1. Myers PSYCHOLOGY Seventh Edition in Modules
Neural and Hormonal Systems
James A. McCubbin, Ph.D.
Clemson University
Worth Publishers

2. “Everything psychological is simultaneously biological.”

3. It all Starts with the Neuron

4. Neural and Hormonal Systems
Will Explain Why We FEEL……
Pain
Sick
Strong
Nervous

5. Neural Communication Biological Psychology
branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior
allows a better understanding of sleep and dreams, depression and schizophrenia, hunger and sex, stress and disease
some biological psychologists call themselves behavioral neuroscientists, neuropsychologists, behavior geneticists, physiological psychologists, or biopsychologists
Pg. 54

6. Neural Communication Neuron a nerve cell
the basic building block of the nervous system
Cell body (Soma)
Contains the nucleus and other parts of the cell needed to sustain life
Dendrite
the bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body
Axon
the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages are sent to other neurons or to muscles or glands
Myelin [MY-uh-lin] Sheath
a layer of fatty cells segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons
enables vastly greater transmission speed of neutral impulses
Moved neuron to this slide

7. Neural Communication

8. Neural Communication Action Potential
a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
generated by the movement of positively charged atoms in and out of channels in the axon’s membrane
Threshold
the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
Synapse [SIN-aps]
junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron
tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or cleft
Moved synapse to this slide

9. Neural Communication How a neuron fires:
electrochemical process- electricity travels from dendrites to terminal branches
when receives stimulation by pressure heat, or a chemical message from a near by neuron, the neuron fires an impulse called action potential
dendrites receive messages from other cells
axon passes the message away from the cell body to other neurons or to muscle or glands
myeline sheath helps speed up the impulse, if degenerates, then the result is a slowing of all communications
at the end of the axon are terminal branches with which form junctions with other cells
Added from class notes, added picture from other PowerPoint

10. Neural Communication Santiago Ramon y Cajal:
described gaps between individual nerve cells (synapse)
Concluded that the individual neurons must function as independent agents with the nervous system

11. Neural Communication Action Potential
Picture taken from other power point- more detailed than previous one

12. Neural Communication All-or-None Principle:
a neuron either fires completely or not at all
if the dendrites of a neuron receive enough neurotransmitters to push the neuron past its threshold, the neuron will fire completely everytime
think of a toilet, it either flushes or it doesn’t

13. The All-or None Response
The idea that either the neuron fires or it does not- no part way firing.
Like a gun

14. Neural Communication Toilet Example:
all-or-none principle: the toilet either flushes completely or not at all; it doesn’t flush a little or a lot
direction of impulse: toilet only flushes one way, it can’t come back the other direction
refractory period: after you flush, it won’t flush again for a certain period of time, even if you push the handle repeatedly
threshold: you can push the handle a little bit, but it wont flush until you push the handle pas a certain critical point
resting potential: a toilet with a tank represents resting potential, the toilet is waiting to fire
action potential: opening the flap in the tank and the water

15. Neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons
when released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether it will generate a neural impulse
Excitatory: they excite the next cell into firing
Inhibitory: inhibit the next cell from firing
reuptake: exess neuronstransmitters are reabsorbed by the sending neuron
bloodbrain barrier: enables the brain to fence outward chemicals circulating the blood
From Barrons AP Psychology book

16. Neural Communication

17. Neural Communication

18. Neural Communication Dopamine Pathways Serotonin Pathways
Used to be slide 11
Serotonin Pathways

19. Neural Communication Dopamine
lack of Dopamine is associated with Parkinson’s disease
disorder of the brain that leads to shaking (tremors) and difficulty with walking, movement, and coordination
too much Dopamine is associated with Schizophrenia
mental disorder that makes it difficult to tell the difference between real and unreal experiences, to think logically, to have normal emotional responses, and to behave normally in social situations
Pg 58- important part of schizophrenia

20. Neural Communication Acetylcholine Endorphins [en-DOR-fins]
a neurotransmitter that, among its functions, triggers muscle contraction
Endorphins [en-DOR-fins]
“morphine within”
natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters
linked to pain control and to pleasure

21. Neural Communication Agonist and Antagonists
Pg 60- Agonist and Antagonists- better diagram than previously shown

22. Neural Communication Agonist Drugs Antagonist Drugs
drugs that mimic and produce the same effects as certain neurotransmitters
opiates (morphine, heroin) are agonists for endorphoins
Antagonist Drugs
blocks a neurotransmitter

23. Explain what is happening within the:
Explain what is happening within the:
•Sympathetic Nervous System
•Parasympathetic Nervous System
•Somatic Nervous System
•Autonomic Nervous System

24. The Nervous System Nervous System Central Nervous System (CNS)
the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication system
consists of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems
Central Nervous System (CNS)
the brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body

25. The Nervous System Central (brain and spinal cord) Nervous system
Autonomic (controls
self-regulated action of
internal organs and glands)
Skeletal (controls
voluntary movements of
skeletal muscles)
Sympathetic
(arousing)
Parasympathetic
(calming)
Peripheral

26. The Nervous System Nerves Sensory Neurons
neural “cables” containing many axons
part of the peripheral nervous system
connect the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs
Sensory Neurons
neurons that carry incoming information from the sense receptors to the central nervous system

27. The Nervous System Interneurons Motor Neurons Somatic Nervous System
CNS neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
Motor Neurons
carry outgoing information from the CNS to muscles and glands
Somatic Nervous System
the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles

28. The Nervous System Autonomic Nervous System Sympathetic Nervous System
the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart)
Sympathetic Nervous System
division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
fight or flight response
Parasympathetic Nervous System
division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

31. The Nervous System Reflex
a simple, automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus
Information is carried from the skin receptors along a sensory neuron to the spinal cord. From here it is passed via interneuron's to motor neurons that lead to muscles in the hand and arm
Skin
receptors
Muscle
Sensory neuron
(incoming information)
Motor neuron
(outgoing
information)
Brain
Interneuron
Spinal cord
Pg 63- explains how a reflex is treated in a body
Because this reflex involves only the spinal cord, the hand jerks away from the candle before the information has researched the brain, causing the experience of pain

32. The Nervous System Neural Networks interconnected neural cells
with experience, networks can learn, as feedback strengthens or inhibits connections that produce certain results
computer simulations of neural networks show analogous learning
Inputs
Outputs
Neurons in the brain
connect with one
another to form networks
The brain learns by modifying
certain connections in
response to feedback

33. Neural Networks Stephen Kosslyn and Olivier Koenig
City analogy: Like people networking with other people, neurons seek short, fast connections

34. The Endocrine System Endocrine System
the body’s “slow” chemical communication system
a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream

35. Neural and Hormonal Systems
Hormones
chemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine glands, that are produced in one tissue and affect another
Adrenal [ah-DREEN-el] Glands
a pair of endocrine glands just above the kidneys
secrete the hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline), which help to arouse the body in times of stress
Pituitary Gland
under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands