1. Ch. 3– Brain Communication, Central Nervous and Endocrine System
Goals:
Describe a nerve cell and summarize its role in brain/body communication.
Analyze central nervous system and peripheral nervous systems.

2. Biological Psychology
Branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior- focuses on the structure of the brain, and the nervous, and endocrine system.
Biological psychologists call themselves
behavioral neuroscientists
neuropsychologists
behavior geneticists
physiological psychologists
biopsychologists

3. The Nervous System
The electrochemical communication system of the body
Brings information to the brain from the senses
Sends messages from the brain to the body for movement

4. Brain Communication
Neuron – nerve cell- building block of brain- receives, carries and passes on information Dendrite- message receptors Axon-passes messages away from cell to other neurons Soma – main cell body where nucleus is- determines health of the neuron Myelin Sheath – covers the axon and helps speed up the impulses Terminals – End of axon- these form junctions with dendrites of other neurons for passage of nerve pulses

5. Neurons
Neurons “fire”—send an impulse down their length—or they don’t “fire”
Neurons come in a variety of shapes, sizes, etc.
All or None principal … like a toilet.
Whether it is tasting fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, experiencing your first kiss, being tickled or suffering from depression… all begin with neurons either firing or not firing.
Neurological disorders: MS, Parkinson’s, Lou Gehrig’s…
Variety of shapes, sizes, but all have similar structure. Very short to a meter long ( in legs)

6. Neural Communication (#2)
Action Potential
A neural impulse
A brief electrical charge that travels down the axon of the neuron.
Considered an “on” condition of the neuron
Generated by the movement of positively charged atoms in and out of channels in the axon’s membrane

7. Refractory Period
The “recharging phase” when a neuron, after firing, cannot generate another action potential
Once the refractory period is complete the neuron can fire again

8. Resting Potential
The state of a neuron when it is at rest and capable of generating an action potential
The neuron is set and ready to fire

12. All or None Principal
The all-or-none law is the principle that the strength by which a neuron responds to a stimulus is independent of the strength of the stimulus.
As long as there is enough energy to trigger the cell, it will give a complete response; otherwise, there is no response.

13. Schoolhouse Rock on the Nervous System Neural Chain Demonstration
Brain Communication
Synapse- fluid filled gap between neurons
Neurotransmitter-chemical
messengers between neurons
can either trigger or inhibit
impulses (action potentials)
(Know the three mentioned in the text on p.128
ACH, Dopamine, Serotonin)
Schoolhouse Rock on the Nervous System
Neural Chain Demonstration

14. Central Nervous System
Central Nervous System -Two main components: the Brain and the Spinal Cord BRAIN- main information processing center SPINAL CORD- main pathway for information in and out of brain Reflexes- neural impulses that are initiated by the spinal cord without involving the brain.

15. Peripheral Nervous System
-Two parts – Somatic and Autonomic
Somatic Nervous System-
functions- Motor nerves that are activated voluntarily, large muscle group movements initiated by you.
Autonomic Nervous System- movements and actions that happen without you conciously thinking about them – 2 parts
-Sympathetic- triggered by threats challenging situations (fight or flight) these actions prepare you for an emergency response (giant automatic on switch)
-Parasympathetic- this response is designed to calm you down and return you to your “normal” – (automatic off switch)

16. Neural Communication Check
The two major components of the Nervous System are:
the Somatic and Autonomic nervous systems
the Central and Peripheral nervous systems
the Sympathetic & Parasympathetic nervous systems
the Hormonal and Endocrine systems

17. Neural Communication Review
A physical response that is generated by the Spinal Cord instead of the Brain is called…
An Autonomic response
A Reflex
A Sympathetic Response
An Action Potential

18. Neural Communication Review
Which part of the neuron is this?
The Axon
The Myelin Sheath
The Terminal
The Dendrites

19. Neural Communication Review
Which phase of the Neuron firing stages is characterized by the recharging of the neuron?
The Resting Potential
The Action Potential
The Refractory Period

20. Neural Communication Review
Which of the following best describes a neurotransmitter?
An electrical signal between neurons
A chemical signal between neurons
An electrical signal that travels down a neuron
A chemical signal that travels down a neuron

21. Neural Communication Review
Which part of the neuron is this?
The Axon
The Myelin Sheath
The Terminal
The Soma

22. Neural Communication Review
The Peripheral Nervous System is further divided into two parts, they are:
The Sympathetic and Parasympathetic
The Somatic and the Autonomic
The Brain and The Spinal Cord

23. Four major glandular systems and their functions
Endocrine System
Hormone – chemical messenger produced by endocrine glands
Glands-organs within a body designed to create and release chemical substance for the body to use
Four major glandular systems and their functions
Pituitary- (growth hormone) – “master gland” releases growth hormone and controls all other glands
Thyroid- (metabolism)- responsible for regulating energy level and efficiency of metabolism
Adrenal- (adrenaline)-releases chemicals used by body in response to stress or threats
Gonads- (androgen & estrogen) – hormones specific to gender that affect development, reproduction and emotion