Copyright © Allyn and Bacon This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or part, of any images; any rental, lease, or lending of the program. Chapter 2 Biopsychology

2 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 What is Biopsychology? The specialty in psychology that studies the interaction of biology, behavior, and mental processes For example this chapter looks at the brain, nervous system, endocrine system, and neurotransmitters and how they impact behavior.

3 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 What is neuroscience? Focuses on how the brain produces mental processes and behavior Interdisciplinary field-includes specialists from all the fields below psychologists biologists computer scientists chemists neurologists linguists

4 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 Evolution has fundamentally shaped psychological processes because it favors genetic variations that produce adaptive behavior How Are Genes and Behavior Linked?

5 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 Darwin and Natural Selection Darwin – years surveying the coastline of South America Radical idea about relationship among species All creatures, including humans, share a common ancestry On the Origin of Species (1859) Natural selection – Individuals best adapted to the environment are more likely to flourish and reproduce

6 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 How Natural Selection Works Environmental pressure (changes in the environment) Competition (for resources) Selection of fittest phenotype (from among a variety of phenotypes) Reproductive success (genotype corresponding to fittest phenotypes passed to next generation) Frequency of that genotype increases (in next generation)

7 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 Genes and Inheritance Genotype – An organism’s genetic makeup Phenotype – An organism’s observable physical characteristics Important Question- If both of your parents have high blood pressure does that mean you will have high blood pressure?

8 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 Chromosomes, Genes, and DNA DNA – A long, complex molecule that encodes genetic characteristics Genes – The functional units of a chromosome Composed of nucleotides

9 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 Sex chromosomes – The X and Y chromosomes that determine our physical sex characteristics Chromosomes, Genes, and DNA Chromosomes – Tightly coiled threadlike structures along which the genes are organized

10 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 Genetic Explanations for Psychological Processes Genetic Explanations for Psychological Processes Human phobias Aggression Jealousy Sexual orientation Physical attraction Mate selection Parenting Temperament Gender differences -Never attribute psychological characteristics to genetics alone: always a combination of genes and environment

11 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 The brain coordinates the body’s two communication systems, the nervous system and the endocrine system, which uses chemical processes to communicate with targets throughout the body How Does the Body Communicate Internally?

12 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 The Body’s Dual Communication System Neurons (Nerve cells): fundamental unit in the brain Nervous system: network of neurons that extends all through the body Endocrine system: a group of glands that operates together and in parallel with the nervous system

13 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 The Neuron Types of Neurons Sensory neurons (carry messages from sense receptors towards the CNS) Motor neurons (carry messages from CNS toward muscles and glands) Interneurons (carry messages between nerve cells)

14 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 The Structure of a Neuron

15 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 The Neural Impulse Resting potential Action potential Synapse Synaptic transmission All-or-none principal

16 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 Neurotransmitters Neurotransmitters – Chemical messengers that relay neural messages across the synapse to the next neuron

17 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 Seven Important Neurotransmitters Dopamine Serotonin Acetylcholine Glutamine Norepinephrine GABA Endorphins

18 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009NeurotransmittersDopamine Serotonin Acetylcholine Glutamine Norepinephrine GABA Endorphins Normal Function: Produces sensations of pleasure and reward; used by CNS neurons in voluntary movement Problems with Imbalance: Schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease-why we watch “Awakenings” Substances that Affect: Cocaine, amphetamines, Ritalin, alcohol

19 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009Neurotransmitters Dopamine Serotonin Acetylcholine Glutamine Norepinephrine GABA Endorphins Normal Function: Regulates sleep and dreaming, mood, pain, aggression, appetite and sexual behavior Problems with Imbalance: Depression, certain anxiety disorders, obsessive- compulsive disorder Substances that Affect: Prozac, hallucinogenics (e.g. LSD)

20 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009Neurotransmitters Dopamine Serotonin Acetylcholine Glutamine Norepinephrine GABA Endorphins Normal Function: Controls heart rate, sleep, sexual responsiveness, stress, vigilance and appetite Problems with Imbalance: High blood pressure, depression Substances that Affect: Tricyclic antidepressants, beta blockers

21 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009Neurotransmitters Dopamine Serotonin Acetylcholine Glutamine Norepinephrine GABA Endorphins Normal Function: Primary transmitter used by neurons carrying messages from CNS; involved in some kinds of learning and memory Problems with Imbalance: Certain muscular disorders, Alzheimer’s disease Substances that Affect: Nicotine, botulism toxin, curare, atropine

22 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009Neurotransmitters Dopamine Serotonin Acetylcholine Glutamine Norepinephrine GABA Endorphins Normal Function: Most prevalent inhibitory neurotransmitter in neurons of CNS Problems with Imbalance: Anxiety, epilepsy Substances that Affect: Barbiturates, tranquilizers (e.g. Valium, Librium), alcohol

23 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009Neurotransmitters Dopamine Serotonin Acetylcholine Glutamine Norepinephrine GABA Endorphins Normal Function: Primary excitatory neurotransmitter in CNS; involved in learning and memory Problems with Imbalance: Brain damage after stroke Substances that Affect: PCP (“angel dust”)

24 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009Neurotransmitters Dopamine Serotonin Acetylcholine Glutamine Norepinephrine GABA Endorphins Normal Function: Pleasurable sensations and control of pain Problems with Imbalance: Lowered levels resulting from opiate addiction Substances that Affect: Opiates: opium, heroin, morphine, methadone

25 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 Plasticity Plasticity – Ability of the nervous system to adapt or change as the result of experience; sometimes helps the nervous system adapt to physical damage

26 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 Glial Cells Glial cells Provide structural support for neurons Help in forming new synapses Form myelin sheath

27 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 The Organization of the Nervous System

28 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 The Endocrine System (the body’s chemical messenger system)

29 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 The Endocrine System Pituitary gland – master gland that produces hormones influencing the secretions of all other endocrine glands produces hormone that influences growth attached to hypothalamus

30 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 How Does the Brain Produce Behavior and Mental Processes? The brain is composed of many specialized modules that work together to create mind and behavior

31 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 Windows on the Brain EEG (electroencephalograph) – Device for recording brain waves, typically by electrodes placed on the scalp Brain waves – Patterns of electrical activity generated by the brain

32 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 Windows on the Brain Epilepsy – Brain disorder that is often marked by seizures and loss of consciousness Caused by out-of-control electrical activity in the brain

33 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 Windows on the Brain Brain scans – Recordings of the brain’s electrical or biochemical activity at specific sites CT scanning (computerized tomography) PET scanning (positron emission tomography) MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging)

34 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 Three Layers of the Brain Brain stem and cerebellum Drive vital functions, such as heart rate, breathing, digestion Limbic system Adds emotions, complex motives, increased memory abilities Cerebrum Enables reasoning, planning, creating, problem solving

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36 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 The Brain Stem and Cerebellum

37 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 The Limbic System Hippocampus – Involved in establishing long-term memories

38 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 The Limbic System Amygdala – Involved in memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression

39 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 The Limbic System Hypothalamus – Serves as the brain’s blood- testing laboratory, constantly monitors blood to determine the condition of the body

40 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 The Cerebrum Cerebrum – Topmost layer of the brain; the bulbous cap over the limbic system Cerebral cortex – Thin gray-matter covering of the cerebrum; carries on thinking and perceiving Cerebral hemispheres – The two walnut shaped halves of the cerebrum, connected by the corpus callosum

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2009 The Four Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex 41

42 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 The Cooperative Brain Every mental and behavioral process involves the coordination and cooperation of many brain networks Association cortex – Cortical regions that combine information from various other parts of the brain

43 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 Cerebral Dominance Cerebral dominance Tendency of each brain hemisphere to exert control over different functions Aphasia The loss of speech caused be brain damage Spatial orientation Process of locating one’s body or other objects in space

44 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 Specialization of the Cerebral Hemispheres

45 Copyright © Allyn and Bacon 2009 The Split Brain Split-brain patients – Individuals who have had the corpus callosum surgically severed Duality of consciousness – Condition in which a split-brain patient has a separate consciousness in each hemisphere

Figure 2.2 Copyright © Allyn & Bacon