Chapter 3

Biological Foundations of Behavior

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Chapter Preview

Nervous System Neurons Brain Endocrine System Damage, Plasticity, and Repair Genetics and Behavior Biological Foundations and Health and Wellness
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Nervous System
Neurosciencestudy of the bodys electrochemical communication circuitry

Characteristics of the nervous system

complexity integration adaptability (plasticity) electrochemical transmission

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Nervous System: Pathways

Afferent Nerves
carry information spinal cord and brain

Efferent Nerves
carry information muscles

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Nervous System: Divisions

Central Nervous System (CNS)

brain and spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

somatic nervous system sensory nerves muscular activity autonomic nervous system internal organs sympathetic nervous system arouses parasympathetic nervous system calms
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Nervous System: Divisions

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Nervous System - Cells

Neurons

information processing about 100 billion in brain mirror neurons (in primates)

Glial Cells

provide support and nutrition

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Neurons: Structure

cell body dendrites axon myelin sheath

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Neurons: Structure

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Neural Impulse
Axons

ions/ion channel negatively/positively charged semipermeable membrane polarization

Resting Potential

stable charge of an inactive neuron

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Neural Impulse
Action Potential

depolarization (ion channel opens) repolarization ion exchange sweeps along length of axon all-or-none principle once initiated, cannot be stopped

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Synapses and Neurotransmitters

Synapse/Synaptic Gap

space between sending axons terminal buttons and the receiving dendrite or cell body

Synaptic Transmission

electrical impulse is converted into a chemical signal axon vesicle releases neurotransmitter into gap dendrite receptor site detects neurotransmitter

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Synapses and Neurotransmitters

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Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters carry information across the synaptic gap to next neuron.
Acetylcholine

muscle actions, learning, memory black widow venom Ach levels botox (botulin) Ach levels Alzheimers disease: Ach levels anxiety: GABA levels
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GABA

Neurotransmitters
Glutamate

excitatory learning & memory involved in many psychological disorders

Norepinephrine

stress and mania: norepinephrine levels depression: norepinephrine levels regulates sleep states in conjunction with ACh
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Neurotransmitters
Dopamine

voluntary movement reward anticipation stimulant drugs: activate dopamine receptors Parkinsons disease: dopamine levels schizophrenia: dopamine levels

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Neurotransmitters
Serotonin

regulation of sleep, mood, attention, learning depression: serotonin levels prozac: serotonin levels

Endorphins

natural opiates mediate feelings of pleasure and pain

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Neurotransmitters
Oxytocin

both a hormone and a neurotransmitter related to onset of lactation in new mothers related to attachment/emotional bonds

Note: Drugs can interfere with neurotransmitters mimics or enhances NT effects blocks effects of NT

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Neural Networks

interconnected pathways of nerve cells integrate sensory input and motor output

take years to develop

a given piece of information embedded in multiple connections between neurons

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Studying the Brain

Brain Lesioning

naturally occurring or induced

Electrical Recording

electroencephalograph (EEG) single-unit recording

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Brain Imaging

X-Ray CT Scan PET MRI fMRI TMS

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Hindbrain
Brainstem

medulla control breathing, regulate reflexes pons sleep & arousal

Cerebellum

motor coordination

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Midbrain
Substantia Nigra

Parkinson disease

Reticular Formation

stereotyped behavior patterns like walking

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Brain: Structure and Function

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Forebrain

Limbic System

memory and emotion amygdala

- discrimination of objects needed for survival - emotional awareness and expression

hippocampus
- formation and recall of memories

Thalamus

relay station for much sensory information

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Forebrain (contd)
Basal Ganglia

coordination of voluntary movements

Hypothalamus

eating, drinking, sexual behaviors regulate bodys internal state emotion, stress, reward

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The Brain in Different Species

What brain structures are similar across species? How is the brain suited to each species?

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Cerebral Cortex
Neocortex: outermost layer Four Lobes:

occipital (vision) temporal (hearing, language processing, memory) frontal (intelligence, personality, voluntary muscles) parietal (spatial location, attention, motor control)

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Cerebral Cortex

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Are Brains Wired to Recognize Faces?

prosopagnosia

fusiform face area (FFA)

FFA specifically for

processing faces?

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Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex

Somatosensoy Cortex (in parietal lobe)

body sensations

Motor Cortex (in frontal lobe)

voluntary movements

Point-to-Point Mapping

Association Cortex (75% of cortex)

not sensory or motor, but associations between

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Split-Brain Research
Corpus Callosum
x

Large bundle of axons that connects X the two hemispheres of the brain

W.J., the Split Brain Patient

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Hemispheres of the Cortex

Hemispheric Specialization of Function

left hemisphere
verbal processing, speech, grammar

Brocas Area Wernickes Area

right hemisphere
spatial perception, visual recognition, emotion

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Happy Brains?
Happiness: Prefrontal Lobe Asymmetry

positive emotional responses

more left prefrontal lobe activity

negative emotional responses

more right prefrontal lobe activity

Biofeedback Mindfulness (Awareness) Meditation

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Endocrine System

set of glands that regulate the body by secreting hormones into the bloodstream hormones = chemical messages relatively slow communication system interconnected with the nervous system pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal glands, pancreas, ovaries, testes
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Brain Damage and Plasticity

Recovery from brain damage depends on

age of the individual extent of the damage

Repairing the damaged brain

collateral sprouting substitution of function neurogenesis brain tissue grafts

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Genetics and Behavior

chromosomes, genes, and DNA Human Genome Project

dominant-recessive genes principle

molecular genetics

selective breeding
behavior genetics and adoption studies
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Genes and the Environment

Genotype genetic heritage + the effects of experience = Phenotype observable characteristics

environment alters how genetic traits develop both physical & psychological characteristics genetic expression

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Biological Foundations and Health and Wellness

stressors circumstances and events that threaten individuals and/or tax their coping abilities
stress

our response to those stressors

causes/effects of acute and chronic stress

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Chapter Summary

Discuss the nature and basic function of the nervous system. Explain what neurons are and how they process information. Identify the brains levels and structures and summarize the function of those structures. Identify the endocrine system and describe how it affects behavior.
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Chapter Summary

Describe the brains capacity for recovery and repair. Explain how genetics increases understanding of behavior. Describe the role of the biological foundations of human psychology in the bodys stress response.

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Chapter Summary
The Nervous System

structure and function of the nervous systems structure of a neruon electrochemical communication neurotransmitters and their effects

Brain: Structure and Function

brain imaging techniques hindbrain, midbrain, forebrain cerebral lobes and functions
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Chapter Summary
Brain Damage and Plasticity

collateral sprouting, substitution of function, neurogenesis, brain tissue grafts

Genetics and Behavior

genes v. environment and adoption studies

Biological Foundations & Health and Wellness

acute and chronic stress

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