1. Neural and Hormonal Systems
PSYCHOLOGY
Neural and Hormonal Systems

2. True or False?
A small amount of brain tissue from a person cannot be distinguished from that of a monkey.
The human brain produces its own natural opiates.
Some one can write but be unable to read.
Electrically stimulating a cat’s brain at a certain point can cause the animal to cower in terror in the presence of a small mouse.
Some people have had their brain cut in half with no apparent ill effect.

3. What does your skull tell us about you?
Demostration: take your hands and feel your skull/head
What do you notice?

4. Phrenology Franz Gall - phrenologist Not very scientific
Bumps on skull reveal mental abilities & character traits
Not very scientific
However it did highlight the presumed function of specific brain regions

5. Neural Communication Biological Psychology
branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior
some biological psychologists call themselves behavioral neuroscientists, neuropsychologists, behavior geneticists, physiological psychologists, or biopsychologists

6. Neuron Neuron a nerve cell
the basic building block of the nervous system

7. Neural Communication Dendrite (listen) Axon (speak)
the bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body
Axon (speak)
the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages are sent to other neurons or to muscles or glands

8. The insulator Myelin [MY-uh-lin] Sheath
a layer of fatty cells encasing the fibers of many neurons
enables vastly greater transmission speed of neutral impulses

9. Neuron Axon terminals - where message leaves axon
Synaptic gap - space the message jumps across from the axon terminal to the next dentrite

10. Neural Communication Synapse [SIN-aps] (Sherrington) Neurotransmitters
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
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

11. Neural Communication

12. Neural communication
How does a neuron fire a message?

13. Neural Communication Action Potential
a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
Threshold
the minimum level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

14. How does a neuron fire a message?
For Action potential a Threshold has to be reach:
The + sodium ions (partiers) around the axon have to be excited
There has to be more partiers (excitatory) then party poopers (inhibitory) for the message to be sent down the axon

15. Neural impulse - Action potential
Resting potential (polarized neuron;
- potassium inside, + sodium outside)
Excitatory (+ sodium, partiers - gas pedal) vs Inhibitory (- potassium, party poopers -brake)
All or nothing response
Reach threshold for action potential
Depolarization (+sodium come into the axon)
Selectively permeable - gate opens
Refractory period (recharging, +sodium move back out)

16. Neural Communication Cell body end of axon
Direction of neural impulse: toward axon terminals

17. Neural communication Where does a neural impulse begin?
Know the order of transmission
How does one neuron communicate to another?
Be able to explain the process

18. Neural comm.
Know names of neurotransmitters and their functions & malfunctions - see chart in book
Should also know whether they inhibit or excite

19. Neural Communication

20. Neural Communication Acetylcholine [ah-seat-el-KO-leen]
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. Agonist vs Antagonist Agonists - excite / mimic
Antagonists - inhibit / block

22. Neural Communication Neurotransmitter Receiving cell molecule membrane
Receptor site on
receiving neuron
Agonist mimics
neurotransmitter
Antagonist
blocks

23. Reuptake
Reuptake - neurotransmitters that don’t get absorbed by the receiving neuron go back to the sending neuron

24. Neural Communication

25. Neural Communication
Dopamine Pathways
Serotonin Pathways

26. 3 kinds of neurons 1. Sensory Neurons 2. Interneurons 3. Motor Neurons
neurons that carry incoming information from the sense receptors to the central nervous system
2. Interneurons
CNS neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs
3. Motor Neurons
carry outgoing information from the CNS to muscles and glands

27. The Nervous System Nervous System
the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication system

28. The Nervous System Nerves neural “cables” containing many axons
part of the peripheral nervous system
connect the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs

29. 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

30. 2 parts of nervous system
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

31. PNS Skeletal or Somatic Nervous System
the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body’s skeletal muscles

32. PNS Autonomic Nervous System (think automatic)
the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart)
a. Sympathetic Nervous System
division that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations
b. Parasympathetic Nervous System
division that calms the body, conserving its energy

33. The Nervous System

34. The Nervous System

35. The Nervous System Reflex
a simple, automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus
Skin
receptors
Muscle
Sensory neuron
(incoming information)
Motor neuron
(outgoing
information)
Brain
Interneuron
Spinal cord

36. Neural Networks 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

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

38. Endrocrine system Hormones
Slow & long lasting chemical messengers that travel through the blood

39. Endocrine System Pituitary Gland (the master gland)
under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands

40. Endrocrine system 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