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Biopsychology

the study of the biological basis of behavior

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Some definitions some biological psychologists call

themselves behavioral neuroscientists, neuropsychologists, behavior geneticists, physiological psychologists, or biopsychologists

Nervous System - the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication system consists of all the nerve cells of the peripheral

and central nervous systems

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Nervous system

Central Nervous system - CNS ; brain and spinal chord(SC)

Peripheral Nervous system - PNS - Other parts of nervous system; nerves, support cells

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PNS

Somatic System - SNS; Links SC to Body and sense organs / Voluntary muscles

Autonomic System - ANS; Links SC to internal organs and glands / involuntary muscles

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ANS

Sympathetic System - arouses the body; emergency stress response; fight or flight

Parasympathetic System - Quiets the body; helps restore the body to rest.

1. The peripheral nervous system consists of:

A. asso

ciati...

B. th

e spina...

C. th

e retic..

.

D.

senso

ry a...

25% 25%25%25%

1. A. association areas.

2. B. the spinal cord.

3. C. the reticular formation.

4. D. sensory and motor neurons.

2. As Allison reaches for a box in her garage, out jumps a big spider. Her heart immediately begins to race as she withdraws her hand, but soon she realizes that the spider is harmless, and she begins to calm down. Which part of her nervous system is responsible for bringing her back to a normal state of arousal?

A. sy

mpathet..

.

B. so

matic n...

C. parasy

mpa...

D.

skeletal

...

25% 25%25%25%

1. A. sympathetic nervous system

2. B. somatic nervous system

3. C. parasympathetic nervous system

4. D. skeletal nervous system

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Neuron Structure

Cytoplasm Nucleus ~ Metabolism; Contains genetic material Membrane ~ semipermiable lipid w proteins

– Channel Proteins - allow passage of materials– Signal proteins - signal something is ready to enter

Golgi Apparatus ~ packages things for cell; e.g.. Neurotransmitters

Mitochondria ~ makes energy for cell

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Neuron Structure

Soma - Main body of cell Dendrites - receive information from the

environment and other cells Axon - Fiber that carries information away from the

soma

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Neuron Structure

Myelin sheath - fatty insulation around axon that speeds transmission of information

Axon terminals - Branching fibers at the end of axons that contain Neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters - Chemicals that send messages between Neurons

What is the longest part of a multipolar motor neuron?

A. Soma

B. Dendrit

es

C. Axo

n

D.

Mye

lin Sh

eathe

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1. A. Soma

2. B. Dendrites

3. C. Axon

4. D. Myelin Sheathe

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Neural transmission

A neuron acts as both a battery and a wire sending an electrical impulse down the axon from the soma to the terminals

This is possible due to complex proteins in the membrane

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Nerve impulse Resting Potential - The electrical charge of a

neuron at rest Ions - an electrically charged molecule;

e.g.. Sodium (Na+) , Chloride (Cl-)

Threshold - the point at which a nerve impulse if fired

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Nerve impulse

Ion Channels - Channels through the axon membrane through which ions travel

Action potential - the nerve impulse

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Cell body end of axon

Direction of neural impulse: toward axon terminals

Action potential

All or nothing event. If threshold is reached the channels open , if not it does not happen

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Action potential

3. Jack accidentally touches a hot stove. Such a strong stimulus:

A. incre

ases..

.

B. Incre

ases..

.

C. Create

s a...

D.

Has no bo...

25% 25%25%25%1. A. increases the intensity of a

neuron’s action potential.

2. B. Increases the frequency of action potentials.

3. C. Creates a half strength action potential.

4. D. Has no bodily effect

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Interneural communication

Synapse - The microscopic space between two neurons

Neurotransmitters - (NT) chemical released by a neuron, alters activity in another neuron

Receptor sites - area on surface of cell that is sensitive to neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitter molecule

Receiving cellmembrane

Receptor site onreceiving neuron

Agonist mimicsneurotransmitter

Antagonistblocksneurotransmitter

Neurotransmitter/ReceptorLock and key

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Reuptake Neurotransmitters in the synapse are reabsorbed into the sending neurons through the process of reuptake. This process applies brakes on neurotransmitter action.

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How Neurotransmitters Influence Us?

Serotonin pathways are involved with

mood regulation.

From Mapping the Mind, Rita Carter, © 1989 University of California Press

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Dopamine Pathways

Dopamine pathways are involved with diseases like

schizophrenia and Parkinson’s

disease.From Mapping the Mind, Rita Carter, © 1989 University of California Press

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Neurotransmitters

Acetylcholine [ah-seat-el-KO-leen] a neurotransmitter that, among its

functions, triggers muscle contraction Endorphins [en-DOR-fins]

“morphine within” natural, opiatelike neurotransmitters linked to pain control and to pleasure

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Reflex Arc

Sensory Neuron - carries sensory info to CNS Connector Neuron - links two others Motor Neuron - caries motor commands from CNS

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Reflex Arc

Acetylcholine - NT released to activate muscles effector cells - cells in muscles and glands capable

of making a response

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Phineas GageDownload and watch phineas gage.wmv

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Anatomy of the Brain Subcortex-structures

below the cerebral cortex

Hindbrain-brainstem, subconscious activities; HR, breath

Medulla- vital life functions, cranial nerves start here

Cerebellum- posture and co-ordination

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Anatomy of the Brain Reticular formation-

attention, alertness Reticular activating

system- bombards the cortex to keep it active and alert

Midbrain-area that links the forebrain and hindbrain; RAS, substantia nigra (DA)

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Anatomy of the Brain Forebrain- Highest

brain areas; thalamus hypothalamus, cortex, corpus collosum

Thalamus- “relay center” all sensory info (ex smell) to cortex

Hypothalamus- regulates motivation and emotions

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Anatomy of the Brain Limbic system-

system in forebrain, liked with emotional response

Hippocampus- Memory

Amygdala- anger, aggression

4. After suffering an accidental brain injury, Kira has difficulty walking in a smooth and coordinated manner. It is most probable that she has suffered damage to her:

A. amygd

ala.

B. angular g

...

C. ce

rebellu

...

D.

corp

us ca...

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1. A. amygdala.

2. B. angular gyrus.

3. C. cerebellum.

4. D. corpus callosum.

5. A new superhero emerges on the scene. This superhero is able to stay awake and vigilant for extended amounts of time. He helps the intelligence community by being able to stay in surveillance for extended amounts of time without losing concentration and can always be paying attention to what is happening. A study of this superhero’s brain might show that the ____________ is more advanced and developed than a non-superhero’s.

A. fro

ntal l.

..

B. amyg

dala

C. re

ticular..

.

D.

occipita

l...

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1. A. frontal lobe

2. B. amygdala

3. C. reticular formation

4. D. occipital lobe

6. If Dr. Barnes wanted to cause a cat to take on an attack posture, which of the cat’s brain structures should he electrically stimulate?

A. amygd

ala

B. hypoth

ala...

C. hippoca

mp...

D.

cerebellu

...

25% 25%25%25%

1. A. amygdala

2. B. hypothalamus

3. C. hippocampus

4. D. cerebellum

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Cerebral Cortex

Frontal lobe - move, smell, higher mental functions Parietal lobe - spatial perceptual skills, sensation Temporal lobe - auditory , emotional experience Occipital lobe - Vision

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The Cerebral Cortex Motor Cortex

area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements

Sensory Cortex area at the front of the parietal lobes that

registers and processes body sensations

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Two hemispheres

Cerebral hemispheres - right and left halves of the cerebrum

Corpus callosum - bundle of fibers that connect the two hemispheres

7. You are a neurologist in a large hospital. The wife of a construction worker visits you and describes that her husband has experienced a serious injury to his frontal lobe. She is perplexed by his behavior. Which of the following would you tell her is “normal behavior” for a person with frontal lobe damage?

A. not m

uch ...

B. poor ju

dg...

C. irr

itabil..

.

D.

ALL of t

h...

25% 25%25%25%1. A. not much decline in memory or

intelligence

2. B. poor judgment

3. C. irritability and other personality changes

4. D. ALL of these are commonly seen in frontal lobe damage

8. Which of the following activities is NOT primarily a function of the left hemisphere?

A. lis

tening...

B. reading y.

..

C. re

ading j...

D.

liste

ning...

25% 25%25%25%

1. A. listening to a piano concerto

2. B. reading your psychology book

3. C. reading junk mail

4. D. listening to a poetry reading

9. A split-brain patient’s right hemisphere is presented with a key. How is he most likely to respond?

A. sa

y the w

...

B. se

lect a ...

C. se

lect a .

..

D.

he will

n...

25% 25%25%25%

1. A. say the word “key”

2. B. select a key from a group of objects presented to his left hand

3. C. select a key from a group of objects presented to his right hand

4. D. he will not be able to say “key” or to pick out a key from a group of objects with either hand

The Endocrine System

Endocrine System is the body’s “slow”

chemical communication

system. Communication is

carried out by hormones

synthesized by a set of glands.

Hormones

Hormones are chemicals, synthesized by the endocrine glands, are secreted in the bloodstream. Hormones affect the brain

many other tissues of the body.

For example, epinephrine (adrenaline) increases heart rate, blood pressure, blood

sugar and feelings of excitement during emergency situations.

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Researching The Brain

Lesion tissue

destruction a brain lesion is

a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue

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Clinical Observation

Clinical observations have shed light on a number of brain

disorders. Alterations in brain morphology due to neurological and psychiatric diseases are now

being catalogued.

Tom L

anders/ Boston G

lobe

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Electroencephalogram (EEG)

an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain’s surface

these waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp

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CT (computed tomography) Scan a series of x-ray photographs taken from different angles

and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice through the body; also called CAT scan

PET (positron emission tomography) Scan a visual display of brain activity that detects where a

radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to

produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structures within the brain

Researching The Brain

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PET Scan

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MRI Scan

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Functional MRI scan shows the visual cortex activated as the subject looks at faces

10. Which technique is most useful for seeing which regions of the brain are most active while a person reads a poem?

A. EEG

B. fM

RI

C. EKG

D.

CAT

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1. A. EEG

2. B. fMRI

3. C. EKG

4. D. CAT