1. History of Biological Psychology
Plato was the first to suggest that the mind was in the head.
In the 1800’s, Franz Gall proposed phrenology - studying bumps on the head for character traits and suggesting different parts of the brain control different aspects of behavior.

3. Biological Psychology
Biological Psychology is the scientific study of links between biological and psychological processes.

4. Biological Psychology
Our study begins with bottom up processing: processing that begins with the nerve cells and goes up to the brain.
We will also look at top down processing: how our thinking and emotions affect our behavior.

5. Neurons and Neurotransmitters

6. Brain
(CNS)
Nervous System
An extensive network of specialized cells that carry information to and from all parts of the body.
Spinal
Cord
(CNS)
Nerves
(PNS)

7. The Neurons and the Neurotransmitters: The Structure of the Neuron
Neuron (NEW-ron)
the basic cell that makes up the nervous system and which receives and sends messages within that system.
Neurotransmitters
Specialized chemicals that facilitate or inhibit the transmission of impulses from one neuron to the next
2.3 What does each part of the
neuron do?

8. The Neurons and the Neurotransmitters: The Structure of the Neuron
Most neurons are made of three parts:
cell body (soma)
contains the nucleus
keeps the cell alive and functioning
dendrites
receives signals from other neurons
axon
slender, tail-like extension of the neuron
sprouts into branches, each ending in a bulbous axon terminal

9. The Neurons and the Neurotransmitters: The Structure of the Neuron
Other parts of the neuron
axon terminal
Bulbous end of the axon where signals move from the axon of one neuron to the dendrites or cell body of another
myelin
Fatty substances that coat the axons of neurons to insulate, protect, and speed up the neural impulse.
Insulates the neuron.
Bundles of myelin-coated axons travel together in “cables” called nerves.

11. The Neurons and the Neurotransmitters: Neural Communication
Resting potential
Action potential
Neuron fires an impulse
Neurons generate chemical electricity
Positive & negative ions

12. The Neurons and the Neurotransmitters: Neural Communication

13. The Neurons and the Neurotransmitters: Neural Communication

14. The Neurons and the Neurotransmitters: Neural Communication

15. The Neurons and the Neurotransmitters: Neural Communication

16. The Neurons and the Neurotransmitters: Neural Communication

17. The Neurons and the Neurotransmitters: Neural Communication
LO What are neurons, and how do they work?
All-or-none - referring to the fact that a neuron either fires completely or does not fire at all.
Return to resting potential.

18. The Neurons and the Neurotransmitters: Neural Communication
After a neuron fires there is a Refractory Period – a period of inactivity after it has fired.

19. The Neurons and the Neurotransmitters: Communication between Neurons
Axon terminals are separated from the receiving neurons by fluid-filled gaps: synaptic gap (or cleft).
Synapse
junction where axon terminal of sending neuron communicates with receiving neuron
2.4 How do neurons transmit
messages through the nervous
system?

20. The Synapse
The neuron's electrical impulse reaches the synaptic knobs, triggering the release of the neuron's chemical messengers, called neurotransmitters, from the synaptic vesicles and into the cleft.

21. Neurotransmitters
Chemical substances that transmit messages between neurons
Released into synapse by axon terminals of sending neuron
Bind to receptor sites on dendrites of receiving neuron
Taken back into axon terminal by the process of reuptake
2.5 How do neurotransmitters
work?

23. How Drugs and Other Chemicals Alter Neurotransmission
Agonist = a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, stimulates a response.
Antagonists = a molecule that, by binding to a receptor site, inhibits or blocks a response.