1. The Biological Basis of Behavior
Chapter 2

3. Background 1/3 of humanity is dead 2.3 billion have died
Virus is spreading exponentially
No vaccines or cures have been found
Attempts to eradicate have been futile
We are the last hope

4. Mission Statement
You have been recruited because you are the best and brightest young minds, work well in groups, and most important of all, your creativity.
We will be focusing on neuroscience as we have deduced that the brain plays a very important role in explaining zombie behavior.
Your goal will be to become a medications development specialist and create a cure for the zombie plague that is destroying the world.

5. Over the course of this unit you must learn about the following to save our civilization:
Neurons
Neurotransmission
Neurotransmitters
Neuroanatomy
Medications development

6. Start video at 1:09:11 and end at 1:15:25

7. A Neuron is
A specialized cell that receives information and transmits it to other cells.

8. Neurons: The Messengers
About 100 billion neurons (nerve cells) in the human brain
Neurons have many of the same features as other cells.
Nucleus
Cytoplasm
Cell membrane
What makes neurons unique is their shape and function.

9. Neuron under an electron microscope

10. Structure of Neurons Dendrites Cell Body (Soma) Axon Myelin Sheath
Carry information to the cell body from other neurons
Cell Body (Soma)
Contains nucleus
Axon
Carries information to the next cell
Myelin Sheath
Insulates the axon and speeds up the neural impulse

11. Make your own Neuron Give your Neuron a name fit for a zombie film
Dendrite
Axon
Soma (cell body)
Nucleus
Myelin Sheath
Terminal Buttons
Give your Neuron a name fit for a zombie film
Give it some color, make it spooky

12. How does it work?
Neurotransmission is a fancy name for two or more neurons communicating with each other.

13. The Neural Impulse: resting potential
Neurons stay at rest with their sodium ions on the outside of the cell body (or soma) and potassium ions on the inside.
The Neuron isn’t transmitting information

14. The Neural Impulse
Neurons are no longer at rest when the sodium ions on the outside of the cell body rush in and potassium ions on the inside rush out.

15. The Neural Impulse: Action Potential
Sudden, massive change in charge in the neuron
Occurs when depolarization reaches the threshold of excitation
Ions flow across cell membrane

16. The Neural Impulse
The electrical impulse races down the axon

17. The Neural Impulse All-or-None Law
A neuron either fires or it does not.
When it does fire, it will always produce an impulse of the same strength.
Intensity of a stimulus is coded by the frequency of action potentials.

18. The Neural Impulse
Once the electrical impulse reaches the terminal button it triggers the vesicles (containing neurotransmitters), to move toward the bottom of the terminal button.

19. The Neural Impulse
Neurotransmitters are released from terminal buttons and cross the tiny space between it and the next neuron called the synaptic gap.

20. The Synapse (Synaptic space)
Tiny gap between neurons. The synapse is composed of the terminal button of one neuron, the synaptic space, and the dendrites or cell body of the receiving neuron

22. Lets Simulate this process

24. Neurotransmitters

25. Neurotransmitters
A neurotransmitter is a chemical messenger that carries signals between neurons as well as other cells in the body.
These chemicals are released from the end of one neuron and cross the synapse to receptor sites in the next neuron.

26. Transmission Between Neurons

27. Some Well-Known Neurotransmitters

28. Acetylcholine (ACH)
It’s the most common neurotransmitter. It is located in both the central nervous and peripheral nervous system.
It acts on basic autonomic and muscular functions
Plays an important role in arousal and attention
Loss of ACH producing cells is linked to Alzheimer’s

29. Dopamine
Affects neurons associated with voluntary movement and plays a role in learning, memory, and emotions.
Loss of dopamine-producing cells causes symptoms of Parkinson's.

30. Glutamate Is an excitatory neurotransmitter
Plays a role in learning and memory
Too much can cause seizures
Malfunction of glutamate has also been associated with Alzheimer's

31. Epinephrine Also known as adrenaline
Causes the feeling of being “revved up” or on edge
Activates a “fight or flight” reaction in the autonomic nervous system

32. Serotonin
Attention and other complex cognitive functions, such as sleep (dreaming), eating, mood, pain regulation
Neurons which use serotonin are distributed throughout the brain, stomach and spinal cord
Issues with this leads to Mood disorders like depression

33. GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)
It’s the most important and common inhibitory neurotransmitter
Stops the brain from becoming overexcited
Too much may cause hallucinations

34. Endorphins
Reduce pain by inhibiting or “turning down” neurons that transmit pain information

35. Neuro DANCE PARTY

37. Our brain evolved over time
Lizard Brain - Basic functions
Mammalian Brain - More complex feelings and reactions
Human Brain - Logic and reasoning

39. The Brain Stem or Hindbrain (The Lizard Brain)
Activity in the brain stem is important for:
*bodily activities essential to survival, such as changes in heartbeat and breathing
*the focusing of attention
*patterns of arousal (that is sleeping versus waking)

40. The Midbrain/ Limbic System (The Mammalian Brain)
Located in the middle of the brain
Associated with these behaviors:
1. Fighting
2. Feeding
3. Fleeing
4. Reproductive behavior
* The part of the brain that regulates emotion

41. Important parts of the midbrain
The Thalamus processes and relays movement and sensory information.
It is a relay station, taking in sensory information and then passing it on to the cerebral cortex.

42. Important parts of the midbrain
The hypothalamus connects with many other regions of the brain and is responsible for controlling hunger, thirst, emotions, and body temperature regulation.

43. Important parts of the midbrain
Amygdala
An almond-shaped structure, involved in the experience of negative emotions like fear.

44. The Cortex/Cerebrum (The Human Brain)
The outer layer of the brain
Responsible for “executive functioning”
It’s what makes us human
Thinking

47. The Frontal Lobe
At the back of the frontal lobe lies the Primary motor cortex. This area sends messages to carry out body movement.

48. The Parietal Lobe
Within the parietal lobe is the somatosensory cortex which registers sensory information from the entire body.

49. The Temporal Lobe
The hippocampus is located in the temporal lobe, which is associated with memories.

51. Label the Brain
Go to the class website and open the document “Label the Brain Activity”
Page 60 and 61 would be a good reference for this activity.