PSYC 111

PSYC 111Physiological Psychology: The Biology of Behavior and Mental Processes1

The Human Neuron Experiment

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Questions, questionsWhat is the DEPENDENT variable in our experiment?What is the INDEPENDENT variable in our experiment?What is the CONFOUNDING variable in our experiment?What would our conclusions be?3

and more questionsWhat part of the body is the dendrite?What part of the body is axon terminal?What is the synapse?What is the neurotransmitter?What might this experiment tell us about real neural transmission?4

The Resting Potential:The Electrical Gradient5

The Resting PotentialThe Concentration Gradient6

The Action PotentialFire it up!7

The SynapseWhat comes between8

NeurotransmittersThe Psychological BiggiesGlutamate and GABA the workhorsesAcetylcholineNorepinephrineSerotoninDopamineEndogenous opiates (endorphins, enkephalins)

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How Drugs WorkPsychopharmacologyThe three As AgonistAntagonistAffinityPlaces to actPre-synapticPost-synapticExample: Antidepressant medications

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NeuroanatomySome Important Misconceptions

Do we use only 10% of our brain?Are people left-brained or right-brained?Can we localize function in the brain?11

NeuroanatomyBasic Divisions12

NeuroanatomyThe Brainstem Vital Functions

MedullaPonsCerebellum

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Neuroanatomy Systems in the round the Basal Ganglia and Limbic System14

Thalamus HypothalamusAmygdalaHippocampus

Neuroanatomy Lobes, lobes, everywhere lobes15

Neural PlasticityNeuroplasticity and neurogenesis whats the diff?DevelopmentDamageExperience

Mindfulness meditation example16

Time to review..17