1. Psychology and the Brain
Chapter 3
Psychology and the Brain

2. Chapter Objectives
3.1: Understand how the nervous system and the endocrine system work.
3.2: Compare the differences between the peripheral nervous system and the central nervous system.
3.3: Explore the different structures and functions of the brain

3. Objective 3.1: I. Overview of the Nervous System
Coordinate and controls all the actions of the body
Brain is the most important part
Processes information from the body’s organs and outside the body
Massive information highway from the brain down the spinal cord and through a network of nerves throughout the body.

4. II. Nerve Cells About 100 billion in the brain
Powerhouse of the nervous system
2 types
Glial
10-50 times more than neurons
Participate in the movement of nerve impulses
Produce myelin to speed up impulses
Neurons
Have dendrites and axons

5. A. How Nerve Cells Communicate
Firing electrical impulses down the axon.
Crosses synapse
Triggers release of neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters either instruct it to fire another signal (action potential) or to remain silent.

6. B. The Importance of Neurotransmitters
Many disorders are linked to problems with receptors and/or neurotransmitters
More than 50 known
Many behaviors are linked to a specific neurotransmitter

7. Objective 3.2: III. Peripheral Nervous System
Carries info between organs and CNS
2 Parts:
Autonomic Nervous System
Controls our automatic body functions
Somatic Nervous System
Sensory and motor neurons
Reflexes - don’t reach the brain

8. IV. The Central Nervous System
Info from peripheral nervous system is conveyed, processed, and relayed to make a response.
Consists of:
Spinal cord - main pathway for info because the cord is made of neurons and housed by a protective vertebrae
Brain - command central
Different parts composed of different consistencies

9. How the Brain Thinks
Cerebral cortex and the cerebrum is where the thinking takes place.
These parts make use uniquely human

10. Objective 3.3: Two Hemispheres
Hemispheres are connected by the corpus callosum - a bundle of nerve fibers
Most important functioning utilizes both sides of the brain
In most people the left hemisphere dominates

11. Hemisphere Functions Left: Right: Controls the right side of the body
Controls language, speech and reading
Plans the day and keeps the time
Right:
Controls the left side of the body
Identifies patterns
Controls artistic tendencies, holistic thinking abilities, and imagination

12. Four Functional Lobes 1) Frontal 2) Parietal
Motor, creativity, emotional reactions
Language area: judgment, abstract thought and speech
Olfactory bulb - smell
2) Parietal
Body senses, position, orientation, pressure, heat, cold, pain, reading and thinking

13. 3) Occipital 4) Temporal Vision
Hearing, music, understanding speech, memory for nonverbal events
Language Area: hand skills, sensory, reading, writing, numbers

14. V. The Endocrine System v. Nervous System
Nervous systems partner in controlling and coordinating the body’s functions
Nervous system controls immediate functions; Endocrine system controls functions body must perform over days or weeks.
Nervous system has neurotransmitters; Endocrine system has hormones

15. Pituitary Gland Controlled by hypothalamus in the brain.
Called the master gland because hormones it produces influences many of the other glands
Makes growth hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone, and oxytocin

16. Thyroid Gland Parathyroid Gland Pineal Body
Produces energy the body can use from nutrients
Parathyroid Gland
Controls the level of calcium in the blood
Pineal Body
Produces melatonin (sleep and tanning)

17. Thymus Gland Adrenal Gland Pancreas
Role in body’s immune system recognizing and destroying viruses and bacteria
Adrenal Gland
Influences body type and metabolism
Pancreas
Makes insulin

18. Ovaries
Produce estrogen and progesterone
Testes
Produce testosterone