History of Biological Psychology Plato was the first to suggest that the mind was in the head. In the 1800’s, Franz Gall proposed phrenology - studying bumps on the head for character traits and suggesting different parts of the brain control different aspects of behavior.

Biological Psychology Biological Psychology is the scientific study of links between biological and psychological processes.

Biological Psychology Our study begins with bottom up processing: processing that begins with the nerve cells and goes up to the brain. We will also look at top down processing: how our thinking and emotions affect our behavior.

Neurons and Neurotransmitters

Brain (CNS) Nervous System An extensive network of specialized cells that carry information to and from all parts of the body. Spinal Cord (CNS) Nerves (PNS)

The Neurons and the Neurotransmitters: The Structure of the Neuron Neuron (NEW-ron) the basic cell that makes up the nervous system and which receives and sends messages within that system. Neurotransmitters Specialized chemicals that facilitate or inhibit the transmission of impulses from one neuron to the next 2.3 What does each part of the neuron do?

The Neurons and the Neurotransmitters: The Structure of the Neuron Most neurons are made of three parts: cell body (soma) contains the nucleus keeps the cell alive and functioning dendrites receives signals from other neurons axon slender, tail-like extension of the neuron sprouts into branches, each ending in a bulbous axon terminal

The Neurons and the Neurotransmitters: The Structure of the Neuron Other parts of the neuron axon terminal Bulbous end of the axon where signals move from the axon of one neuron to the dendrites or cell body of another myelin Fatty substances that coat the axons of neurons to insulate, protect, and speed up the neural impulse. Insulates the neuron. Bundles of myelin-coated axons travel together in “cables” called nerves.

The Neurons and the Neurotransmitters: Neural Communication Resting potential Action potential Neuron fires an impulse Neurons generate chemical electricity Positive & negative ions

The Neurons and the Neurotransmitters: Neural Communication

The Neurons and the Neurotransmitters: Neural Communication

The Neurons and the Neurotransmitters: Neural Communication

The Neurons and the Neurotransmitters: Neural Communication

The Neurons and the Neurotransmitters: Neural Communication

The Neurons and the Neurotransmitters: Neural Communication LO 4.2 What are neurons, and how do they work? All-or-none - referring to the fact that a neuron either fires completely or does not fire at all. Return to resting potential.

The Neurons and the Neurotransmitters: Neural Communication After a neuron fires there is a Refractory Period – a period of inactivity after it has fired.

The Neurons and the Neurotransmitters: Communication between Neurons Axon terminals are separated from the receiving neurons by fluid-filled gaps: synaptic gap (or cleft). Synapse junction where axon terminal of sending neuron communicates with receiving neuron 2.4 How do neurons transmit messages through the nervous system?

The Synapse The neuron's electrical impulse reaches the synaptic knobs, triggering the release of the neuron's chemical messengers, called neurotransmitters, from the synaptic vesicles and into the cleft.

Neurotransmitters Chemical substances that transmit messages between neurons Released into synapse by axon terminals of sending neuron Bind to receptor sites on dendrites of receiving neuron Taken back into axon terminal by the process of reuptake 2.5 How do neurotransmitters work?

How Drugs and Other Chemicals Alter Neurotransmission Agonist = a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response. Antagonists = a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, inhibits or blocks a response.