Chapter 3

Neuroscience and Behavior

Slides prepared by Randall E. Osborne, Texas State University-San Marcos

Revised by Dr. Bar-Navon for purposes of Kaplan - Unit 3 Introduction to Psychology

PSYCHOLOGYSchacter

Gilbert

Wegner

PSYCHOLOGYSchacter

Gilbert

Wegner

3.1

Neurons: The Origin of Behavior

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3.1 Neurons

- Dendrites— “tree”

- Cell body— “soma”

- Axon— “myelin”

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3.1 Neurons

- Glial cells• support cells

- Synapse

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3.1 Neurons

- Major types of neurons• sensory• motor• interneurons

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3.2

Electrical Signaling: Communicating Information

Within a Neuron

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3.2 Electrical Signaling

- Conduction and transmission

- Resting potential•natural electric charge•concentration of ions inside and outside cell

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3.2 Electrical Signaling

- Action potential• threshold• myelin and

nodes of Ranvier

• Refractory period

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3.3 Chemical Signaling

- Neurotransmitters

- Receptors• key and lock• reuptake

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3.3

Chemical Signaling: Synaptic Transmission Between Neurons

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3.3 Neurotransmitters

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3.4

The Organization of the Nervous System

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3.4 Nervous System

- Central (brain & spinal cord)- Peripheral

• somatic• autonomic

sympatheticparasympathetic

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3.4 Nervous System

- Somatic• gather info. from

external world

- Autonomic• complementary

systems

Drugs

- Agonist drugs – often speed up your brain and body. Examples include: nicotine & cocaine. [stimulants]

- Antagonist drugs – often slow down your brain and body. Examples include: alcohol and valium [depressants]

- Interestingly, caffeine, the number one drug in the world, is actually an antagonist drug. It works by blocking the effects of another neurotransmitter adenosine. Adenosine is responsible for making you feel tired and sleepy, especially at night.

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3.4 Exploring the Brain – Major Divisions

- Hindbrain• medulla• reticular formation• cerebellum• pons

Disorders that affect the hindbrain

Region Disorder

Cerebellum stroke

Medulla oblongata stroke

Pons sleep disorders, stroke

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3.4 Exploring the Brain–— Major Divisions

- Midbrain• tectum• tegmentum

Disorders that affect the midbrain

Region Disorder

Substantia nigra Parkinson's disease

NB: stroke can occur in the midbrain

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3.4 Exploring the Brain–— Major Divisions

- Forebrain• cerebral cortex

- Subcortical structures• thalamus• hypothalamus• pituitary gland

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Disorders that affect the forebrain

Region Disorder

Cerebral cortex depression, Huntington's disease, mania

Cerebrum epilepsy, stroke

•frontal lobe Alzheimer's disease, depression, mania

•parietal lobe Alzheimer's diseasea

•temporal lobe Alzheimer's disease, depression, mania

Limbic system mania

•amygdala depression

•hippocampus Alzheimer's disease, mania

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3.4 Exploring the Brain–— Major Divisions

- Limbic system• hypothalamus• Hippocampus• amygdala• basal ganglia

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3.4 Exploring the Brain–— Major Divisions

- Cerebral cortex• frontal lobe• temporal lobe• occipital lobe• parietal lobe• corpus callosum

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3.5

The Development and Evolution of the Nervous Systems

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3.5 Genes and the Environment

- Gene•DNA

- Chromosomes

- Monozygotic twins

- Dizygotic twins

- Heritability

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3.6

Investigating the Brain

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3.6 Investigating the Brain

- Studying the damaged brain

- Phineas Gage• emotional functions

of the frontal lobes

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3.6 Investigating the Brain

- Distinct roles of left and right hemispheres• split-brain procedure