BIOLOGICAL BASIS

OF BEHAVIOR
Biological Psychology Neuron
is the fundamental unit which makes up a
Biological psychology, also called physiological psychology, is nerve pathway, neural firing (neurotransmitter
the study of the biology of behavior; it focuses on the nervous release) takes place at the level of the neuron,
system, hormones and genetics. Biological psychology and many aspects of the physiology-behavior
examines the relationship between mind and body, neural relationship
mechanisms, and the influence of heredity on
behavior.(McLeod, 2015)
Glial Cells
support the neurons in many ways such as by
insulating them, synchronizing activity among
Nervous System neighboring neurons, and removing waste
is the basis for our ability products.
to perceive, adapt to, and
interact with the world
around us (Gazzaniga,
1995, 2000; Gazzaniga,
Ivry, & Mangun, 1998).
Transduction the process of converting the physical/chemical energy to
electrochemical messages

Nerve Impulse refers to the series of separate action potentials that

take place segment by segment as they move down the
length of an axon.

if an action potential starts at the beginning of an axon,

All or none law the action potential will continue at the same speed,
segment by segment, to the very end of the axon.

is a tiny electric current that is generated when the

Action Potential positive sodium ions rush inside the axon. The
enormous increase of sodium ions inside the axon
causes the inside of the axon to reverse its charge. The
inside becomes positive, while the outside becomes
negative which called DEPOLARIZATION
REFLEX
is an unlearned, involuntary
reaction to some stimulus. The
neural connections or network
1. Sensors
underlying a reflex is prewired by These are specialized sensory receptors found in
genetic instructions. senses organs

2. Afferent Neurons
Afferent (AFF-er-ent), or sensory, neurons carry
information from the senses to the spinal cord.

3. Interneurons
An interneuron is a relatively short neuron whose
primary task is making connections between other
neurons

4. Efferent Neurons
Efferent (EFF-er-ent), or motor, neurons carry
information away from the spinal cord to produce
responses in various muscles and organs throughout
the body.
THE DIVISION OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
The central nervous system is made up of the
brain and spinal cord. From the bottom of the
brain emerges the spinal cord, which is made up
of neurons and bundles of axons and dendrites
that carry information back and forth between
the brain and the body.
The somatic nervous system consists of a
network of nerves that connect either to
sensory receptors or to muscles that you can
move voluntarily, such as muscles in your limbs,
back, neck, and chest.
The sympathetic division, which is triggered by
threatening or challenging physical or
psychological stimuli, increases physiological
arousal and prepares the body for action
The peripheral nervous system includes all the
nerves that extend from the spinal cord and
carry messages to and from various muscles,
glands, and sense organs located throughout the
body.
The autonomic nervous system regulates heart
rate, breathing, blood pressure, digestion,
hormone secretion, and other functions. The
autonomic nervous system usually functions
without conscious effort, which means that only
a few of its responses, such as breathing, can
also be controlled voluntarily.
The parasympathetic division returns the body
to a calmer, relaxed state and is involved in
digestion.
ORGANIZATION OF THE

BRAIN
BRAIN REGION FOREBRAIN
The forebrain, which is the largest part of
MIDBRAIN the brain, has right and left sides that are
called hemispheres. The hemispheres,
The midbrain has a reward or connected by a wide band of fibers, are
pleasure center, which is responsible for an incredible number of
stimulated by food, sex, functions, including learning and memory,
money, music, attractive speaking and language, having emotional
faces; has areas for visual responses, experiencing sensations,
and auditory reflexes, such as initiating voluntary movements, planning,
automatically turning your and making decisions.
head toward a noise; and
contains the reticular HINDBRAIN
formation, which arouses the
forebrain so that it is ready to The cerebellum, which is located at the very
process information from the back and underneath the brain, is involved
senses (Holroyd & Coles, in coordinating motor movements but not in
2002). initiating voluntary movements

The medulla, which is located at the top of the spinal

The pons functions as a bridge to transmit cord, includes a group of cells that control vital
messages between the spinal cord and brain. reflexes, such as respiration, heart rate, and blood
The pons also makes the chemicals involved in pressure.
sleep (Monti et al., 2008).
The frontal lobe, which is located in the
front part of the brain, includes a huge area
of cortex. The frontal lobe is involved in many
functions: performing voluntary motor
movements, interpreting and performing
emotional behaviors, behaving normally in
social situations, maintaining a healthy
personality, paying attention to things in the
environment, making decisions, and
executing plans.

The motor cortex is a narrow strip

of cortex that is located on the back edge
of the frontal lobe and extends down its
side. The motor cortex is involved in the
initiation of all voluntary movements. The
right motor cortex controls muscles on the
left side of the body, and vice versa.
A frontal lobotomy was a surgical procedure in
which about one-third of the front part of the
frontal lobe (figure below) was cut away from
the rest of the brain.
The parietal lobe is located directly
behind the frontal lobe. The parietal lobe’s
functions include processing sensory
information from body parts, which includes
touching, locating positions of limbs, and
feeling temperature and pain, and carrying
out several cognitive functions, such as
attending to and perceiving objects.

The somatosensory cortex is a

narrow strip of cortex that is located on the
front edge of the parietal lobe and extends
down its side. The somatosensory cortex
processes sensory information about touch,
location of limbs, pain, and temperature.
The right somatosensory cortex receives
information from the left side of the body,
and vice versa.
The temporal lobe is located directly below the parietal lobe and is involved in
hearing, speaking coherently, and understanding verbal and written material.

The primary auditory cortex (shown in red), which

is located on the top edge of each temporal lobe, receives
electrical signals from receptors in the ears and transforms
these signals into meaningless sound sensations, such as
vowels and consonants.

The auditory association area (shown in blue),

which is located directly below the primary auditory
cortex, transforms basic sensory information, such as
noises or sounds, into recognizable auditory information,
such as words or music.
Broca’s area, which is
usually located in the left
frontal lobe, is necessary for
combining sounds into
words and arranging words
into meaningful sentences.
Damage to this area results
in Broca’s aphasia (ah-
PHASE-zz-ah), which means
a person cannot speak in
fluent sentences but can
understand written and
spoken words.
Wernicke’s area, which is usually
located in the left temporal lobe, is
necessary for speaking in coherent
sentences and for understanding
speech.
Damage to this area results in
Wernicke’s aphasia, which is a
difficulty in understanding spoken or
written words and in putting words into
meaningful sentences
 The occipital lobe is located at the very back of the brain
and is involved in processing visual information, which includes
seeing colors and perceiving and recognizing objects, animals,
and people.

The primary visual cortex, which is located at the very

back of the occipital lobe, receives electrical signals from
receptors in the eyes and transforms these signals into
meaningless basic visual sensations, such as lights, lines,
shadows, colors, and textures.

The visual association area, which is located next to the primary

visual cortex, transforms basic sensations, such as lights, lines, colors,
and textures, into complete, meaningful visual perceptions, such as
persons, objects, or animals.
 LIMBIC SYSTEM
The
hypothalamus
regulates many
motivational behaviors,
including eating,
drinking, and sexual The thalamus is involved in
responses; emotional receiving sensory information,
behaviors, such as doing some initial processing, and
arousing the body when then relaying the sensory
fighting or fleeing; and information to areas of the cortex,
the secretion of including the somatosensory cortex,
hormones, such as primary auditory cortex, and
occurs at puberty primary visual cortex.

The amygdala (ah-MIG-duh-la), located in the tip

of the temporal lobe, receives input from all the
senses. It plays a major role in evaluating the emotional
significance of stimuli and facial expressions, especially
those involving fear, distress, or threat
The hippocampus, which is a curved
structure inside the temporal lobe, is involved in
saving many kinds of fleeting memories by putting
them into permanent storage in various parts of the
brain.

The pituitary gland, a key component of
the endocrine system, hangs directly below
the hypothalamus, to which it is connected
by a narrow stalk. The pituitary gland is
divided into anterior (front) and posterior
(back) sections
Posterior pituitary. The rear portion
of the pituitary regulates water and salt
balance.
Anterior pituitary. The front part of the
pituitary regulates growth through secretion
of growth hormone and produces hormones
that control the adrenal cortex, pancreas,
thyroid, and gonads
Pancreas. This organ regulates the level
of sugar in the bloodstream by secreting
insulin.
Thyroid. This gland, which is located in the neck,
regulates metabolism through the secretion of
hormones.
Adrenal glands. The adrenal cortex (outside
part) secretes hormones that regulate sugar
and salt balances and help the body resist
stress; they are also responsible for growth of
pubic hair, a secondary sexual characteristic.
The adrenal medulla (inside part) secretes two
hormones that arouse the body to deal with
stress and emergencies: epinephrine
(adrenaline) and norepinephrine
(noradrenaline).
Gonads. In females, the ovaries produce
hormones that regulate sexual development,
ovulation, and growth of sex organs. In
males, the testes produce hormones that
regulate sexual development, production of
sperm, and growth of sex organs.