Unit 3:Unit 3:

Biological Biological Bases Bases

of Behaviorof BehaviorMr. McCormickMr. McCormickA.P. PsychologyA.P. Psychology

Essential QuestionEssential Question

How are human How are human thoughtthought and and behaviorbehavior affectedaffected by the by the following:following:• The Nervous SystemThe Nervous System• The Endocrine SystemThe Endocrine System• The BrainThe Brain• GeneticsGenetics

Unit 3-A (A):Unit 3-A (A):The NeuronThe Neuron

Mr. McCormickMr. McCormickA.P. PsychologyA.P. Psychology

Do-NowDo-Now(Discussion)(Discussion)

What is What is Biological PsychologyBiological Psychology??

What parts of the What parts of the bodybody do do Biological Biological Psychologists Psychologists primarily study?primarily study?

In understandingIn understanding psychology psychology, why do , why do you think it is you think it is importantimportant to understand to understand biological processesbiological processes??

Biological PsychologyBiological Psychology Biological Psychology:Biological Psychology:

A branch of Psychology A branch of Psychology concerned with the links concerned with the links between biology and between biology and behaviorbehavior

Biological Biological Psychologists:Psychologists:

Behavioral NeuroscientistsBehavioral Neuroscientists NeuropsychologistsNeuropsychologists Behavior GeneticistsBehavior Geneticists Physiological PsychologistsPhysiological Psychologists BiopsychologistsBiopsychologists

Biological PsychologyBiological Psychology

The NeuronThe Neuron

Neuron:Neuron: Nerve cellNerve cell Basic building block of the nervous Basic building block of the nervous

systemsystem

The NeuronThe Neuron

Types of Neurons:Types of Neurons:

Sensory Neurons:Sensory Neurons: Carry Carry incoming incoming informationinformation from from sensory receptors sensory receptors toto the the

brain/spinal cordbrain/spinal cord E.g. Perceiving something as “hot”E.g. Perceiving something as “hot”

Motor Neurons:Motor Neurons: Carry Carry outgoingoutgoing information information from from the the brain/spinal cordbrain/spinal cord to to the the

muscles/glandsmuscles/glands E.g. Clenching a fistE.g. Clenching a fist

Interneurons:Interneurons: Located Located withinwithin the the brain/spinal cordbrain/spinal cord CommunicateCommunicate internallyinternally between between sensory inputs sensory inputs and and motor motor

outputsoutputs E.g. ReflexesE.g. Reflexes

The NeuronThe Neuron

Provide an Provide an exampleexample of information of information that that sensory neurons sensory neurons may may transmit.transmit.

Provide an Provide an exampleexample of information of information that that motor neurons motor neurons may transmit. may transmit.

Provide an Provide an exampleexample of information of information that that interneuronsinterneurons may transmit.may transmit.

Parts of the NeuronParts of the Neuron

The Firing of a NeuronThe Firing of a Neuron Neurons transmit messages when stimulated by our senses, Neurons transmit messages when stimulated by our senses,

or triggered by chemicals of other neuronsor triggered by chemicals of other neurons

Resting Potential:Resting Potential: Fluid interior of axon: negatively charged ionsFluid interior of axon: negatively charged ions Fluid exterior of axon membrane: positively charged ionsFluid exterior of axon membrane: positively charged ions

Threshold:Threshold: Level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse Level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse (action (action

potential)potential) Excitatory signals Excitatory signals (accelerator) (accelerator) minus inhibitory signals minus inhibitory signals (brakes) (brakes)

must reach minimum intensitymust reach minimum intensity

Action Potential:Action Potential: Neural impulseNeural impulse Depolarization occursDepolarization occurs Brief electrical charge that travels down an axonBrief electrical charge that travels down an axon ““All-or-None” ResponseAll-or-None” Response

The Firing of a NeuronThe Firing of a Neuron

ReviewReview What is a What is a neuronneuron??

Differentiate Differentiate between the between the 33 types of types of neuronsneurons:: Sensory NeuronsSensory Neurons Motor NeuronsMotor Neurons InterneuronsInterneurons

Discuss the Discuss the functionsfunctions of the following parts of the of the following parts of the neuronneuron:: DendritesDendrites AxonAxon Myelin SheathMyelin Sheath Terminal BranchesTerminal Branches

What causes What causes neuronsneurons to to firefire??

HomeworkHomework

Research Study # 2: Research Study # 2: “More “More Experience = Bigger Brain” (Pgs. Experience = Bigger Brain” (Pgs. 11-18)11-18)

Unit 3-A FRQ:Unit 3-A FRQ:

Unit 3-A Quiz: Unit 3-A Quiz: “The Neuron”“The Neuron”