily arousal 2 Parasympathetic division restores body to normal functioning after arousal responsible for day to day functioning of organs and glands THE BRAIN How to study The Brain Stem 1 Medulla 2 Pons 3 Reticular formation RF 4 Cerebellum Structures Under the Cortex Limbic system a group of brain structures located under cortex involved in learning emotion memory and motivation Thalamus Olfactory bulbs Hypothalamus Hippocampus Amygdala Cerebrum upper part of brain consisting of two hemispheres and structures that connect them Cortex outermost covering of brain consists of densely packed neurons responsible for higher thought processes and interpretation of sensory input skull Why is the cortex wrinkled What is that called Corticalization wrinkling of cortex Allows larger area of cortical cells to exist in small space inside the Cerebral Hemispheres two sections of the cortex on the left and right sides of the brain Corpus callosum thick band of neurons that connects the right and left hemispheres Four Lobes of the Brain 2 of each Occipital lobes rear and bottom contains visual centers i Primary visual cortex ii Visual association cortex processes visual info identifies and makes sense of visual info Parietal lobes top and back contain centers for touch taste and temperature sensations Somatosensory Cortex area of neurons running down the front Processes info from skin and internal body receptors for touch temperature body position and possibly taste Temporal lobes see slide contains neurons responsible for sense of hearing and meaningful speech Primary Auditory Cortex Auditory Association Cortex 2 Frontal lobes front and top i Responsible for higher mental processes like decision making personality ii Responsible for production of fluent speech Motor cortex section at back of frontal lobe responsible for sending motor commands to the muscles of the somatic nervous system Association Areas of Cortex areas within each lobe of the cortex responsible for the coordination and interpretation of information as well as higher mental processing Aphasia brain based language problem Broca s area Broca s aphasia damage to Broca s area usually in left frontal lobe affected individual can t speak fluently mispronounces words and speaks haltingly understands not just motor Wernicke s area Wernicke s aphasia damage to Wernicke s area usually in left temporal lobe affected individual to understand or produce meaningful language Spatial neglect condition produced by damage to the association areas of the right hemisphere OCC and parietal resulting in an inability to recognize objects or body parts in the left visual field Split Brain Research Study of patients with severed corpus callosum Involves sending messages to only one side of brain Demonstrates right and left brain specialization Results of Split Brain Research 1 Left side of the brain Seems to control language o Writing o Logical thought o Analysis o Mathematical abilities Processes information sequentially Can speak Right side of body 2 Right side of the brain Controls emotional expression o Spatial perception o Recognition of faces patterns melodies o Emotions Processes information globally Cannot speak Left side of body Are people right brained or left brained Individuals do seem to have one or other dominate supposedly impacting mode of thought skills
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