Neuroscience & Behavior
Biological Basis of Behavior
.Your every idea, every mood, every urge is a biological occurrence It is your brain that enables your mind Neuropsychologists and psychologists working in neuroscience are concerned with the links between biology and behavior
Neural Communication
Body's information system is built from billions of interconnected cells called Neurons
Neuron
A nerve cell consisting of different parts
Consists of: > Synapse o All the space surrounding the neuron > Cell body o The cell's life support > Dendrites o Receive messages from other cells > Axon o Passes messages away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands > Neural Impulse (Action Potential)
generated by the movement of positively charged atoms in and out of channels in the axon's membrane > Myelin Sheath o Covers the axon of some neurons and helps speed up messages through the neuron >Terminal branches of axon o Branches endings of an exon that transmit messages to other neurons
Types of Neurons
: Sensory Neurons o Carry messages from the body's tissues and sensory organs to the brain and spinal cord :Motor Neurons o Carry messages and instructions from brain and spinal cord to bodily tissues Interneurons o Brain's internal communication system
Neurotransmitters
Chemicals that:
Are released from the sending neuron and travel across the synapse Then they bind receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing it to trigger or inhibit an action potential
Examples: 0 Serotonin Affects mood, hunger, sleep, and arousal Undersupply can lead to depression o Norepinephrine : Helps control alertness and arousal Undersupply can lead to depression The Nervous System
Nervous System
Consists of all the nerve cells. It is the body's speedy, electrochemical communication system
Central Nervous System (CNS)
The brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
The sensory and moto neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body
Nervous system
Central (brain and spinal cord)
Peripheral
Autonomic (controls self-regulated action of internal organs and glands)
Somatic (controls
voluntary movements of skeletal muscles)
Sympathetic (arousing)
Parasympathetic (calming)
The Cerebral Cortex
The body's ultimate control and information-processing center Divided into two hemispheres (Left and Right) o Each hemisphere controls the opposite side of the body o Motor functions exercise
Structure of the Cortex
Each brain hemisphere is divided into four lobes that are separated by prominent fissures
1) Frontal lobe (Forehead) a. Conscious thought, executive processing, higher order functions 2) Parietal Lobe (Top to Rear Head) a. Visual-spatial processing, sensory integration 3) Occipital Lobe (Back Head) a. Sense of sight; location of visual cortex 4) Temporal Lobe (Side of Head) a. Sense of hearing; location of auditory cortex
Functions of the Cortex Motor Cortex The area at the rear of the frontal lobes that control voluntary movements
Sensory Cortex (Parietal Cortex)
Receives information from skin surface and sensory organs
Right-Left Differences The myth of Right-brained vs Left-Brained
o States that left-brained individuals are more logical, methodical, and analytical while right-brained individuals are more creative and art