Biopsychology This multimedia product and its contents are

Biopsychology This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or part, of any images; any rental, lease, or lending of the program. ISBN: 0 -205 -37181 -7

What is Biopsychology? Biopsychology – The specialty in psychology that studies the interaction of biology, behavior, and the environment Neuroscience – Interdisciplinary field that focuses on the brain and its role in psychological processes

How Does the Body Communicate Internally? The body’s two communication systems, the nervous system and the endocrine system, both use chemical messengers to communicate with targets throughout the body

The Organization of the Nervous System Nervous system Peripheral nervous system Autonomic nervous system Sympathetic nervous system Central nervous system (CNS) Somatic nervous system Parasympathetic nervous system

The Neuron: Building Block of the Nervous System Types of Neurons – Sensory neurons (carry messages from sense receptors towards the CNS) – Motor neurons (carry messages from CNS toward muscles and glands) – Interneurons (carry messages between nerve cells)

The Structure of a Neuron

The Neural Impulse • All-or-none principle • action potential

Neurotransmitters • Synaptic transmission • Neurotransmitters – Chemical messengers that relay neural messages across the synapse

Normal Function: Dopamine Serotonin Norepinephrine Acetylcholine Endorphins Produces sensations of pleasure and reward; used by CNS neurons in voluntary movement Problems with Imbalance: Schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease Substances that Affect: Cocaine, amphetamines, Ritalin, alcohol

Normal Function: Dopamine Serotonin Regulates sleep and dreaming, mood, pain, aggression, appetite and sexual behavior Norepinephrine Problems with Imbalance: Acetylcholine Depression, certain anxiety disorders, obsessivecompulsive disorder Endorphins Substances that Affect: Prozac, hallucinogenics (e. g. LSD)

Normal Function: Dopamine Serotonin Norepinephrine Acetylcholine Endorphins Controls heart rate, sleep, sexual responsiveness, stress, vigilance and appetite Problems with Imbalance: High blood pressure, depression Substances that Affect: Tricyclic antidepressants, beta blockers

Normal Function: Dopamine Serotonin Norepinephrine Acetylcholine Endorphins Primary transmitter used by neurons carrying messages from CNS; involved in some kinds of learning and memory Problems with Imbalance: Certain muscular disorders, Alzheimer’s disease Substances that Affect: Nicotine, botulism toxin, curare, atropine

Dopamine Normal Function: Serotonin Pleasurable sensations and control of pain Norepinephrine Problems with Imbalance: Acetylcholine Lowered levels resulting from opiate addiction Endorphins Substances that Affect: Opiates: opium, heroin, morphine, methadone

The Endocrine System (neuromodulators)

The Endocrine System Pituitary gland – Master gland

Windows on the Brain -How do we know what regions or structures in the brain do? 1) surgery 2) disease or injury (e. g. , lesions) 3) brain scans -variety of tools can now provide information on: location, intensity, and structural defects

Phineas Gage • Gage was a railroad construction foreman • An 1848 explosion forced a steel tamping rod through his head • Others said he was “…no longer Gage…” • Lost his job, worked as a sideshow exhibit

Electroencephalogram (EEG) • A recording of neural activity detected by electrodes.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) • A method for analyzing biochemical activity in the brain • Active areas have increased blood flow • Sensors detect radioactivity. • Different tasks show distinct activity patterns.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) • • Method for studying body and brain tissue. Magnetic fields align certain ions and compounds Computer calculates tissue density from radio waves. Provides clear, 3 D images.

Localization of Function Joseph Gall 1758 -1828 • Different parts of the brain perform different (yet overlapping) tasks • Phrenology* (pseudoscience)

Three Layers of the Brain • Brain stem and cerebellum – Drive vital functions, such as heart rate, breathing, digestion • Limbic system – Adds emotions, complex motives, increased memory abilities • Cerebrum – Enables reasoning, planning, creating, problem solving

The Brain Stem • Pons – involved in sleeping, waking and dreaming. • Medulla – breathing and heart rate. • Reticular activating system (RAS)

Middle Layer Structures • Thalamus relays sensory info to cortex • Hypothalamus Serves as the brain’s blood-testing laboratory • Hippocampus • Amygdala (Fear, vigilance, aggression*) Pituitary Gland

The Cerebrum Cerebral cortex – Thin gray-matter covering of the cerebrum; carries on higher-order cognitive functions (e. g. , thinking and perceiving) Cerebral hemispheres – The two walnut shaped halves of the cerebrum, connected by the corpus callosum

Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex

‘Specialization’ of the Cerebral Hemispheres Left Hemisphere Right Hemisphere • Spontaneous speaking and writing • Responses to complex commands • Word recognition • Memory for words and numbers • Sequences of movements • Feelings of anxiety • Positive emotion • Repetitive but not spontaneous speaking • Responses to simple commands • Facial recognition • Memory for shapes and music • Spatial interpretation • Emotional responsiveness • Negative emotion