1. Biopsychology and the Foundations of Neuroscience
“If I Only Had A Brain” – Wizard of Oz

2. What is Biopsychology?
Biopsychology – The specialty in psychology that studies the interaction of biology, behavior, and the environment
Neuroscience – Interdisciplinary field that focuses on the brain and its role in psychological processes

3. How Are Genes and Behavior Linked?
Evolution has fundamentally shaped psychological processes because it favors genetic variations that produce adaptive behavior

4. How Are Genes and Behavior Linked?
Innate – Inborn; present at birth; part of the organism’s biological heritage
Evolution – The gradual process of biological change that occurs in a species as it adapts to its environment

5. Evolution and Natural Selection
Natural selection – The driving force behind evolution, by which the environment “selects” the fittest organisms

6. How Natural Selection Works
Environmental pressure
(changes in the environment)
Competition
(for resources)
Selection of fittest phenotype
(from among a variety of phenotypes)
Reproductive success
(genotype corresponding to fittest
phenotypes passed to next generation)
Frequency of that genotype increases
(in next generation)

7. Genes and Inheritance Genotype – An organism’s genetic makeup
Phenotype – An organism’s observable physical characteristics

8. Genes and Inheritance
Mutations – Genetic variations, which occur randomly, especially during the recombination of chromosomes in sexual reproduction

9. Every cell in your body is made up of chromosomes, which are made up of genes, which are made up of strands of DNA.

10. Chromosomes, Genes, and DNA
Every cell in your body is made up of chromosomes, which are made up of genes, which are made up of strands of DNA.
1. DNA – A long, complex molecule that encodes genetic characteristics
2. Genes – The functional units of a chromosome
Composed of nucleotides

11. Chromosomes, Genes, and DNA
3. Chromosomes – Tightly coiled threadlike structures along which the genes are organized
Sex chromosomes – The X and Y chromosomes that determine our physical sex characteristics

12. Genetic Explanations for Psychological Processes
Genes influence our psychological characteristics as well as our physical traits

13. Choosing Your Children’s Genes
Scientists already have the ability to control and alter genes of animals and clone animals.
Currently, scientists are looking into how to use this information in order to treat disorders like Parkinson’s, heart disease, Down Syndrome, etc.
How can stem cells be used to help with these disorders?
What are the ethical issues that surround this topic?
If we are going to “pick” the best traits, who is to decide what is “the best?”

14. How Does the Body Communicate Internally?
The body’s two communication systems, the nervous system and the endocrine system, both use chemical messengers to communicate with targets throughout the body

15. The Neuron Types of Neurons
Sensory neurons (carry messages from sense receptors towards the CNS)
Motor neurons (carry messages from CNS toward muscles and glands)
Interneurons (carry messages between nerve cells)

16. The Structure of a Neuron

17. The Neural Impulse Resting potential Action potential Synapse
Synaptic transmission

19. Seven Important Neurotransmitters – DAN’S EGG
Dopamine
Acetylcholine
Norepinephrine
Serotonin
Endorphins
Glutamine
GABA

20. Schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease
Neurotransmitters
Normal Function:
Produces sensations of pleasure and reward; used by CNS neurons in voluntary movement
Dopamine
Acetylcholine
Norepinephrine
Problems with Imbalance:
Schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease
Serotonin
Endorphins
Substances that Affect:
Cocaine, amphetamines, Ritalin, alcohol
Glutamine
GABA

21. Certain muscular disorders, Alzheimer’s disease
Neurotransmitters
Normal Function:
Primary transmitter used by neurons carrying messages from CNS; involved in some kinds of learning and memory
Dopamine
Acetylcholine
Norepinephrine
Problems with Imbalance:
Certain muscular disorders, Alzheimer’s disease
Serotonin
Endorphins
Substances that Affect:
Nicotine, botulism toxin, curare, atropine
Glutamine
GABA

22. High blood pressure, depression
Neurotransmitters
Normal Function:
Controls heart rate, sleep, sexual responsiveness, stress, vigilance and appetite
Dopamine
Acetylcholine
Norepinephrine
Problems with Imbalance:
High blood pressure, depression
Serotonin
Endorphins
Substances that Affect:
Tricyclic antidepressants, beta blockers
Glutamine
GABA

23. Depression, certain anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder
Neurotransmitters
Normal Function:
Regulates sleep and dreaming, mood, pain, aggression, appetite and sexual behavior
Dopamine
Acetylcholine
Norepinephrine
Problems with Imbalance:
Depression, certain anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder
Serotonin
Endorphins
Glutamine
Substances that Affect:
Prozac, hallucinogenics (e.g. LSD)
GABA

24. Pleasurable sensations and control of pain
Neurotransmitters
Dopamine
Normal Function:
Pleasurable sensations and control of pain
Acetylcholine
Norepinephrine
Problems with Imbalance:
Lowered levels resulting from opiate addiction
Serotonin
Endorphins
Substances that Affect:
Opiates: opium, heroin, morphine, methadone
Glutamine
GABA

25. Brain damage after stroke
Neurotransmitters
Dopamine
Normal Function:
Primary excitatory neurotransmitter in CNS; involved in learning and memory
Acetylcholine
Norepinephrine
Serotonin
Problems with Imbalance:
Brain damage after stroke
Endorphins
Substances that Affect:
PCP (“angel dust”)
Glutamine
GABA

26. Most prevalent inhibitory neurotransmitter in neurons of CNS
Neurotransmitters
Normal Function:
Most prevalent inhibitory neurotransmitter in neurons of CNS
Dopamine
Acetylcholine
Norepinephrine
Problems with Imbalance:
Anxiety, epilepsy
Serotonin
Endorphins
Substances that Affect:
Barbiturates, tranquilizers (e.g. Valium, Librium), alcohol
Glutamine
GABA

27. Agonists and Antagonists – Various drugs affect communication at the synapse
Agonists “excite”
They mimic the effects of the neurotransmitter.
Opiate class drugs (e.g. vicodin, heroin, morphine) are agonists.
Can also enhance the neurotransmitter.
Nicotine turns up the volume of ACH – it is why the person gets “amped” up.
Prozac and Zoloft are agonists – they block the reuptake of the seratonin to produce more
Antagonists dampen or inhibit the release of a neurotransmitter.
Botox is an antagonist – doesn’t allow the release of ACH – hence the muscle is paralyzed.
Curare then is also an antagonist – paralyzes the body by “turning off” ACH.

28. Plasticity
Plasticity – Ability of the nervous system to adapt or change as the result of experience; sometimes helps the nervous system adapt to physical damage

29. Glial Cells Glial cells Provide structural support for neurons
Help in forming new synapses
Form myelin sheath

30. The Organization of the Nervous System

31. Page 80 in your book

32. The Endocrine System
(the body’s chemical messenger system)

33. The Endocrine System
Pituitary gland – Master gland that produces hormones influencing the secretions of all other endocrine glands; produces hormone that influences growth; attached to hypothalamus

34. How Does the Brain Produce Behavior and Mental Processes?
The brain is composed of many specialized modules that work together to create mind and behavior

35. Windows on the Brain
EEG (electroencephalograph) – Device for recording brain waves, typically by electrodes placed on the scalp
Brain waves – Patterns of electrical activity generated by the brain

36. Windows on the Brain
Brain scans – Recordings of the brain’s electrical or biochemical activity at specific sites
CT scanning (computerized tomography)

37. Windows on the Brain
Brain scans – Recordings of the brain’s electrical or biochemical activity at specific sites
PET scanning (positron emission tomography)

38. Windows on the Brain
Brain scans – Recordings of the brain’s electrical or biochemical activity at specific sites
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging)

39. Three Layers of the Brain
Brain stem and cerebellum
Drive vital functions, such as heart rate, breathing, digestion
Limbic system
Adds emotions, complex motives, increased memory abilities
Cerebrum
Enables reasoning, planning, creating, problem solving

40. The Brain Stem and Cerebellum
Thalamus
Pons
Cerebellum
Medulla
Brain stem
Reticular Formation/Reticular Activating System

41. The Limbic System
Hypothalamus – Serves as the brain’s blood-testing laboratory, constantly monitors blood to determine the condition of the body

42. The Limbic System
Amygdala – Involved in memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression

43. The Limbic System
Hippocampus – Involved in establishing long-term memories

44. The Cerebrum
Cerebrum – Topmost layer of the brain; the bulbous cap over the limbic system
Cerebral cortex – Thin gray-matter covering of the cerebrum; carries on thinking and perceiving
Cerebral hemispheres – The two walnut shaped halves of the cerebrum, connected by the corpus callosum

45. The Four Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex
Frontal lobes (movement and thinking)
Parietal lobes (touch sensation and spatial relationships)
Occipital lobes (contain visual cortex)
Temporal lobes (process sounds, including speech)

46. The Cooperative Brain
Association cortex – Cortical regions that combine information from various other parts of the brain

47. Cerebral Dominance
Cerebral dominance – Tendency of each brain hemisphere to exert control over different functions
Aphasia – The loss of speech caused be brain damage
Spatial orientation – Process of locating one’s body or other objects in space

48. Specialization of the Cerebral Hemispheres
Left Hemisphere
Right Hemisphere
Spontaneous speaking and writing
Repetitive but not spontaneous speaking
Responses to complex commands
Responses to simple commands
Word recognition
Facial recognition
Memory for words and numbers
Memory for shapes and music
Sequences of movements
Spatial interpretation
Emotional responsiveness
Feelings of anxiety
Positive emotion
Negative emotion

49. The Split Brain
Split-brain patients – Individuals who have had the corpus callosum surgically severed
Duality of consciousness – Condition in which a split-brain patient has a separate consciousness in each hemisphere

50. Split Brain Research: Roger Sperry and Michael Gazzangia
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007