Biological Psychology Biological Psychology Branch of psychology concerned with the links between...
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Transcript of Biological Psychology Biological Psychology Branch of psychology concerned with the links between...
Biological Psychology
Biological Psychology
Branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior
Areas of study include neuroscience, the endocrine system and the relative contribution of genetics and evolution
The Brain
The Most Basic Structure: A Neuron
The Behaving Brain - Discovering PsychInner Workings NIMH
Diagram a neuron
Concepts in Neural Communication
Action Potential A neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon
Threshold The level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse
All or Nothing (None) response Like it sounds. Neurons fire on the basis of “all or nothing”
Refractory period The period of rest following a neural impulse
Describe the electrical transmission of an action potential along a neuron*
Synapse The junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite of a receiving neuron. Also called the synaptic gap or cleft. Synaptic vesicles
Neural Communication
Neurotransmitters Chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons (held and released by synaptic vesicles). NTs bind to specific receptor sites on the receiving neuron, and cause a neural impulse.
Excess neurotransmitters are enzymatically broken down or reabsorbed by receptors in a reuptake process
Excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters
Explain the function of neurotransmitters. Describe the neurotransmission process from the sending to receiving neuron.
Know Specific Neurotransmitters, Their Functions and Effects on Health
Acetylcholine Learning, memory and muscle control. Deficit present in Alzheimer’s disease. Curare-, botulism -and black widows +
Endorphins Opiate-like action linked to pain control and to pleasure. Mimicked by opiates (agonist). Kosterlitz’s discovery The Mind: Endorphins
Norepinephrine/Noradrenaline Related to arousal and state of alert (fight or flight). Undersupply can affect motivation and mood (anti-depressants)
More Specific Neurotransmitters
Serotonin Mood, sleep, arousal, pain sensitivity and hunger regulation. Implicated in depression. Antidepressants raise levels. SSRIs
Dopamine Movement, learning and attention A deficit seen in Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson's...Use of l-dopa (passes BBB) Sacks and Awakenings.
Encephalitis lethargica Use of l-dopa An excess of Dopamine = schizophrenia
(use of dopa blockers)
Know specific neurotransmitters, their functions and effects on health
More Specific Neurotransmitters
Glutamate Used at the great majority of fast excitatory synapses in the brain. Involved in memory. Can overstimulate brain. Headaches and seizures. Epilepsy
GABA Inhibitory neurotransmitter. Low amounts present in seizures and insomnia. Many sedative/tranquilizing drugs act by enhancing the effects of GABA. Alcohol and increases GABA. Anti-anxiety meds Epilepsy and GABA
Substance P Responsible for transmission of pain from certain sensory neurons to the central nervous system
Know specific neurotransmitters, their functions and effects on health
Agonists
• Using an example explain the difference between an agonist and an antagonist
Antagonists
• Using an example explain the difference between an agonist and an antagonist
Neurotransmitters and Addiction
• Some drugs, like cocaine, increase dopamine by preventing reuptake, leaving more dopamine in the synapse. Cocaine addiction
• Amphetamines (stimulants) help to release more dopamine
• Opiates act as agonists, mimicking endorphins
• Adaptations to drug use = tolerance• The withdrawal hypothesis
• Using an example explain the difference between an agonist and an antagonist
•
Additional Concepts Related to Neural Transmission
• The Secret Life of the Brain– Neural networks– Developmental Plasticity– Synaptic pruning
• Neurogenesis Adult Neurogenesis
• Brain damage Hemispherectomy and Plasticity
• Mirror neurons ScienceNow• Neurons and Ramachandran
The Nervous System
Central(brain and
spinal cord)
Nervoussystem
Autonomic (controlsself-regulated action of
internal organs and glands)
Skeletal (controlsvoluntary movements of
skeletal muscles)
Sympathetic (arousing)
Parasympathetic (calming)
Peripheral
The Nervous System
Somatic Nervous System controls the body’s skeletal muscles
Autonomic Nervous System controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs Sympathetic Nervous System division of the ANS that
arouses the body, and mobilizes in stressful situations; fight or flight response
Parasympathetic Nervous System division of the ANS that calms the body, and conserves its energy
• Distinguish between the somatic and autonomic nervous systems and describe the difference between a sympathetic and a parasympathetic response
The Nervous System
The Nervous System
The Nervous System
Nerves “cables” connect the CNS with muscles, glands, and sense organs (SAME) Sensory Neurons (Afferent) Carry
information from the sense receptors to the CNS
Motor Neurons (Efferent) Carry outgoing information from the CNS to muscles and glands
Interneurons communicate quickly between sensory inputs and motor outputs
• Distinguish between sensory and motor neurons
Homunculus
The Cerebral Cortex
Measuring Brain Structures/Functions
Lesioning Experimentally caused
destruction of brain tissue EEG (Electroencephalograph)
Amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity
• Describe the various types of brain measuring and imaging techniques
Measuring Brain Structures/Functions
CT (computed tomography) Scan Series of x-ray photographs from
different angles. Shows structures
MRI (magnetic imaging) resonance Uses magnetic fields to produce
computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structures within the brain
• Describe the various types of brain measuring and imaging techniques
Measuring Brain Structures/Functions
PET (positron emission tomography) Scan Visual display of brain activity
that detects a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task
fMRI (Functional MRI) Series of MR images used to
see structures within the brain as they function
BBC Brain Story
The Hind Brain
Brainstem responsible for (autonomic) survival functions
Medulla Oblongata controls heartbeat and breathing
Reticular formation source of alertness and arousal. The Pons regulates sleep-wake cycle
Cerebellum regulates movement and coordination
Thalamus the brain’s sensory switchboard, located on top of the brainstem directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex
The Limbic System
The Limbic System
Limbic System doughnut-shaped system of neural structures at the border of the brainstem and cerebral hemispheres. Associated with emotions drives such as those for food and sex. Includes the hypothalamus amygdala, and hippocampus
Amygdala two almond-shaped neural linked to emotion; anger and aggression
The Brain: Aggression
Septum seat of fear
The Brain
Hypothalamus structure lying below (hypo) the thalamus; directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature) helps govern the endocrine
system via the pituitary gland linked to emotion as well sexual arousal, satiation,
pleasure (or rewards) centers
The Limbic System - Hypothalamus
Electrode implanted in reward center (Olds)
Pleasure and Addiction
The Cerebral Cortex
Cerebral Cortex The intricate fabric of interconnected neural
cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres The body’s ultimate control and information
processing center Comprised of two hemispheres and four lobes Folds or convolutions increase surface and
number of neural connections Association areas uncommitted areas
throughout cortex for higher thought processes Contralaterality
The Cerebral Cortex - FPOT
The Cerebral Cortex - Four Lobes
Frontal Lobes Involved in making plans and judgments, language (Broca), motor cortex located along rear The Mind: Frontal Lobe 9
Parietal Lobes Includes the sensory cortex.
Occipital Lobes Include the visual areas, which receive visual
information from the opposite visual field (angular gyrus)
Temporal Lobes Auditory processing (Wernicke)
Visual and Auditory Cortices
The Cerebral Cortex - Language
Broca’s Area an area of the left frontal lobe that directs the muscle movements involved in speech
Wernicke’s Area an area of the left temporal lobe involved in language comprehension and expression
Angular Gyrus an area in the left hemisphere that transforms visual images into auditory code
Aphasia impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca’s area (impairing speaking) or to Wernicke’s area (impaired understanding), also angular gyrus
The Brain: Broca and Wernicke
Specialization and Integration
Our Divided Brain
Corpus Callosum Band of neural fibers
connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between the hemispheres
Issue of contralaterality
Jill Bolte Taylor
Corpus callosum
Our Divided Brain
The information highway from the eye to the brain
Role of the optic chiasm
Split Brain Research
A condition in which the two hemispheres of the brain are isolated by cutting the connecting fibers (mainly the corpus callosum) between them
Sperry and Gazzaniga The Brain: Split Brain Scientific American Split Brain NP.Org
The Endocrine System
Endocrine System The body’s “slow”
chemical communication system
A set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream
Controlled by the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland