CHA PTER TWO

biology and
psychology

nervous system
-CAPABLE OF RECEIVING AND PROCESSING
INFORMATION, MAKING DECISIONS, AND
RELAYING THE REQUIRED COMMAND FOR A
CTION
- ALLOWS ORGANISMS TO SENSE, ORGANIZE,
AND REACT TO INFORMATION IN THE
ENVIRONMENT

glial cells
-PROVIDE SCAFFOLDIN G ON WHICH THE
NERVOUS SYSTEM IS BUILT , HELP NEURONS
LINE UPCLOSE LY WITH EACH OTHER TO ALLOW
NEURONAL COMMUNICATION, PROVIDE
INSULATION TO NEURONS, TRANSPORT
NUTRIENTS AND WASTE PRODUCTS, AND
MEDIATE IMMUNE RESPONSES

neurons
-SERVE AS INTERCONNECTED INFORMATION
PROCESSORS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR ALL OF
THE TASKS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM.

process of transmitting information

Receptor neurons receive stimulus or sense information

from the environment through the sense organ

2. Interneurons or internuncial relay the stimulus or

sense information received by the receptor neurons from
one neuron to another. They conduct messages from one
part of the nervous system to another.

3. Motor neurons send out the direction(s) ordered by the

brain as signaled by the corresponding stimulus.
Consequently, these neurons produce body movements or
responses accordingly.
Parts of a neuron

DENDRITES
-are networks of short fibers or filaments
branching out from the cell body or converging
to the cell body which accepts the stimulus
signaled by the neurons

CELL BODY
-contains the nucleus to provide the energy for transmitting
stimulus received from the dendrites
to the axon, and then to another neuron

AXON
-a long single fiber that carries away the stimulus
signaled by the cell body to another neuron

MYELIN SHEATH
-covers and protects the axons and is responsible for
the rate of transmission of signaled stimulus

NODES
-interruption on the myelin sheath that control the speed of
transmission of information or stimulus on the neurons
-also serve as break on the momentum of speed

SYNAPSE
-a very small space between two neurons and is an
important site where communication between neurons
occurs.

RECEPTORS
-proteins on the cell surface where neurotransmitters
attach, vary in shape, with different shapes “matching”
different neurotransmitters.

NEUROTRANSMITTER
-are chemical substances released by one neuron
through the synapse and affecting another
neuron
-generated excitatory current when the neuron’s
charge increase upon connection through
synapse and inhibitory current for decreasing
charge
-responsible for sensation, perception, cognitive
and motor behavior
ACETYLCHOLINE
Primary Function: Muscle control, memory
formation,
sensory response. Excitatory.
Locations: Neuromuscular junctions, CNS
Receptors: Nicotinic muscarinic
Definition: One of the most common very well
studied. A major player in memory. Imbalances
cause twitching or paralysis.

SEROTONIN
Primary Function: Intestinal movement
control, mood
regulation, appetite, sleep, muscle control
Locations: Gut, CNS
Receptors: 5-HT
Definition: Most antidepressants mimic the
effect of serotonin. Most narcotics affect its
release or reuptake.

DOPAMINE
Primary Function: Reward pathways,
cognition, voluntary motion
Locations: Hypothalamus
Receptors: D1, D2, D3, D4, D5
Definition: Imbalances cause Parkinsons.
Cocaine and opiates have a significant effect on
its release

NOREPINEPHRINE
Primary Function: Fight or Flight response
(increased heart rate, increased glucose in
bloodstream, increased oxygen to brain and
muscles)
Locations: Adrenal medulla
Receptors: Andrenergic
Definition: Produced from Dopamine in the
adrenal glands (on kidneys)

L-DOPA
Primary Function: Precursor to dopamine
Locations: Hypothalamus
Receptors: N/A
Definition: Able to cross the blood-brain
barrier making it an excellent pharmaceutical
for treatment of Parkinsons or depression

TRYPTOPHAN
Primary Function: Precursor to Serotonin
Locations: Blood
Receptors: N/A
Definition: Essential amino acid

GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric
Acid)
Primary Function: Inhibits CNS
Locations: Brain
Receptors: GABA-A, GABA-B
Definition: Mediates muscle tone, Receptors
susceptible to alcohol which creates CNS
depression

GLYCINE
Primary Function: Inhibits signals
Locations: Spinal cord, Brainstem
Receptors: NMDA
Definition: Amino acid

TYRAMINE
Primary Function: Blood Pressure regulation
Locations: CNS, Kidney
Receptors: TA1
Definition: Amino acid, minor neurotransmitter
that is
largely not understood

GLUTAMATE
Primary Function: Long-term
potentiation, memory
Locations: CNS, PNS
Receptors: NMDA, others
Definition: Most common
___________________________
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nervous system

central nervous system

Comprised of the brain and the spinal chord

peripheral nervous system

-CONNECTS THE CNS TO THE REST OF
THEBOD Y

central nervous system

THE MAIN FUNCTION : THE
INTEGRATION AND PROCESSING OF
SENSORY INFORMATION
-
SYNTHESIZES SENSORY IN PUT TO
COMPUTE AN APPROPRIATE MOTOR
RESPONSE, OR OUTPUT

SPINAL CORD

-not only routes messages to and from the

brain, but it also has its own system of
automatic processes, called reflexes
-functionally organized in 30 segments,
corresponding with the vertebrae

BRAIN
the body’s main control center.
-made up of three main sections: the forebrain,
the midbrain, and the hindbrain.
CEREBRUM
-contains the information that essentially makes
us who we are: our intelligence, memory,
personality, emotion, speech, and ability to feel
and move.

CORPUS COLLOSUM
-that enables the two sides (right and left
halves, called hemisperes) to communicate

FOREBRAIN
is the largest and most complex part of the
brain and is responsible for cognition,
motivation and action

THALAMUS
carries messages from the sensory organs like
the eyes, ears, nose, and fingers to the cortex

HYPOTHALAMUS
-controls body temperature, thirst, appetite,
sleep patterns, and other processes in our
bodies that happen automatically

MIDBRAIN FRONTAL LOBE

-located underneath the middle of the forebrain, -control movement of voluntary
acts as a master coordinator for all the skeletal muscles
messages going in and out of the brain to the -responsible for elaboration of
spinal cord. conscious thought

CEREBELLUM
-also called the “little brain” because it looks
like a small version of the cerebrum; is
responsible for balance, movement, and
coordination.

BRAIN STEM
-the pons and the medulla, along with the
midbrain; takes in, sends out, and coordinates
all of the brain’s messages; also controls many
of the body’s automatic functions, like
breathing, heart rate, blood pressure,
swallowing, digestion, and blinking

PARIETAL LOBE
HINDBRAIN -responsible for the sensations of temperature,
-sits underneath the back end of the cerebrum, touch, pressure and pain from skin
and it consists of the cerebellum, pons, and
medulla
TEMPORAL LOBE
-responsible for hearing and smelling
peripheral nervous system
-MADE UP OF THICK BUNDLES OF AXONS,
CALLED NERVES, CARRYING MESSAGES BACK
AND FORTH BETWEEN THE CNS AND THE
MUSCLES, ORGANS, AND SENSES IN THE
PERIPHERY OF THE BODY

SOMATIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

-associated with activities traditionally thought
OCCIPITAL LOBE of as conscious or voluntary; involved in the
responsible for visual relay of sensory and motor information to and
from the CNS; therefore, it consists of motor
neurons and sensory neurons

AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

-controls our internal organs and glands and is
generally considered to be outside the realm
TEMPORAL LOBE of voluntary control
-responsible for hearing and swelling

autonomic nervous system

-CAN BE FURTHER SUBDIVIDED INTO
THE SYMPATHETIC AND
PARASYMPATHETIC DIVISIONS:
sympathetic nervous system
PARATHYROID
involved in preparing the body for stress-related activities
parasympathetic nervous system -its hormone (parathormone) regulates the
utilization of calcium and phosphorus in the
associated with returning the body to routine, day-to-day
blood level of the body; stimulates bone
operations resorption
Endocrine System
GONADS
CONSISTS OF A SERIES OF GLANDS THAT PRODUCE CHEMICAL
SUBSTANCES KNOWN AS HORMONES. -secrete sexual hormones, which are important in
reproduction, and mediate both sexual motivation
and behavior

PITUITARY GLAND

-often referred to as the “master gland” because its messenger

hormones control all the other glands in the endocrine system,
although it mostly carries out instructions from the
PANCREA
hypothalamus
PANCREAS
-an internal organ that secretes hormones that regulate blood sugar levels:
I insulin and glucagon.

PLACENTA

-formed during pregnancy and is important in the m

aintenance of pregnancy
THYROID GLAND
PINEAL
-releases hormones (thyroxine) that regulate growth,
-its hormone (melatonin) helps the pituitary gland in
metabolism, and appetite regulating its function

ADRENAL GLANDS
-sit atop our kidneys and secrete hormones involved in the stress response, such
as epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline)