Psychology and the Brain Chapter 3 Psychology and the Brain

Chapter Objectives 3.1: Understand how the nervous system and the endocrine system work. 3.2: Compare the differences between the peripheral nervous system and the central nervous system. 3.3: Explore the different structures and functions of the brain

Objective 3.1: I. Overview of the Nervous System Coordinate and controls all the actions of the body Brain is the most important part Processes information from the body’s organs and outside the body Massive information highway from the brain down the spinal cord and through a network of nerves throughout the body.

II. Nerve Cells About 100 billion in the brain Powerhouse of the nervous system 2 types Glial 10-50 times more than neurons Participate in the movement of nerve impulses Produce myelin to speed up impulses Neurons Have dendrites and axons

A. How Nerve Cells Communicate Firing electrical impulses down the axon. Crosses synapse Triggers release of neurotransmitters Neurotransmitters either instruct it to fire another signal (action potential) or to remain silent.

B. The Importance of Neurotransmitters Many disorders are linked to problems with receptors and/or neurotransmitters More than 50 known Many behaviors are linked to a specific neurotransmitter

Objective 3.2: III. Peripheral Nervous System Carries info between organs and CNS 2 Parts: Autonomic Nervous System Controls our automatic body functions Somatic Nervous System Sensory and motor neurons Reflexes - don’t reach the brain

IV. The Central Nervous System Info from peripheral nervous system is conveyed, processed, and relayed to make a response. Consists of: Spinal cord - main pathway for info because the cord is made of neurons and housed by a protective vertebrae Brain - command central Different parts composed of different consistencies

How the Brain Thinks Cerebral cortex and the cerebrum is where the thinking takes place. These parts make use uniquely human

Objective 3.3: Two Hemispheres Hemispheres are connected by the corpus callosum - a bundle of nerve fibers Most important functioning utilizes both sides of the brain In most people the left hemisphere dominates

Hemisphere Functions Left: Right: Controls the right side of the body Controls language, speech and reading Plans the day and keeps the time Right: Controls the left side of the body Identifies patterns Controls artistic tendencies, holistic thinking abilities, and imagination

Four Functional Lobes 1) Frontal 2) Parietal Motor, creativity, emotional reactions Language area: judgment, abstract thought and speech Olfactory bulb - smell 2) Parietal Body senses, position, orientation, pressure, heat, cold, pain, reading and thinking

3) Occipital 4) Temporal Vision Hearing, music, understanding speech, memory for nonverbal events Language Area: hand skills, sensory, reading, writing, numbers

V. The Endocrine System v. Nervous System Nervous systems partner in controlling and coordinating the body’s functions Nervous system controls immediate functions; Endocrine system controls functions body must perform over days or weeks. Nervous system has neurotransmitters; Endocrine system has hormones

Pituitary Gland Controlled by hypothalamus in the brain. Called the master gland because hormones it produces influences many of the other glands Makes growth hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone, and oxytocin

Thyroid Gland Parathyroid Gland Pineal Body Produces energy the body can use from nutrients Parathyroid Gland Controls the level of calcium in the blood Pineal Body Produces melatonin (sleep and tanning)

Thymus Gland Adrenal Gland Pancreas Role in body’s immune system recognizing and destroying viruses and bacteria Adrenal Gland Influences body type and metabolism Pancreas Makes insulin

Ovaries Produce estrogen and progesterone Testes Produce testosterone