MODULE 3: Neural and Hormonal Systems

What is LOVE? Mark Twain: Love is the irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired. Aerosmith: I don't wanna miss one smile I don't wanna miss one kiss Well, I just wanna be with you Right here with you, just like this I just wanna hold you close Feel your heart so close to mine And stay here in this moment For all the rest of time DOPAMINE NOREPINEPHRINE SEROTONIN OXYTOCIN

Everything psychological is simultaneously biological Thoughts Feelings Behaviors Nervous System (Biological Psychology) By studying the links between biology and psychology, biological psychologists are gaining new clues to sleep and dreams, depression and schizophrenia, hunger and sex, and stress and disease.

Lecture plan Micro view Macro view at the level of a cell, the parts of a cell and the functions of a cell Macro view Systems of cells that jointly serve a function The entire nervous system in communication with other systems

Neurons and how they work together: Micro view

Body’s communication system: Neural Communication Neuron: the building block of the nervous system The Neuron A cell in the nervous system specialized to receive, process, and/or transmit information to other cells Axon can be anything between a fraction of a millimeter to over a meter.

How do the neurons communicate? Neurotransmitters They are chemical messengers that go across the synaptic gaps between neurons. They bind to the receptor sites on the receiving neuron They influence whether the receiving neuron will respond with a “neural impulse”.

Neural Communication

How do the drugs work? Mimic a natural neurotransmitter (heroin and morphine) Block the reuptake if the neurotransmitter Inhibit release of the neurotransmitter Occupy the receptor sites of a neurotransmitter heroin and morphine brain may stop producing its own endorphins  withdrawal  sensation of pain

Neural Communication Acetylcholine: Learning, memory, muscle contraction (Alzheimer’s) Endorphins: (“morphine within”) pain control and to pleasure Dopamine: Movement, learning, attention, emotion (Schizophrenia, Parkinson’s) Serotonin: Mood, hunger, sleep, arousal (depression) Norepinephrine: alertness and arousal GABA: Inhibitory (seizures, tremors, insomnia) Glutamate: Excitatory, memory (seizures, migranes, “MSG”)

Sets of neurons and what they do: MAcro view

The Nervous System Autonomic Nervous System the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands (salgi bezi) and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart) Sympathetic Nervous System division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations Parasympathetic Nervous System division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

Peripheral Autonomic System: the Sympathetic System

Peripheral Autonomic System: the Parasympathetic System

Neurons of different systems CNS Interneurons CNS’s internal communications Peripheral system Sensory neurons From tissues to the brain and the spinal cord Motor neurons From the CNS to the tissues

The Central Nervous System There exist an intense information network within the brain 40 billion neurons Each with 10,000 contacts 400 trillion synapses Organized into neural networks Spinal cord maintains the communications between the peripheral system and the brain Reflexes

The entire nervous system interacting with another system: MAcro view

The Endocrine System Endocrine System the body’s “slow” chemical communication system a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream Act on brain to influence our growth/emotions/ motivations/mood.

Neural and Hormonal Systems Hormones: chemical messengers manufactured by the endocrine glands Produced in one tissue and affect another Pituitary Gland Controlled by the hypothalamus regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands Adrenal Glands just above the kidneys secrete epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline), which help to arouse the body in times of stress These hormones act as hormones AND neurotransmitters

Feedback system between the nervous and endocrine systems Communication with sexual content Brain Message to sex glands Behavior changed Pituitary Activated sex glands Other glands Sex hormones released Hormones