PHYSIOLOGICAL
Concerned with interpreting
PSYCHOLOGY
I. Central Nervous System (CNS)
Central Nervous System (CNS) - controls
most functions of the body and mind
 Brain - is the center of our thoughts,
the interpreter of our external
environment, and the origin of
control over body movement
Brain three main parts:
 Cerebrum
 Cerebellum
 Brain stem
Cerebrum - the large, outer part of the
brain, controls reading, thinking, learning,
speech, emotions and planned muscle
movements like walking. It also controls
vision, hearing and other senses
Cerebellum - in the back of the brain,
controls balance, coordination and fine
muscle control (e.g., walking). It also
functions to maintain posture and
equilibrium.
Brain Stem - at the bottom of the brain,
connects the cerebrum with the spinal cord.
It includes the midbrain, the pons, and
the medulla. It controls fundamental body
functions such as breathing, eye movements,
blood pressure, heartbeat, and swallowing
Occipital - found in the back of the brain.
Ability to recognize objects. It is responsible
for our vision.
Temporal lobe - found on either side of the
brain and just above the ears. Responsible
for hearing, memory, meaning, and
language. They also play a role in emotion
and learning.
and processing auditory stimuli.
Parietal lobe - parietal lobes are found
behind the frontal lobes, above the temporal
lobes, and at the top back of the brain. They
are connected with the processing of nerve
impulses related to the senses, such as touch,
pain, taste, pressure, and temperature. They
also have language functions.
Frontal lobe - It is concerned with
emotions, reasoning, planning, movement,
and parts of speech. It is also involved in
purposeful acts such as creativity, judgment,
and problem solving, and planning.
Cerebral cortex - cerebral cortex controls
your thinking, voluntary movements,
language, reasoning, and perception. In
higher mammals the cortex looks like it has
lots of wrinkles, grooves and bumps.
Cerebellum - controls your movement,
balance, posture, and coordination. New
research has also linked it to thinking,
novelty, and emotions.
Limbic System - often referred to as the
“emotional brain” is found within the
cerebellum.
Hypothalamus – controls your body
temperature, emotions, hunger, thirst,
appetite, digestion and sleep. Is located at
the base of the brain. It is only the size of a
pea
Thalamus – controls your sensory
integration and motor integration. Receives
sensory information and relays it to the
cerebral cortex
Pituitary gland - controls your hormones
and it helps to turn food to energy. Without
this gland you could eat but you wouldn't
get any energy from the food.
Pineal gland - controls your growing and
maturing
Amygdala - control your emotions such as
regulating when you're happy or mad
Hippocampus -Forms and stores your
memories and is involved in learning. If you
didn't have it, you wouldn't be able to
remember anything.
Mid – brain – controls your breathing,
reflexes, and your swallowing reflexes.
Includes the Thalamus, Hippocampus, and
Amygdala.
Medulla Oblongata - Is the structure the
caudal-most part of the brain stem, between
the pons and spinal cord. It is responsible for
maintaining vital body functions, such as
breathing, digestion and heartbeat
 Spinal Cord - A column of nerve
tissue that runs from the base of the
skull down the center of the back.
Spinal cord is about 18 inches long
(45 centimeters). There are 31 pairs
of spinal nerves and roots.
 8 cervical nerves
 12 thoracic nerves
 5 lumbar nerves
 5 sacral nerves
 1 coccygeal nerve
 Neurons - are the building blocks of
the CNS, --are the body’s
information superhighway
Efferent neurons - are motor neurons that
carry signals from the brain to the peripheral
nervous system.
Afferent neurons - are sensory neurons that
bring information from the senses to the
brain. Interneurons - are association
neurons that connect efferent and afferent
neurons to the CNS.
 Cell body or Soma – this
contains the nucleus, the
neuron’s intracellular
organelles
 Dendrites – these originate
from the soma and extend
outwards. They transmit
signals they receive from
other neurons to the soma.
 Axon – It arises from the
soma from an area called the
axon hillock, where action
potentials are initiated.
 Schwann cells – These
insulate the axon which aids
with rapid transmission of
action potentials through the
axon.
 Axon terminal – Distally the
axon branches to form axon
terminals. These make
synaptic connection with
other neurons.
Cells
Astrocytes - are star-shaped glial cells
within the brain and spinal cord, depending
on the method used they make up between
20 and 40% of all glial cells.
Oligodendrocytes - These cells are
responsible for insulating the axons in the
central nervous system.
II. Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) 
- is the division of the nervous
system containing all the nerves that lie
outside of the central nervous system (CNS)
- primary role of the PNS is to connect the
CNS to the organs, limbs, and skin.
- allows the brain and spinal cord to receive
and send information to other areas of the
body, which allows us to react to stimuli in
our environment
Two Parts of PNS
Somatic Nervous System - is the part of the
peripheral nervous system responsible for
carrying sensory and motor information to
and from the central nervous system
Autonomic Nervous System - is the part of
the peripheral nervous system that's
responsible for regulating involuntary body
functions, such as blood flow, heartbeat,
digestion, and breathing
Two Branch of Autonomic System
Parasympathetic Nervous System - This
helps maintain normal body functions and
conserve physical resources.
Sympathetic Nervous System - by
regulating the flight-or-fight response, the
sympathetic system prepares the body to
expend energy to respond to environmental
threats.
Synaptic Transmission
- process by which this information is
communicated
- process by which one neuron
communicates with another
Sensory
 Sight
 Hearing
 Smell
 Taste
 Touch
SLEEP MECHANISM
Two internal biological mechanisms –
circadian rhythm and homeostasis–work
together to regulate when you are awake and
sleep.  
Circadian Rhythms direct a wide variety of
functions from daily fluctuations in
wakefulness to body temperature,
metabolism, and the release of hormones. 
They control your timing of sleep and cause
you to be sleepy at night and your tendency
to wake in the morning without an alarm.
Sleep-wake homeostasis keeps track of
your need for sleep.  The homeostatic sleep
drive reminds the body to sleep after a
certain time and regulates sleep intensity. 
This sleep drive gets stronger every hour
you are awake and causes you to sleep
longer and more deeply after a period of
sleep deprivation
Sleep
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN) – receive
information about light exposure
Hypothalamus - a peanut-sized structure
deep inside the brain, control centers
affecting sleep and arousal
Brain Stem - at the base of the brain,
communicates with the hypothalamus to
control the transitions between wake and
sleep. 
Thalamus - acts as a relay for information
from the senses to the cerebral cortex 
Pineal Gland - located within the brain’s
two hemispheres, receives signals from the
SCN and increases production of the
hormone melatonin
Basal Forebrain - near the front and bottom
of the brain, also promotes sleep and
wakefulness
Amygdala - an almond-shaped structure
involved in processing emotions

Sleep Deprivation - is caused by consistent

lack of sleep or reduced quality of sleep
Sleep Disorders
Insomnia - difficulty getting to sleep or
staying asleep
Sleep Apnea - airway repeatedly becomes
blocked
Narcolepsy - suddenly fall asleep
Restless Legs Syndrome - uncontrollable
urge or desire to maneuver your legs
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder - act out
your dreams while you sleep

Neural Development
Stages of Neuro Development
Stage 1: Neurogenesis – undergo mitosis to
produce either stem cells, or neuroblasts
Stage 2: Cell Migration – move great
distances to establish distinct cell
populations
Stage 3: Differentiation – determined what
type of nerve cell
Stage 4: Outgrowth – axons and dendrites
begin to form