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biological psychology
the study of how the brain effects behavior
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neuron-
individual *nerve cells that form the basic structure of the nervous system*
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3 types of neurons
- sensory neurons (senses)
- motor neurons (movement)
- inter neurons (they connect everything)
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Parts of a Neuron
- cell body- support center of the neuron
- dendrites- reciving portion of neuron
- axon- sending portion of the neuron
- myelin sheath- fatty covering of axon that insulate the neuron signal; speeds up messages through neurons
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synapse-
a junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron
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what is the nervous system?
what are the 2 main parts of the nervous system?
- nervous system- the body's speedy electrochemical communication network
- central nervous system- (CNS) brain spinal cord
- peripheral nervous system- (PNS) everything else; the sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body
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the endocrine system
- body's slow chemical communication system. communication is carred out by hormones synthesized by a set of glands
- hormones*- the chemicals secreted by the endocrine glands that produce physical or psychological changes
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the forebrain
- cerebrum- (forebrain) forward part of the brain, highly developed, controls intellectual abilities
- cerebral cortex- the largest component of the forebrain, responsile for higher brain function like ability to think, talk, reason; 4 lobes
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4 lobes of cerebral cortex *
- frontal lobe- responsible for motor function, language, memory. helps with descision making
- parietal lobe- integrates vision, touch and motor information. helps with perception of space
- temporal lobe- hearing, langauge and comprehension, some memories
- occipital lobe- vision
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brainstem
- thalamus- brains sensory switchboard. processes sensory information, sensory gateway to the cerebral cortex
- medulla- reflexes, and vital fuctions like swallowing, heartbeat, breathing
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the brain and emotion
- limbic system- emotional center of the brain. deals with fear, agression, arousal, etc also smell, motivation, and memory
- amygdala- linked to emotions of fear and anger
- hippocampus**- a portion of the brain that plays a role in spatial memory and fear conditioning. if damaged, problems forming new memories
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hemispheres
- left hemisphere controls right side of the body
- governs ability to use language, speech comprehension, reading, writing, math, facial expressions and motion detection
- right hemisphere controls left side of body
- simple speech, simple writing, tone of voice, perceptual gouping, face perception
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