Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc PsychSmart INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc CHAPTER TWO: NEUROSCIENCE AND BEHAVIOR

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc Neurons: The Basic Units of the Nervous System Why do psychologists study the brain and nervous system? Why do psychologists study the brain and nervous system? What are the basic elements of the nervous system? What are the basic elements of the nervous system? How does the nervous system communicate electrical and chemical messages from one part to another? How does the nervous system communicate electrical and chemical messages from one part to another?

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc Structure of the Neuron Neurons (Nerve cells) Neurons (Nerve cells) Basic elements of the nervous system Basic elements of the nervous system As many as 1 trillion As many as 1 trillion Figure 1 of Chapter 2

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc The Structure of the Neuron Dendrites Dendrites Clusters of fibers that receive messages from other neurons Clusters of fibers that receive messages from other neurons Axon Axon Carries messages received by the dendrites to other neurons Carries messages received by the dendrites to other neurons Terminal buttons-send messages to other neurons Terminal buttons-send messages to other neurons Myelin sheath Myelin sheath A protective coating of fat and protein that wraps around the axon like links of sausage A protective coating of fat and protein that wraps around the axon like links of sausage

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc How Neurons Fire Transmits an electrical impulse along the axon Transmits an electrical impulse along the axon All-or-none law All-or-none law Resting state Resting state Action potential Action potential Mirror neurons Mirror neurons Figures 2 and 3 of Chapter 2

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc Where Neurons Meet: Bridging the Gap Synapse Synapse The space between two neurons where the axon of a sending neuron communicates with the dendrites of a receiving neuron by using chemical messages The space between two neurons where the axon of a sending neuron communicates with the dendrites of a receiving neuron by using chemical messages Figure 4 of Chapter 2

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc Where Neurons Meet: Bridging the Gap Neurotransmitters Neurotransmitters Chemicals that carry messages across the synapse to a dendrite of a receiving neuron Chemicals that carry messages across the synapse to a dendrite of a receiving neuron Excitatory messages Excitatory messages Increase the likelihood that neurons will fire Increase the likelihood that neurons will fire Inhibitory messages Inhibitory messages Decrease the likelihood that neurons will fire Decrease the likelihood that neurons will fire Reuptake Reuptake Reabsorption by the terminal button Reabsorption by the terminal button

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc Neurotransmitters: Chemical Couriers Acetylcholine (ACh) Acetylcholine (ACh) Dopamine (DA) Dopamine (DA) Serotonin Serotonin Endorphins Endorphins Figure 5 of Chapter 2

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc Parts of the Nervous System Figure 6 of Chapter 2

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc The Nervous System: Linking Neurons Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems Central nervous system Central nervous system Brain Brain Spinal cord Spinal cord Reflex Reflex Sensory (afferent) neurons Sensory (afferent) neurons Motor (efferent) neurons Motor (efferent) neurons Interneurons Interneurons

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc The Nervous System: Linking Neurons Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems Peripheral Nervous System Peripheral Nervous System Somatic division Somatic division Voluntary movements Voluntary movements Autonomic division Autonomic division Controls organs that function automatically Controls organs that function automatically

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc The Central Nervous System & the Peripheral Nervous System Figure 7 of Chapter 2

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc Activating the Divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System Sympathetic Division Sympathetic Division Acts to prepare the body for action in stressful situations by engaging all of the organism’s resources to run away or confront the threat Acts to prepare the body for action in stressful situations by engaging all of the organism’s resources to run away or confront the threat “Fight or flight” “Fight or flight” Parasympathetic Division Parasympathetic Division Calms the body after emergency ends Calms the body after emergency ends

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc Major Functions of the Autonomic Nervous System Figure 8 of Chapter 2

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc The Evolutionary Foundations of the Nervous System Evolutionary Psychology Evolutionary Psychology The branch of psychology that seeks to identify how behavior is influenced and produced by our genetic inheritance from our ancestors The branch of psychology that seeks to identify how behavior is influenced and produced by our genetic inheritance from our ancestors Behavioral Genetics Behavioral Genetics Studies the effects of heredity on behavior Studies the effects of heredity on behavior Behavioral genetics, gene therapy, and genetic counseling Behavioral genetics, gene therapy, and genetic counseling

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc The Endocrine System: Hormones and Glands The chemical communication network that sends messages throughout the body via the bloodstream The chemical communication network that sends messages throughout the body via the bloodstream Hormones Hormones Pituitary gland Pituitary gland “Master gland” “Master gland” Figure 9 of Chapter 2

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc The Brain How do researchers identify the major parts and functions of the brain? How do researchers identify the major parts and functions of the brain? What are the major parts of the brain, and for what behaviors is each part responsible? How do the two halves of the brain operate interdependently? What are the major parts of the brain, and for what behaviors is each part responsible? How do the two halves of the brain operate interdependently? How can an understanding of the nervous system help us find ways to alleviate disease and pain? How can an understanding of the nervous system help us find ways to alleviate disease and pain?

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc Techniques for Spying on the Brain Electroencephalogram (EEG) Electroencephalogram (EEG) Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc Brain Scans Produced by Different Techniques Figures 10A, 10B,10C, and 10D of Chapter 2

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc Major Structures in the Brain in Cross-section Figure 12 of Chapter 2

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc The Central Core: Our “Old Brain” Central Core Central Core Hindbrain Hindbrain Medulla Medulla Breathing and heartbeat Breathing and heartbeat Pons Pons Transmitter of motor information Transmitter of motor information Cerebellum Cerebellum Balance Reticular formation Balance Reticular formation Reticular Formation Reticular Formation Passes through the midbrain and into the forebrain Passes through the midbrain and into the forebrain Activates other parts of the brain to produce bodily arousal Activates other parts of the brain to produce bodily arousal

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc The Central Core: Our “Old Brain” Central Core Central Core Thalamus Thalamus Relay station for information about the senses Relay station for information about the senses Hypothalamus Hypothalamus Maintains a steady internal environment for the body Maintains a steady internal environment for the body

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc The Central Core: Our “Old Brain” The Limbic System: Beyond the Central Core The Limbic System: Beyond the Central Core Controls a variety of functions relating to emotions and self- preservation, like eating, aggression, and reproduction Controls a variety of functions relating to emotions and self- preservation, like eating, aggression, and reproduction Includes: Includes: Amygdala Amygdala Hippocampus Hippocampus Figure 13 of Chapter 2

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc The Cerebral Cortex: Our “New Brain” Cerebral Cortex Cerebral Cortex Provides the ability to think, evaluate, and make complex judgments Provides the ability to think, evaluate, and make complex judgments Lobes Lobes Frontal Frontal Parietal Parietal Temporal Temporal Occipital Occipital Figure 14 of Chapter 2

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc The Cerebral Cortex: Our “New Brain” The Motor Area of the Cortex The Motor Area of the Cortex Largely responsible for the body’s voluntary movement Largely responsible for the body’s voluntary movement The Sensory Area of the Cortex The Sensory Area of the Cortex Corresponds to body sensations Corresponds to body sensations Somatosensory area Somatosensory area Touch Touch Pressure Pressure The greater the amount of brain tissue devoted to a specific area of the body, the more sensitive that area of the body The greater the amount of brain tissue devoted to a specific area of the body, the more sensitive that area of the body

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc The Cerebral Cortex: Our “New Brain” The Association Areas of the Cortex The Association Areas of the Cortex Executive functions Executive functions Higher mental processes such as thinking, language, memory, and speech Higher mental processes such as thinking, language, memory, and speech

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc The Adaptable Brain Neuroplasticity Neuroplasticity The brain continually reorganizing itself The brain continually reorganizing itself Neurogenesis Neurogenesis New neurons created in certain areas of the brain during adulthood New neurons created in certain areas of the brain during adulthood

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc Specialization of the Hemispheres: Two Brains or One? Left and right symmetrical halves Left and right symmetrical halves Lateralized Lateralized Left Left Verbal competence Verbal competence Processes information sequentially Processes information sequentially Right Right Spatial relationships Spatial relationships Recognition of patterns and drawings Recognition of patterns and drawings Music Music Emotional expression Emotional expression Processes information globally Processes information globally

Copyright © McGraw-Hill, Inc The Split Brain: Exploring the Two Hemispheres Split-brain patients Split-brain patients The corpus callosum is surgically cut The corpus callosum is surgically cut The two hemispheres of the brain no longer communicate with each other The two hemispheres of the brain no longer communicate with each other The patient cannot combine the information of both hemispheres The patient cannot combine the information of both hemispheres Figure 16 of Chapter 2