Back to Psyc 1A | Back to Jeanie's home

Pseudopsychology

n   Creative Thinking

n   Confirmation Bias

Problem Solutions for Experiments

The Nervous System

The Nervous System

Central Nervous System

n   The CNS is composed of the brain and spinal cord

n   Spinal cord connects the brain with the PNS

¨ Spinal cord is comprised of cell bodies and axons that carry messages

n  Afferent:

n  Efferent:

The Spinal Cord—Reflex Arc

The Brain

Neurons

n   Are cells that transmit info

n   Are composed of:

¨ Dendrites: 

¨ Soma:  summarizes info

¨ Axon:

¨ Terminal Buttons: small knobs that secrete neurotransmitters

¨ Synapse: junction where info is transmitted from one neuron to another

Resting Potential

The inside of the axon membrane is more negative

than is the outside (polarized).

Action Potential

n    Occurs when

¨ Ion channels open in the membrane, allowing sodium ions to enter the axon

¨ Depolarized—becomes more positive inside relative to the outside

¨ Potential is restored when other channels open, allowing potassium ions to exit the axon

Action Potential Details

n   APs vary in frequency

n   APs have a refractory period

n   AP is “all or none” in nature

Myelin

n   A fatty, waxy substance coating the axon of some neurons.

¨

¨ Insulates neurons from each other

Synaptic Transmission

n     Synthesis and storage of NTs

n     Release of NTs

n     Binding of NTs

n     Inactivation or Removal of NTs

n     Reuptake of NTs

How Do Neurotransmitters Affect Us?

n    Here are a few examples…

n    Acetylcholine –

n    Monoamines –

¨ Dopamine (DA) –

n 
 

¨ Serotonin –

¨ Norepinephrine –

n    Endorphins –

Neurotransmitters and Disease

 

¨ L-dopa:  increases dopamine levels in the brain, treatment for PD

n  When a person with PD starts taking L-dopa, sometimes experience symptoms that mimic schizophrenia

¨ Depression in patients with PD may be due to lower levels of serotonin.

Forebrain

n   Thalamus: 

n   Hypothalamus:

n   Limbic system: involved in emotionality

n   Cerebrum:  Complex thought

Cerebrum

n    Cerebral Cortex

¨  Consists of left and right hemispheres

¨  Cortex is divided into lobes

n   Frontal:  Self-awareness, planning, voluntary movement, emotional control, speech, working memory

n   Parietal:

n   Occipital:

n   Temporal:  Hearing,

n    Corpus callosum: band of axons that interconnects the hemispheres

Major Divisions Divisions

Motor and Somatosensory Cortex

Which side of the brain controls movements on the left side of the body?

Summary of Hemispheric Specializations

n   Left hemisphere – verbal processing:

n   Right hemisphere – nonverbal processing:
 

Demonstration

Visual Neglect:

Split-Brain Research

n   

Split-Brain Research

If you had to choose, which part of the brain would you have removed?

Sex Differences

Tasks favoring each sex

        ♂                                             ♀

The Peripheral Nervous System

Peripheral Nervous System

n   The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) includes all nerves outside the brain and spinal cord

¨ Somatic NS

¨ Autonomic NS

n  Sympathetic: 

n  Parasympathetic: 

The Autonomic Nervous System

Reminder

n   Exam 1 is on Wednesday

n   Please bring scantron (#882) and #2 pencil

n   Exam will cover material reviewed in class and in chapters 1, 2, & 3.

Exam

n    Chapter 1: You will be responsible for the following:

¨  Seven Key Themes (pp. 16-19)

¨  Improving Academic Performance (pp. 20-23)

n    Chapter 2: You will be responsible for the entire chapter

n    Chapter 3: You will be responsible for the material EXCEPT for the following:

¨  The Endocrine System (pp. 76)

¨  The Evolutionary Bases of Behavior (pp. 80-82)