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Why are the psychologists concerned with the brain?
Your every idea, mood, urge is a biological happening.
Although it is convenient to talk separately of biological and psychological influences on behavior, we need to remember: To think, feel, or act without a body would be like running without legs.
Biological Psychologists--study the links between our biology and behavior
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What is a Brain?
- An organ specialized to help individual organisms carry out acts of living
- --Made up of neurons (nerve cells) and
- --Neuroglia or glia (cells between nerve cells)
- --It is part of the Central Nervous System (CNS)
- --Connects with the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
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Parts of the Neuron
- Neuron-- a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system
- Cell Body (or soma)
- Dendrites receive information and conduct it toward the cell body (listen)
- Axon sends info from cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands (speaks)
- Myelin Sheath-- covers axon of some neurons, providing insulation and improving efficiency of signal transmission
- Terminal Branches-- branching tips of axon, form synaptic connections with other cells
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How does this signal Works
Action Potential-- a brief electrical charge that travles down its axon, stimulating release of neurotransmitters from vesicles in the terminal buttons
- Depending on the type of fiber, a neural impulse travels at speeds ranging from 2 mph to 180 mph.
- Your reaction to a child darting in front of your car may take a quarter-second or more
- Neurotransmitters cross the synapse and bind to receptors sites on the dendrites of next neuron
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Neurotransmitter Action
When neurotransmitters bind, they open ion channels which allow ion to cross the membrane, creating a new action potential
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