1. Unit 1: Neuroscience

2. Entry Task
Circle T if you think the statement is true or F if you think the statement is false.

3. Part 1
Neural Communication

4. Handout 2-1
Answers:
True
False

5. Biological Psychology
branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior
(also: behavioral neuroscientists, neuropsychologists, behavior geneticists, physiological psychologists, or biopsychologists)

6. Neuron
a nerve cell; basic building block of the nervous system

7. Myelin [MY-uh-lin] Sheath
Dendrite
bushy, branching extensions of a neuron, receives messages and conducts impulses toward the cell body
Axon
extension of a neuron, ends in branching terminal fibers through which messages are sent to other neurons/muscles/glands
Myelin [MY-uh-lin] Sheath
layer of fatty cells segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses

8. Action Potential Threshold
neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon; generated by movement of positively charged atoms in and out of channels in axon’s membrane
Threshold
level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse

9. Cell body end
of axon
Direction of neural impulse: toward axon terminals

10. Synapse [SIN-aps] Neurotransmitters
junction between axon tip of sending neuron and dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron
tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or cleft
Neurotransmitters
chemical messengers that traverse synaptic gaps between neurons; when released by sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across synapse and bind to receptor sites on receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether it will generate a neural impulse

12. Reaction Time Activity
We need to form a chain:
Front row turn left
2nd row turn right
3rd row turn left
Back row turn right
Put your right hand on the right shoulder of the person in front of you

13. Reaction Time Activity
You are going to squeeze the shoulder of the person in front of you as soon as you feel your shoulder squeezed
We’ll time it and see how fast we can get to the end of the chain

14. Reaction Time Activity
Would it be faster or slower if instead of squeezing shoulders, we squeezed ankles?
What if we grabbed both shoulders & you squeeze the same shoulder as was squeezed?
What if you squeeze the shoulder opposite of whichever shoulder was squeezed - if your right shoulder was squeezed, then squeeze the left shoulder of the person in front of you?

15. Reaction Time Activity
Analyzing data:
Talk with your partner, what does the data tell us?
Conclusions:
The farther the sensory input has to travel (ankle to brain rather than shoulder to brain), the longer it takes.
The more complex the task (squeezing the same shoulder, squeezing the opposite shoulder) the more time it takes

16. Reaction Time Activity
Nerves in the body send information to the brain
Brain processes the information
Makes a decision on what to do next
Sends information out
Body performs the task

17. Acetylcholine [ah-seat-el-KO-leen]
a neurotransmitter that, among its functions, triggers muscle contraction
Endorphins [en-DOR-fins]
“morphine within”; natural, opiate-like neurotransmitters; linked to pain control and pleasure

18. The Mind
Episode 5, Endorphins: The Brain’s Natural Morphine