UNIT 3: BIOLOGICAL LEVEL OF ANALYSIS

Day 1: Principles of Biological LoA

Outcome(s):

Outline, discuss, and summarize the principles and vocabulary that defines the biological level of analysis

1. Pick up a Senteo and sign in (Class: O’Neill) with your Student ID #

2. Take our your hand written notes for today’s reading quiz

3. Study while you wait for the quiz to be passed out

1. Pick up a Senteo and sign in (Class: O’Neill) with your Student ID #

2. Take our your hand written notes for today’s reading quiz

3. Study while you wait for the quiz to be passed out

Agenda:

1. Reading Quiz (on p. 38-44 CC) and pre-test on Senteo

2. Thinking Map – How does biology influence our behavior? & Discussion

3. PowerPoint Gallery Walk with Guided Notes

4. Neuron creation activity

5. Small groups1. Neurotransmitter Case Study

2. The Brain

3. Games

6. Debrief/discussion

7. Closure: Exit Ticket

Reading Quiz & Pretest

Senteo – Sign in with your student ID # and complete the 15 multiple choice questions.

Thinking Map

Communication Systems

The Human Body contains two major communication systems: Nervous System—

transmits messages through electrical signals (neurons)

Endocrine System—communicates by blood borne messages (hormones)

Source: Neuroscience for Kids

Nervous System Diagram

Cells The Nervous System is comprised of two

types of cells: Neurons: nerve cells; the most important function of the

nervous system Glial cells: provides nutrition, support and insulation to the

neurons (in some cases, it is what ties the neurons together)

Source: mindcreators.com

Neurons

Definition: Neurons are the specialized cells which are working units of the Nervous System

Why do we have them? They send messages to the brain so people can

respond to stimuli (from environment or internal changes in the body)

What are basic parts? Cell body: Contains the cell nucleus Dendrites: Root-like branches off the cell body Axon: a long thin tube that the electrical impulse

travels down

Nervous System

The N.S. is divided into two major parts Central Nervous

System—includes the brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System—extends throughout the body outside the brain and spinal cord

Source: Neuroscience for Kids

Essential for the proper functioning of the nervous

system

Different types of Neurons

Can you remember all the parts to the neuron? Label the neuron on your paper

Essential for the proper functioning of the nervous

system

Each part functions differently… Cell Body: contains the cell nucleus;

determines the genetic makeup Dendrites: bring information to the cell

body Axon: takes information away from the

cell body The Axons of certain neurons are wrapped

in glia cells called myelin sheath cells Small gaps in the myelin sheath are called

Nodes of Ranvier

Types of Neurons

Sensory Neurons: brings signals IN from the senses

Motor Neurons: sends information OUT to control the muscles Gross motor skills

Interneurons: sends information between the sensory and motor neurons

Can you come up with a way to

remember the three types of neurons?

Can you come up with a way to

remember the three types of neurons?

Neural Transmission

The Nervous System is a massive communication network that connects billions of neurons throughout your body

Neurons communicate with each other across a small space called a synapse http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90cj4NX

87Yk

Synapses are found at the end of the axon, called a terminal button

Neural Transmission cont’d

Transmission Order: information comes in through the dendrite to the cell body, when it hits a threshold the balance of ions within the axon changes and causes a charge that moves the message along

When this charge reaches the axon it goes through what is called ACTION POTENTIAL Very brief but very powerful

“All-or-None” Principle

The most important thing to remember with neural transmission is that it is ALL OR NOTHING Larger currents do not create larger action

potentials. Therefore, action potentials are said to be all-or-none signals, since either they occur fully or they do not occur at all.

Anchor Activity: http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072

943696/student_view0/chapter8/animation__the_nerve_impulse.html Take the quiz as a class!

Now, put it together…

You will create your own neuron made out of Play Doh

Using different color Play Doh and a few other materials, build a model of a neuron.

Once you have the neuron built, label the parts on the poster board.

Use the glue provided to glue your labels and model to the poster board provided.

You will need to find two classmates’ neurons to “communicate” with two neurons that are “communicating” with What is the name of this communication?

Short Review of Motor and Sensory Neurons as well as a Preview of how Neurons communicate

Are your Neurons working?

What is the one thing shared by all three items in the same

group?1. a cow, a shoe, a baby

• a tongue2. a doctor’s office, a post office, music

• a scale3. a zipper, a shark, a comb

• teeth4. restaurant goer, a bird, the Senate

• a bill5. a potato, a hurricane, a target

• an eye6. a river, a person, a cave

• a mouth

Neural Communication

When the electrical impulse gets to the end of the neuron neurotransmitters are released from the terminal buttons.

Neurotransmitters are either: Inhibitory: difficult for

the neurotransmitter to have effect

Excitatory: excite the next neuron

Let’s break it down…

Sketch out the neural transmission

How does it compare?

Notice that not all of the neurotransmitter will be used so it goes through a reuptake process

Source: http://universe-review.ca/I10-40-synapse.jpg

What does Reuptake look like?

Notice the normal course of action

Blocking the reuptake process alters the brain’s chemistry

Stop – Collaborate – Listen

If reuptake is blocked, what can result? (remember – this changes the brain’s chemistry!)

What are some of the neurotransmitters and what do they do?

Acetylcholine: plays a role in memory by maintaining neuron excitability Death of acetylcholine neurons or a decrease in

AcH are related to Alzheimer’s Dopamine: active in maintaining motor

behavior Too little dopamine is related to Parkinson’s; too

much is related to Schizophrenia Serotonin: affects mood, arousal

Increase of serotonin can lead to obsessive compulsive disorder, tics, or schizophrenia; too little can lead to depression

Norepinephrine: active in maintaining emotional tone Increase can lead to mania (overexcited

behavior); too little can lead to depression Understanding neurotransmitters can help

with the treatment of disorders

Stations

1. Neurotransmitter Case Study Read, look at images on computer of

before/after methamphetamine, discussion questions

2. The Brain Assemble with group; label & color diagram

3. Games SET Simon Boggle

Station 1: Neurotransmitter Case Study How does methamphetamine impact the

human body? What are the most notable physical

differences in the before/after photographs?

Critical Thinking: How can methamphetamine affect the other IB Psychology levels of analysis (sociocultural and cognitive)?

Station 2:Label the following on the worksheet provided…Color when/where indicated

1. Parietal lobe—color Red2. Corpus Callosum—color brown3. Occipital Lobe—color blue4. Cerebellum5. Medulla Oblongata 6. Reticular Activating System7. Pons8. Temporal Lobe—color green9. Frontal Lobe—color yellow

Label the following on the worksheet provided…Color when/where indicated

1. Cerebellum2. Pons—color red3. Reticular Activating System4. Medulla Oblongata

Now, for the diagram entitled: The Brain-top view label:

1. Frontal

2. Parietal

3. Occipital

Station 2: BRAIN Game

Make as many different words using the letters from the word: BRAIN

Tests like this are often used to test giftedness, why? DISCLAIMER: this is

only one method!

Station 3: Games

There are three games available for your group to choose from: SET, Simon, and Boggle. Choose one.

How does this game apply to the Biological Level of Analysis? Use the principles/vocabulary learned today.

Stations Debrief

What principles of the biological level of analysis were covered or introduced in the small group rotations? Neurotransmitter Brain Games

Closure

Write a summary of the biological level of analysis using vocabulary learned today

Write two things you hope to learn during this unit.

Write one question you still have after today’s lesson.