1. Unit 3: Biological Bases of Behavior
A.P. Psychology

2. How are human thought and behavior affected by the following:
Essential Question
How are human thought and behavior affected by the following:
The Nervous System
The Endocrine System
The Brain
Genetics

3. Unit 3-A (A): The Neuron
A.P. Psychology

4. Do-Now (Discussion) What is Biological Psychology?
What parts of the body do Biological Psychologists primarily study?
In understanding psychology, why do you think it is important to understand biological processes?

5. Biological Psychology
A branch of Psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior
Biological Psychologists:
Behavioral Neuroscientists
Neuropsychologists
Behavior Geneticists
Physiological Psychologists
Biopsychologists

6. Biological Psychology

7. The Neuron Neuron: Nerve cell
Basic building block of the nervous system

8. The Neuron Types of Neurons: Sensory Neurons: Motor Neurons:
Carry incoming information from sensory receptors to the brain/spinal cord
E.g. Perceiving something as “hot”
Motor Neurons:
Carry outgoing information from the brain/spinal cord to the muscles/glands
E.g. Clenching a fist
Interneurons:
Located within the brain/spinal cord
Communicate internally between sensory inputs and motor outputs
E.g. Reflexes

9. The Neuron
Provide an example of information that sensory neurons may transmit.
Provide an example of information that motor neurons may transmit.
Provide an example of information that interneurons may transmit.

10. Parts of the Neuron

11. The Firing of a Neuron
Neurons transmit messages when stimulated by our senses, or triggered by chemicals of other neurons
Resting Potential:
Fluid interior of axon: negatively charged ions
Fluid exterior of axon membrane: positively charged ions
Threshold:
Level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse (action potential)
Excitatory signals (accelerator) minus inhibitory signals (brakes) must reach minimum intensity
Action Potential:
Neural impulse
Depolarization occurs
Brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
“All-or-None” Response

12. The Firing of a Neuron

13. Review What is a neuron? Differentiate between the 3 types of neurons:
Sensory Neurons
Motor Neurons
Interneurons
Discuss the functions of the following parts of the neuron:
Dendrites
Axon
Myelin Sheath
Terminal Branches
What causes neurons to fire?

14. Unit 3-A (B): Neural Communication and Neurotransmitters
A.P. Psychology

15. Do-Now (In Journal) What is a neuron?
Provide an example of information that each of the following neurons may transmit:
Sensory Neurons
Motor Neurons
Interneurons
What causes neurons to fire?

16. What part of the neuron receives messages from other cells?
Neural Communication
What part of the neuron receives messages from other cells?
What part of the neuron sends messages to other cells?

17. Neural Communication
Neurons interact so closely that, even with a microscope, it is difficult to determine where one neuron ends and another begins
Synapse:
The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite of the receiving neuron
Synaptic gap (less than one-millionth of an inch wide)

18. Neural Communication Neurotransmitters: Reuptake:
Chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons
Bind to receptor sites on receiving neurons
Influences whether receiving neuron will generate a neural impulse
Endorphins:
“Morphine-within”
Natural opiate-like neurotransmitter linked to pain control and pleasure
Reuptake:
A neurotransmitter’s reabsorption by the sending neuron

19. Neural Communication
What are some activities that may cause the body to produce endorphins?

20. Neural Communication

21. Neurotransmitters and their Functions

22. Neurotransmitter Pathways

23. Unit 3-A (D): The Nervous System
A.P. Psychology

24. Do-Now (Discussion) What is the nervous system?
What is the role of the nervous system on human thought and behavior?

25. The Nervous System Nervous System: Nerves:
The body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network
Consists of central and peripheral nervous system
Nerves:
Bundled axons that form neural “cables” connecting the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs

26. The Nervous System Central Nervous System (CNS):
The brain and spinal cord
Interneurons communicate in the spinal cord (reflexes)
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS):
The sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system with the rest of the body

27. Reflexes

28. The Nervous System

29. The Peripheral Nervous System
What are some functions of the Autonomic Nervous System?
What are some functions of the Somatic Nervous System?

30. The Autonomic Nervous System
What are some functions of the Sympathetic Nervous System?
What are some functions of the Parasympathetic Nervous System?

31. The Autonomic Nervous System

32. The Autonomic Nervous System
Provide an example of a situation that might cause activity within the Sympathetic Nervous System.
Provide an example of a situation that might cause activity within the Parasympathetic Nervous System.

33. Review What is the Nervous System?
What is the difference between the Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)?
What is the difference between the Autonomic and Somatic Nervous System?
Provide 3 examples for each of the following:
Sympathetic Nervous System
Parasympathetic Nervous System

34. Unit 3-A (E): The Endocrine System
A.P. Psychology

35. Do-Now (Discussion) What is the Nervous System?
What is the difference between the Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)?
What is the difference between the Autonomic and Somatic Nervous System?
Provide 3 examples for each of the following:
Sympathetic Nervous System
Parasympathetic Nervous System

36. The Endocrine System Endocrine System: Hormones:
The body’s “slow” chemical communication system
A set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
Hormones:
Chemical messengers that are manufactured by the endocrine system
Travel through the blood stream; affect other tissues
E.g. Testosterone; Estrogen

37. The Endocrine System
What are some effects that hormones like Testosterone and Estrogen have on the body?

38. The Endocrine System

39. The Endocrine System Adrenal Glands: Pituitary Gland:
A pair of endocrine glands that sit just above the kidneys
Secrete hormones (Epinephrine and Norepinephrine) that help arouse the body in times of stress
Pituitary Gland:
The endocrine system’s most influential gland
Influenced by Hypothalamus
Regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

40. How long did those feelings last?
The Endocrine System
Can you remember feeling an extended period of discomfort after some particularly stressful event?
How long did those feelings last?

41. Review What is the Endocrine System?
How does it transmit messages?
How does the Endocrine System differ from the Nervous System?
What are hormones?
What are the roles of the following glands:
Hypothalamus
Pituitory Gland
Thyroid Gland
Parathyroids
Adrenal Glands
Pancreas
Testis
Ovaries

42. Unit 3-B (A): Brain Monitoring Tools
A.P. Psychology

43. Do-Now (In Journal)
Why is it important to learn about the brain when studying Psychology?
What roles does it play in human thought and behavior?
What are some ways that neuroscientists monitor brain activity?

44. Monitoring the Brain: Lesions
Tissue destruction
Naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue

45. Monitoring the Brain: Lesions
How can lesions in the brain help neuroscientists better understand neural activity?

46. Monitoring the Brain: Recording Electrical Activity
E.E.G. (Electroencephalogram):
Amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brains surface
Measured electrodes placed on the scalp

47. Monitoring the Brain: Neuroimaging Techniques
C.T. (Computed Tomography) Scan:
X-ray photos taken from different angles. combined through computers into a composite representation
Reveals brain damage
“CAT” Scan
P.E.T. (Positron Emission Tomography) Scan:
Visual display of brain activity
Detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

48. Neuroimaging Techniques: P.E.T. Scan

49. Monitoring the Brain: Neuroimaging Techniques
M.R.I. (Magnetic Resonance Imaging):
Uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images of soft tissue
Displays brain anatomy
f.M.R.I. (Functional M.R.I.):
Reveals brain activity and blood flow by comparing successive M.R.I. scans
Displays brain function

50. Monitoring the Brain: Comparing M.R.I. Scans
MRI scan of a healthy individual (left) and a person with schizophrenia (right)

51. What is the difference between a M.R.I. and a f.M.R.I. Scan?
Video Clip: f.M.R.I.
What is the difference between a M.R.I. and a f.M.R.I. Scan?
How do f.M.R.I. Scans display the functions of the brain?

52. Review
Differentiate between the following methods of measuring brain activity:
E.E.G. (Electroencephalogram)
C.T. (Computed Tomography) Scan
P.E.T. (Position Emission Tomography) Scan
M.R.I. (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
f.M.R.I. (Functional M.R.I.)