This document provides an overview of the biological basis of behavior, focusing on the structure and function of neurons and the nervous system. It discusses how neurons communicate via synaptic transmission and how the brain is composed of billions of neural networks that interact to create human behavior. Key parts of the brain are described, including the forebrain, four lobes, limbic system, and peripheral and autonomic nervous systems. The roles of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems in regulating fight-or-flight and relaxation responses are also summarized.
This document provides an overview of the biological basis of behavior, focusing on the structure and function of neurons and the nervous system. It discusses how neurons communicate via synaptic transmission and how the brain is composed of billions of neural networks that interact to create human behavior. Key parts of the brain are described, including the forebrain, four lobes, limbic system, and peripheral and autonomic nervous systems. The roles of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems in regulating fight-or-flight and relaxation responses are also summarized.
This document provides an overview of the biological basis of behavior, focusing on the structure and function of neurons and the nervous system. It discusses how neurons communicate via synaptic transmission and how the brain is composed of billions of neural networks that interact to create human behavior. Key parts of the brain are described, including the forebrain, four lobes, limbic system, and peripheral and autonomic nervous systems. The roles of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems in regulating fight-or-flight and relaxation responses are also summarized.
This document provides an overview of the biological basis of behavior, focusing on the structure and function of neurons and the nervous system. It discusses how neurons communicate via synaptic transmission and how the brain is composed of billions of neural networks that interact to create human behavior. Key parts of the brain are described, including the forebrain, four lobes, limbic system, and peripheral and autonomic nervous systems. The roles of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems in regulating fight-or-flight and relaxation responses are also summarized.
AMEER DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY, UOS Neural structure and synaptic transmission • Brain is the organ that moves the muscle. • To make useful movements brain must know what is going outside in the environment. • Body also contains cells that are specialized for detecting environmental events. • Beside perceiving and acting, human can remember and decide. • All these abilities are made possible by the billions of cells found in the nervous system. • NEURONS • Behavior depends upon the communication between neurons. Structure of Neuron Neurons are the basic unit of central nervous system and is most important part of the brain. The human brain contains approximately 100 billion individual neurons. Neurons are the individual cells in the nervous system, which receive, integrate, and transmit information. Every neuron is made up of • Cell body • Dendrites • Axon. Function of the neuron
• Information comes into the neuron through dendrites from
other neuron. It then continues to the cell body (soma) which is the main part of the neuron, which contains the nucleus and maintains the life sustaining functions of the neuron, the soma processes the information and then passes it along the axon, at the end the axon are bulb like structure called terminal buttons that secrete chemicals called neurotransmitters into small spaces between the neurons called synapse through which information pass on to glands, muscles and other neurons. Types of Neurons
Sensory Neurons Carry signals from receptors to spinal
cord or brain. Motor Neurons Carry messages from the brain or spinal cord to muscles Interneurons carry messages from one part of central nervous system to another THE BRAIN Brain is the most complex organ of the body Only weighs 1,300 grams Contains billions of neural networks that interact to create human behaviour. The nervous system is broken down two major systems 1. The central nervous system consists of brain and spinal cord 2. Peripheral nervous system consists of somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system. FOREBRAIN
Cerebrum and cerebral cortex
The cerebral cortex which is involved in variety of higher cognitive , emotional, sensory and motor functions. It is the grey matter with multitude of folds covering the cerebrum Left and right hemispheres Left hemisphere for most people is the dominant hemisphere- responsible for production of language, mathematical ability, problem solving, logic Right hemisphere thought to be responsible for creativity and spatial ability FOUR LOBES
Frontal lobe Motor behaviour, expressive language, higher
cognitive processes and orientation to person (place, time, situation) Parietal lobe Involved in the processing of touch, pressure, temperature and pain. Occipital lobe Interpretation of visual information. Temporal lobe Receptive language, involved in receiving and processing auditory information, as well as memory and emotions. Thalamus- filters sensory information, controls mood states and body movement associated with emotive states Hypothalamus- „central control‟ for pituitary gland. Regulates autonomic, emotional, endocrine and somatic function. Has a direct involvement in stress and mood states. Limbic system - emotional expression, emotional component of behavior, memory and motivation Amygdala - attaches to emotional significance to information and mediates both defensive and aggressive behavior Hippocampus - involves more in memory an transfer of information from short term to long term.
Basal Ganglia are associated with a variety of functions, including
control of voluntary motor movements, procedural learning, habit learning, eye movements, cognition, and emotion. MIDBRAIN
Midbrain is composed of the tectum and tegmentum. The
midbrain serves important functions in motor movement, particularly movements of the eye, and in auditory and visual processing. HINDBRAIN Cerebellum- regulates equilibrium, muscle tone, postural control, fine movement and coordination of voluntary muscle movement Medulla oblongata- controls heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure and digestion Pons- relay station between cerebrum and cerebellum, regulates the states of arousal including sleep and dreaming. PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM It is divided into two sub systems Somatic nervous system, primary function is to regulate the actions of the skeletal muscles, mediates voluntary actions. Autonomic nervous system, regulates the primary involuntary activities such as heart rate, breathing, blood pressure and digestion, this system is further broken down into two systems • Sympathetic NS • Parasympathetic NS Sympathetic nervous system controls what has been called “fight or flight” phenomenon because of its control over the necessary bodily changes needed when we face the situation where we may need to defend ourselves or escape. i-e imagine walking down a dark street at night by yourself, suddenly you hear footsteps approaching you rapidly, what happens. Sympathetic nervous system kicks into prepare your body: your heart rate quickens to get more blood to the muscles, your breathing becomes faster and deeper to increase your oxygen, digestion reduces, skin gets cold and your pupil dilate for better vision. Your body is prepared either defend or escape Now imagine that the footsteps belong to a good friend who catches up to you and offers you for walk. you feel relief instantly, but your body takes longer to adjust. in order to return everything normal, The parasympathetic nervous system kicks in. this system is slow acting and may takes several minutes or even longer to get your body back where it was before the scare. These two subsystems constantly shifting your body to more prepared and more relaxed states. Every time a potentially threatening experience occurs, your body reacts.