1. BRAINS, CHEMICALS, and ELECTRICITY Introduction to Psychology SS124-26AU Tristram Jones, Ph.D. Kaplan University

2. Neurons consist of THREE PARTS: CELL BODY (houses chromosomes, DNA); DENDRITES (receive info); Axon (sends messages from neurons, to muscles, glands)

3. And then there’s the synapse.... What’s cool about synapses is they don’t touch, they send neurotransmitters across the synaptic gap electrochemically! You have about 500 trillion synapses in your brain! So what are neurotransmitters??? What’s cool about synapses is they don’t touch, they send neurotransmitters across the synaptic gap electrochemically! You have about 500 trillion synapses in your brain! So what are neurotransmitters???

4. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit information across the synaptic divide... Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit information across the synaptic divide...

5. S Neurotransmitters in the axon’s “bags” transmit info to dendrites, which contain receptors. The message travels down the receiving neuron’s axon and travels to yet another neuron. This is called: SYNAPTIC TRANMISSION But...it doesn’t always work. Some- But...it doesn’t always work. Some- times neurotransmitters can’t make times neurotransmitters can’t make the jump! the jump! THEY CRASH INTO THE SYNAPTIC GAP!!! THEY CRASH INTO THE SYNAPTIC GAP!!! DOPAMINE, NOREPINEPHRINE AND SEROTONIN! Some NEUROTRANS- MITTERS ARE LINKED TO MENTAL HEALTH, ESPECIALLY DOPAMINE, NOREPINEPHRINE AND SEROTONIN!

6. But we have brain drugs!!! SSRIs and SNRIs SSRIs and SNRIs

7. Your Autonomic Nervous System The ANS is called autonomic because it works all by itself—you can’t turn it on or off! (Somatic is the one you can!) The ANS is called autonomic because it works all by itself—you can’t turn it on or off! (Somatic is the one you can!) It controls two separate aspects of your nervous system which communicate with each other electronically! It controls two separate aspects of your nervous system which communicate with each other electronically! These two nervous systems have two distinct functions: Disequilibrium and Homeostasis! These two nervous systems have two distinct functions: Disequilibrium and Homeostasis! They are the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems! They are the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems!

8. BEAR IS COMING/BEAR IS LEAVING BEAR IS COMING/BEAR IS LEAVING BEAR IS COMING! The SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM automatically dilates your eyes, floods your system with adrenalin and glucose, shuts down bowels and bladder, diverts blood to brain and muscles, dulls ability to sense pain! RUN! BEAR IS LEAVING! The PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYTEM KICKS IN, restoring homeostasis! Digestive, urinary and bowel activities return to normal, pupils contract to normal, Heart rate returns to normal, blood redirected to normal distribution! Relax!

9. And now, a word from your hormones! Pituitary gland is the master gland Pituitary gland is the master gland for hormone production! The Limbic for hormone production! The Limbic includes the hypothalamus controlling includes the hypothalamus controlling emotion, memory, learning & memory. emotion, memory, learning & memory. The hypothalamus sends messages to The hypothalamus sends messages to the pituitary gland which passes them the pituitary gland which passes them on to gland controlling digestion, stress, and reproductive processes. Increasingly, the endocrine on to gland controlling digestion, stress, and reproductive processes. Increasingly, the endocrine system is viewed as a significant part of the interweave of brain-function and mental stability or instability! Consider: system is viewed as a significant part of the interweave of brain-function and mental stability or instability! Consider: Estrogen/ Insulin/ Testosterone/ Adrenaline/ Cortisol = Estrogen/ Insulin/ Testosterone/ Adrenaline/ Cortisol = MENOPAUSE/ LUST/ ANGER/ PANIC/ SEXUAL PROCLIVITIES MENOPAUSE/ LUST/ ANGER/ PANIC/ SEXUAL PROCLIVITIES

10. Childhood Amnesia –just for fun! What is your earliest childhood What is your earliest childhood recollection? recollection? Freud said childhood amnesia Freud said childhood amnesia was rampant and suspicious. was rampant and suspicious.  Are your memories confab- ulated because of psycho-sexual ulated because of psycho-sexual trauma? (Freud)? trauma? (Freud)?  Can you recall being 3 and a half?  Is trauma positively correlated with amnesia in childhood? amnesia in childhood?

11. BRAIN DEATH...are you dead?