1. Introduction to Psychology
Neurology

2. Plan for Today Results of class experiment
Biological bases of behavior
Communication in the nervous system
Organization of the nervous system
Researching the brain

3. Manipulation Check Anxiety Scale
Mean
Std.
Dev. F
significance
Control 20
32.47
5.94
10.25
.01
Anxi-ous
44.13
10.35
Total 40
38.3

4. Dependent Measure N Mean Std. Dev. F significance Control 20 7.87
2.259
4.217
.05
Anx-ious
4.16
1.267
Total 40
6.02
4.334

5. Components of the Neuron
Dendrites: receive information from other neurons
Cell body: creates transmitter molecules
Axon
Myelin insulates the nerve cell, speeds up conduction of nerve messages
Terminal buttons of the axon release transmitter
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6. Graded Potentials
Stimulation of the nerve membrane can open ion channels in the membrane
NA+ ions flowing in will depolarize the membrane (movement from -70 mV to say -60 mV
K+ ions flowing out of membrane will hyperpolarize the membrane (-70 mV to say -90 mV)
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7. The Action Potential
Graded potentials are generated at the dendrites and are conducted along the membrane to the axon hillock
If the summated activity at the axon hillock raises the membrane potential past threshold, an action potential (AP) will occur
During the AP, NA+ ions flow into the cell raising the membrane potential to +40 mV, producing the spike
The restoration of the membrane potential to -70 mV is produced by an opening of channels to K+
The AP is conducted along the axon toward the terminals
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8. Details of the Synapse
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9. Neurotransmitters Acetylcholine (Ach) Monoamines:
- epinephrine and norepinephrine
- serotonin
- dopamine
GABA
Glutamate

10. Overview of the Nervous System
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11. Autonomic Nervous System
The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) has two divisions:
Sympathetic: Emergency system
Parasympathetic: Vegetative functions (e.g. digestion)
The two systems often act in opposition (as in the control of heart rate)
Can act in concert (as in the control of sexual reflexes)
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12. Autonomic Nervous System
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13. Midline View of Human Brain
Medulla: Controls heart rate, respiration
Cerebellum: Coordinates smooth movements, balance, and posture
Pons: Involved in the control of sleep
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14. Limbic System Functions
Septal area is involved in pleasure and in relief from pain
Amygdala is involved in learning and recognition of fear
Hippocampus is involved in memory
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15. Cerebral Cortex Functions of cerebral cortex:
Provides for flexible control of patterns of movement
Permits subtle discrimination among complex sensory patterns
Makes possible symbolic thinking
Symbolic thought is the foundation of human thought and language
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16. The Cortical Lobes of the Human Brain
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17. Frontal Lobe Damage and Personality
Frontal lobes are involved in movement, attention, planning, memory, and personality.
Frontal lobe function in personality is evident in the case of Phineas Gage
Gage suffered frontal lobe damage after an accident involving a dynamite tamping rod
Gage was a railroad supervisor prior to the damage; after the damage he became childish and irreverent, could not control his impulses, and could not effectively plan.
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18. Cerebral Lateralization
The structures of the cortex and sub-cortex appear to specialize in function:
Hemispheric Specialization
Left hemisphere is dominant for language, logic, and complex motor behavior.
Right hemisphere is dominant for non-linguistic functions including recognition of faces, places, and sounds (music)
The hemispheric specializations are evident from studies of
Damage to one hemisphere (I.e. Broca’s area)
Split-brain subjects
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19. The Split-Brain Study
Information from the one visual field is usually transmitted to the opposite visual cortex
The corpus callosum serves to integrate the two hemispheres
Cutting the corpus callosum can result in information reaching only one hemisphere
Language is a left-hemisphere function
Information reaching the left hemisphere will be reported by the subject, but not information reaching the right hemisphere
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20. Split-Brain Studies © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
(Figure adapted from Gazzaniga, 1967)
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21. The Endocrine System
Glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream to help control bodily functioning
Hypothalmus connected to pituitary gland (master gland)
adrenal glands = fight or flight
Gonads = secondary sex characteristics

22. Endocrine Systems Endocrine glands release hormones into blood stream
Have effects at diffuse target sites throughout the body
Hormones bind to receptors
Hormones can have organizational effects (permanent change in structure and function)
Hormones can have activational effects:
Lack of testosterone reduces sexual behavior
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