1. Biology and Behavior Nervous System Neurons
Components of a Neuron
Communication Process
Neurotransmitters: Chemical Messengers
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Somatic Nervous System
Autonomic Nervous System

2. What video clips and where?
Guided note sheet
Reading opener?
Body map activity
Student activities – what and where

3. Agenda – Biology and Behavior– Lesson 1 Nervous System
To Get:
Handouts from back shelf
To Do:
Opener Reading – Engaging Multiple Senses
Nervous System Lecture with activities
Exit Slip - Nervous System Mapping

4. Nervous System Regulates internal functions
Controls how we react to the external world
Responsible for thinking, feeling, dreaming, and moving
Active whether we are awake or asleep
Registers and stores new information or behavior (memories/skills)
Two main parts:
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

5. Nerve – a bundle of neuron fibers
Can you find your Ulnar nerve?
What happens if you push on it?

6. Neurons Nerve cells Run throughout the body
Send and receive messages from parts of the body, such as muscles and glands (pinprick, learning to walk, writing poetry or triggering memories)
Over 100 billion neurons in the human body, mostly found in the brain

7. Components of a Neuron
Tree-like structure resembling branches, trunk, and roots
Can lie along side each other or end to end
“roots” intertwine with “branches” to send and receive messages
Anatomy of a Neuron
Cell body – produces energy for the cell
Dendrites – many receptive fibers, carry information TO the cell
Axon - single fiber (usu.) that carries messages AWAY FROM the cell, ends as axon terminal
- covered in myelin, a fatty protective coating created from memories/skills

8. Communication Process
Synapse – junction between axon terminals of one neuron and the dendrites of other neurons
Send messages via a chain reaction effect – one direction only
New synapses between neurons develop when we learn something new
Vital for both sensory neurons (to the brain) and motor neurons (to the body)
Ex. Grab something slippery
Concussion – injury in which the soft tissue of the brain hits against the skull
Disrupts the message-sending process – sometimes for a few seconds, (football/boxing/soccer) sometimes for longer (Kevin Pearce)
As the objects starts to slip from your hand your sensory neurons send a message to your brain that the object is slipping, next the brain sends a message via the motor neurons to the hand to tighten your grip.

9. Neurotransmitters Chemicals stored in sacs at the axon terminals
Can fire hundreds of times a second to send messages to neighboring neurons (spray bottle)
Various types that match with receptors (like a key) to send specific messages throughout the body
Takes only a fraction of a second
(hand smack game)
Diseases and disorders can result from to many or to few neurotransmitters

10. Common Neurotransmitters
Acetylcholine
Involved in muscle control
Deficiency impairs memory formation
Dopamine
Involved in motor behavior
Deficiency may be seen in diseases like Parkinson’s – tremors and uncoordinated, rigid movements
Excess may contribute to disorders such as schizophrenia
Noradrenalin
Prepares body for action
Serotonin
Allows for emotional arousal, sleep and bowel movements

11. Central Nervous System (CNS)
Consists of the spinal cord and the brain
Spinal cord – column of nerves, thickness of a thumb, protected by spine
Transmits messages to muscles and glands in the body
Spinal Reflex – automatic response to an external factor.
(hot stove/burn) hand is moved even before the sensation of pain is felt. (fail safe!)
Blinking dust out of your eyes
Sneezing from smelling pepper
Knee jerk test – checks for proper nervous system function

12. Peripheral Nervous System
Lies outside the CNS
Transmits messages between the CNS and all parts of the body
Two main divisions:
Somatic nervous system
Autonomic nervous system

13. Somatic Nervous System
Transmits sensory messages to the CNS
Activated by touch, pain, changes in temperature, and changes in body position (fall and catch example)
Allows for sensations of hot and cold, pain and pressure.
A cat:
Soft fur
Warmth on our lap
Pain if scratching you
Also helps us maintain posture and balance

14. Autonomic Nervous System
Involuntary
Regulates vital body functions
Heartbeat
Breathing
Digestion
Blood Pressure
Interests Psychologists due to its involvement in emotion
Vital to dealing with environmental stressors
Two Divisions
Sympathetic
prepares body for stressful situations – fight or flight, suppresses digestion, increases heart rate, respiration and blood pressure
Parasympathetic
Restores peace to the body after a sympathetic response – restores energy, normalizes heart rate and blood pressure, slows breathing and allows for digestion to resume

15. This is a test of your autonomic nervous system…
Look CLOSELY to see if you can tell what is making the chair move…

16. Fear response! 

17. Look at the two images and then consider the short term and long term effects of your body being in a Fight or Flight state.

18. After looking at the two slides; answer the following:
Short Term Benefits?
Long Term Problems?
Body is ready for action
No wasted energy/efficiency
Hyper aware
Defense mode/protection/escape
Burst of energy
Insomnia
Digestion problems
Immune system depressed
Muscle spasms/tension
ADD or ADHD type state
of mind
High blood pressure

19. Sympathetic Branch
Why do these actions occur during fight or flight?

20. Parasympathetic Branch
Involuntary bodily functions

21. Somatic Versus Autonomic

22. Use your notes to map the nervous system.

23. Nervous System Mapping