CHAPTER III

Prepared by: Liezel P. Moises Adamson University

Biopsychology
Is the study of how biological processes, particularly the nervous system and brain activity and gladular processes, relate to behavior.

D.O. Hebb presented the first comprehensive theory of how perceptions, emotions, thoughts and memories might be produced by brain activity.

Functions of Nervous System

Input (receiving information)
Processing (integrating the information with past experiences) Output (activating or guiding the various mechanisms for the appropriate action)

2 major types of cells: of Nervous System

1. Neurons Basic Unit of the Nervous system. Unlike other cells, they are capable of communicating with one another. 2. Glial cells hold the neurons together, help them to communicate to one another.

Glial Cells

Types of Neurons
Afferent or sensory neurons convey messages from the sense organs to the brain Efferent or motor neurons relay messages from the brain to the glands and muscles.

Interneurons carry impulses from one neurons to another.

PARTS OF THE NEURON

1. Cell Membrane the outer covering of a cell, which keep the ingredients of a cell intact Surrounds the entire neuron giving it shape and shielding

PARTS OF THE NEURON

2. Dendrites are short, branchlike fibers that receive signals or information from the receptors or from other neurons. 3. Soma (cell body) contains the nucleus; involved in the metabolic or energy regulation processes of the cell. 4. Axon sends the signal from the cell body to other neurons, muscles and glands.

Dendrites
Cell body

The Neuron and its parts

Axon Myelin Sheath

Axon terminals

PARTS OF THE NEURON

5. Terminal buttons the small knobs at the end of the branched axon directly involved in transmitting a signal from one neuron to the next.

6. Myelin sheath a fatty protein substance that covers some axons and function to accelerate the transmission o neural signals.

Dendrites
Cell body

The Neuron and its parts

Axon Myelin Sheath

Axon terminals

PARTS OF THE NEURON

Degeneration of Myelin Sheath can cause: Multiple Sclerosis- a disturbance characterized by physical weakness, tremors, visual disturbance.
Ataxia- or loss of motor coordination

PARTS OF THE NEURON

7. Synapse the point of contact between neurons
Presynaptic membrane - sends the message; Postsynaptic membrane - the membrane of the receiving side of the synapse.

Neurotransmitters
Stored in terminal buttons These are substances that facilitate transmission of information from one neuron to another.

Types of Neurotransmitters
Norepinephrine memory and learning
Under supply: Depression

Dopamine learning, emotional arousal, an

movement. Over supply: Schizophrenia Under supply: Parkinsons disease

(People are more alert, can easily concentrate when their brains are producing the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine)

Types of Neurotransmitters
eating, sleep and sexuality Under supply: Depression Stable levels: Positive mood

Serotonin modulation of anger, mood,

FOOD that can increase serotonin: chocolate, pasta, rice, candy, grains, banana (food that rich in carbohydrates) They increase the amount of tryptophan in the brain. Tryptophan is the amino-acid precursor of serotonin

Types of Neurotransmitters
Endorphin inhibits pain

Spicy food can trigger the brain to release endorphins because it thinks the mouth is o fire and needs chemical relief to the brain.

Soothing music such as classical and instrumental selections. It has been found that thirty minutes of listening to this kind of music has released endorphins that have an effect equal to that of the

Types of Neurotransmitters
Acetylcholine movement and memory
Undersupply: Alzheimers disease.

FOOD that can increase acetylcoline:

Egg Yolks Peanuts Meat Chicken, Beef, Pork, Mutton Fish Liver Dairy Products Milk and Cheese Vegetables Broccoli, Cabbage and Cauliflower have higher amounts

DIVISION OF NERVOUS SYSTEM

Central nervous System (CNS) Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

DIVISION OF NERVOUS SYSTEM

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM Located within the skull and spine; Compose of brain and spinal cord

PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM Located outside the skull and spine; Muscles and glands

PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

Somatic nervous system (SNS)- Control voluntary activities (action we decide to do) Autonomic nervous system(ANS) Regulates involuntary activities (activities that ordinarily occur automatically, like heartbeat, blinking of the eye, stomach activity )
SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM-active when we deal with danger and stress PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM-slows down from arousal of sympathetic system

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

Spinal cord
Acts like a cable connecting the brain to the other part of the body; Reflex Arc- the simplest behavior pattern can be carried out within spinal cord w/o requiring any help from the brain

Brain

Develops initially as a simple fluidfilled tube. This tune gets larger and changes in shape, developing into separate fluid-filled chambers. Weights 2 % of body weight; consumes approximately 20 % of the oxygen that the individual breath.

3 main divisions: Hindbrain Midbrain Forebrain

Divisions of the Brain

Hindbrain (brain stem) located
at the top of the spinal cord; Medulla controls automatic responses (breathing, swallowing, blood circulation) Pons links the 2 halves of the brain at the hindbrain level Cerebellum coordinates muscular movements (walking, talking posture) its damage may cause cerebral palsy.

Divisions of the Brain

Division of Brain

Midbrain lies between the hindbrain and the

forebrain;

it is composed of reticular formation, which is very important in controlling the level of arousal or alertness.

Reticular formation is a complex network of fibers tha connect the higher brain centers to the lower parts.

Divisions of the Brain

Division of Brain

Forebrain the largest and most complicated part of the brain, consists of the cerebral cortex and subcortical structures (limbic system, hypothalamus, thalamus, and basal ganglia). Limbic system involved in regulating drives and emotions such as hunger, thirst, fear, sexual behavior and aggression.

LIMBIC SYSTEM

Division of Brain

Thalamus receives (motor and motivational) information from the PNS and relays it to the cortex Switching Station for sensory message (seeing, hearing, taste and touch)

Injury to this part can cause deafness, blindness or loss of any other sense except smell.

Division of Brain LIMBIC SYSTEM

Hypothalamus is a master control center for emotion and several basic motives; Often referred as the guardian of the body; it is also involves in the regulation of cellular energy the fuel of behavior.

Divisions of the Brain

Division of Brain

Cerebral cortex / cerebrum the highest and largest area of the brain. Corticalization- related to the fact that humans are more intelligent than animals

Dogs brain

Rats brain

Human brain

Cerebral Cortex is compose of 2 hemisphere that are connected by a thick band of fibers called Corpus callosum keep each hemisphere informed about what the other is saying.

Left hemisphere
Control the right side of the body

Right hemisphere
Control the left side of the body

Four Lobes of the Brain

The Frontal Lobe It plays an integral role in the following functions/actions:
Memory formation Emotion Decision making/reasoning

Four Lobes of the Brain

The Parietal Lobe it plays major role in the following functions:
Senses and integrates sensation(s) Spatial awareness and perception

Four Lobes of the Brain

The Occipital Lobe its primary function is the processing, integration, interpretation of VISION and visual stimuli.

Four Lobes of the Brain

The Temporal Lobes play an integral role in the following functions:
HEARING Organization/ comprehension of language Information retrieval (memory & memory formation) Personality

PLASTICITY: THE CHANGING BRAIN Platicity- Brains ability to change and recognize in response to stimulation.

We have to exercise our brains and stimulate our neurons to improve brain functioning and learning

The Split Brain Theory

ROGER SPERRY
Won a Nobel Prize for his work on the special abilities of the cerebral hemispheres.

The Split Brain Theory

Each hemisphere is connected to one half of the body in a crisscrossed manner.
LEFT HEMISPHERE right side of the body RIGHT HEMISPHERE left side of the body

The Split Brain Theory

How is it possible to test only one side of the brain?
One method is to test people who have undergone split-brain operations as treatment for their severe epilepsy. In these operation corpus callosum (holds two hemisphere together) is cut so that the result of the operation in these people is like having two brains in one body.

The Split Brain Theory

Once, a split-brain patient grabbed his wife with left hand and shook her violently. His right hand gallantly came to the wifes rescue by grabbing the left hand. The right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing

Specific abilities of each hemisphere

LEFT BRAIN RIGHT BRAIN

Verbal: speaking, understanding language, reading, writing Mathematical: adding, subtracting, calculus physics Logical: time sense Analytic: analyzing separate pieces that make up a whole

Non-Verbal: understanding simple sentences and words Perceptual Skills: spatial, geometry, patterns, faces, melodies Intuitive: emotions Holistic: combining parts that make up a whole

EXERCISE: READ THE COLORS OR SEE THE COLORS?

NOTE: LEFT SIDE VERBAL: WORDS RIGHT SIDE NON VERBAL: VISUALS

Endocrine glands
The second great communication network of the body. It is made up of a number of ductless glands that secrete chemical substances (known as hormones) directly into the bloodstream.
Hormones can affect the internal activities and behavior.

PITUITARY GLAND

Known as the master gland

One of its most important functions is the regulation of growth.

HORMONES: Growth Hormones.

 Inadequate secretion of growth hormoneHYPOPITUATRY DWARF

Oversecretion of growth hormone GIANTISM

Acromegaly
If hyperactivity takes place in the growth period, the arms, hands feet, facial bones become enlarge.

PINEAL GLAND

Located between the two hemispheres of the brain. Helps regulate body rhythms and sleep cycles. HORMONES: Melatonin response to daily variations in light.

THYROID GLANDS
Found in the neck along with windpipe. Regulates metabolism (rate at which energy is produced and used by the body) HORMONES: Thyroxine

Overactive thyroid very fast metabolism, goiter, tends to be thin, excitable, tend and insomniac

Underactive thyroid slower metabolism thus, can become inactive, dull, slow and overweight.

ADRENAL GLANDS
Located just under the back of the rib cage, atop kidneys. Two areas: Adrenal medulla (inner core) source of emergency hormones epineprhrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline).

Adrenal cortex (outer core) produces corticoids stress hormone and source of sex hormones called adrenal androgens.

Over secretion of adrenal androgens can cause virilism-the development of very masculine characteristics

PANCREAS
Located near stomach and the small intestine. Regulates the supply and the use by the body cells of blood sugar or glucose. HORMONES: Insulin

Under secretion of insulin can cause diabetes mellitus. No matter how much food diabetic person eats, theres no enough insulin to allow his cells to use the glucose. GLUCOSE OR BLOOD SUGAR IS FOOD FOR THE CELL

GONADS
The gonads or the sex glands. TESTES in men which produces androgens (testosterone). OVARIES in women which produces estrogens (estradiol, progesterone) These hormones activate the reproductive organs and structures at puberty.

THYMUS

Located within the chest cavity, also known as the gland of childhood
Inhibits the gonads during childhood years.

Gonads keeps the childs sexuality from premature development. In such cases, as shown on the figures above theres over secretion of sex hormones during childhood that thymus cant control anymore.