BIOLOGICAL BASIS OF BEHAVIOR - NATURE VS NURTURE DEBATE
The influence of biology (sometimes called the neuroscience or bio-psychological perspective) is growing. Some researchers predict that someday psychology will be a specialty within the field of biology. An understanding of the biological principles relevant to psychology is needed to understand current psychological thinking.
Roots: Charles Darwin: Origin of Species :
Phrenology - Francis Gall - Shape of the skull / study of the bumpsPhineas Gage - Accident in the frontal lobe
How are genes and behavior linked?
GENOTYPE - genetic pattern
PHENOTYPE - physical structure
DNA - genetic code
GENE - is a segment of a chromosome that encodes our physical and mental characteristics -Each gene has smaller molecular units called nucleotides (4)
CHROMOSOME: The threadlike structures along which genes are organized - 46 chromosomes / Every cell in your body has 23 pairs of chromosomes.
How does the body communicate internally?
CommunicatIon System - Endocrine and Nervous System
The Building Block of the Nervous System is the Neuron
Neurotransmitters-– chemicals in the endings of the nerve cells (neuron) that transmits information across the synapse
Agonists - Mimic a neurotransmitter
Antagonists block a neurotransmitter
Part of A Neuron - Know each Part and Function
A neuron is a nerve cell. The brain is made up of about 100 billion neurons.
Types of Neurons (SAME - SENSORY AFFERENT MOTOR EFFERENT) Mnemonics :)
TUTORIALS
HOW DOES ACTION POTENTIAL WORK?
Action Potential - A change in the overall balance of the charge of the neuron
The nerve impulse caused by the electric charge across the cell membrane of the axon. When the neuron fires this charge travels down the axon and causes neurotransmitters to be released at the terminal buttons of the neuron
Resting Potential - Neuron is inactive it is waiting for an action potential -The electric charge of the axon is in an inactive state when the neuron is ready to fire
Polarization - Negatively charges chloride (CL-) ions exist within the axon -
Depolarization - Positively charged sodium ions (NA+) and Potassium ( K+) channels open - causing the electrochemical charge across the axon
Threshold - A point of excitation in the neuron for an action potential to occur
All or Nothing - once the threshold is reached the neuron will fire at full strength - If the threshold is not reached the neuron will not fire
Neurotransmitters-– chemicals in the endings of nerve cells that send information across the synapse
Acetylcholine – neurotransmitter that regulates basic bodily processes such as movement, memory, and learning
Dopamine – a neurotransmitter also involved in the control of bodily movements / associated with rewards( involved in Parkinson’s diseasseand Alzheimer’s)
How do we know what the Brain Does? Neuroimaging
EEG -Electroencephalograph
PET SCAN - Positron Emission Tomography -
CT Scan - Computerized Tomography
fMRI - Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Brain Structure and Function
Brain Stem - Medulla - Little brain / Automatic Nervous System
Pons - Bridge - connects brain stem to cerebellum / sleep
Reticular Formation
Thalamus - On top of the Brain Stem - Brain's Relay Station
Cerebellum - Motor Skills / Balance / Procedural Memory - Implicit memory / Series of steps - order / involved in classical conditioning / habitual responses
Limbic System - Emotional Center and Memory Center (HAH)
Hippocampus - connect your present to your past and new ideas / consolidation of memory / HM - anterograde amnesia
Amygdala - emotion especially fear and aggression
Hypothalmus - Hypo - under / under the thalamus
Cerebral Cortex - Cerebrum / 4 Lobes - Location and Function
Homunculus - Visual representation of the sensory (parietal) and motor cortex (frontal)
Brain has 2 Hemispheres: Divide by Corpus Callosum / Role of Split Brain Patients- corpus callosum has been severed