Journey 2

Psychology: A Modular Approach to Mind and Behavior, Tenth Edition, Dennis Coon
Chapter 2
Chapter 2: Brain and Behavior

Chapter 2
Neuron and Its Parts
• Neuron: Individual nerve cell; 100 billion in

brain
– Dendrites: Receive messages from other
neurons
– Soma: Cell body; body of the neuron
– Axon: Carries information away from the
cell body
– Axon Terminals: Branches that link the
dendrites and soma of other neurons
Chapter 2
Figure 2.1
Chapter 2
Main Parts of the Neuron

Chapter 2
Figure 2.2
Chapter 2
The Nerve Impulse
• Resting Potential: Electrical charge of an

inactive neuron
• Threshold: Trigger point for a neuron’s firing
• Action Potential: Nerve impulse
Chapter 2
More on Nerves
• Ion Channels: Tiny holes through the axon

membrane
• Negative After-Potential: When a neuron is
less willing to fire
• Synapse: Microscopic space between two
neurons over which messages pass
Chapter 2
Figure 2.3
Chapter 2
Figure 2.4
Chapter 2
Neuron and Neural Impulse
Windows Mac OS 8-9 Mac OS X

Chapter 2
Neurotransmitters
• Chemicals that alter activity in neurons; brain

chemicals
– Acetylcholine: Activates muscles
– Dopamine: Muscle control
– Serotonin: Mood and appetite control
• Receptor Site: Areas on the surface of
neurons and other cells that are sensitive to
neurotransmitters or hormones
Chapter 2
Normal Synaptic Transmission of Dopamine

Chapter 2
Synaptic Transmission
Windows Mac OS 8-9 Mac OS X

Chapter 2
Figure 2.6
Chapter 2
Neural Regulators
• Neuropeptides: Brain chemicals that regulate

activity of other neurons
– Enkephalins: Relieve pain and stress;
similar to endorphins
– Endorphins: Released by pituitary gland;
also help to relieve pain
• Placebos raise endorphin levels
Chapter 2
Interaction of Endorphins & Opiates

Chapter 2
Nerves and Neurons
• Nerves: Large bundles of axons and

dendrites
• Myelin: Fatty layer of tissue that coats axons
– Multiple Sclerosis (MS) occurs when
myelin layer is destroyed; numbness,
weakness, and paralysis occur
Chapter 2
Nerves and Neurons (cont.)
• Neurilemma: Thin layer of cells wrapped

around axons outside brain and spinal cord;
forms a tunnel that damaged fibers can follow
as they repair themselves
• Neurogenesis: Production of new brain cells;
brain loses thousands of cells each day and
grows new neurons at same time to replace
them
Chapter 2
Neural Networks
• Central Nervous System (CNS): Brain and

spinal cord
• Peripheral Nervous System: All parts of the
nervous system outside of the brain and
spinal cord
Chapter 2
Two Divisions of the Peripheral Nervous

System
• Somatic System: Links spinal cord with body
and sense organs; controls voluntary
behavior
• Autonomic System: Serves internal organs
and glands; controls automatic functions such
as heart rate and blood pressure
Chapter 2
Two Divisions of the Autonomic Nervous

System
• Sympathetic: Arouses body; emergency
system
• Parasympathetic: Quiets body; most active
after an emotional event
Chapter 2
Figure 2.7
Chapter 2
Figure 2.8
Chapter 2
Figure 2.9
Chapter 2
The Spinal Cord
• Spinal Nerves: 31 of them; carry sensory and

motor messages to and from the spinal cord
• Cranial Nerves: 12 pairs that leave the brain
directly without passing through the spinal
cord; also work to communicate messages
Chapter 2
The Spinal Cord and Behavior
• Reflex Arc: Simplest behavior in which a

stimulus provokes an automatic response
• Sensory Neuron: Nerve cell that carries
messages from the senses toward the CNS
• Motor Neuron: Cell that carries commands
from the CNS to the muscles and glands
• Effector Cells: Cells capable of producing a
response
Chapter 2
Researching the Brain
• Ablation: Surgical removal of tissue

• Deep Lesioning: A thin wire electrode is
lowered into a specific area inside the brain;
Electrical current is then used to destroy a
small amount of brain tissue
• Electrical Stimulation of the Brain (ESB):
When an electrode is used to activate target
areas in the brain
• Electroencephalograph (EEG): A device that
detects, amplifies, and records electrical
activity in the brain
Chapter 2
Figure 2.10
Chapter 2
Brain Imaging Techniques
• Computed Tomographic Scanning (CT):

Computer-enhanced X-ray of the brain or
body
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Uses a
strong magnetic field, not an X-ray, to
produce an image of the brain and body
Chapter 2
More Brain Imaging Techniques
• Functional MRI (fMRI): MRI that makes brain

activity visible
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET):
Computer-generated color image of brain
activity, based on glucose consumption in the
brain
Chapter 2
Figure 2.11
Chapter 2
Figure 2.16
Chapter 2
Cerebral Cortex
• Outer layer of the cerebrum

• Cerebrum: Two large hemispheres that cover
upper part of the brain
• Corticalization: Increase in size and wrinkling
of the cortex
• Cerebral Hemispheres: Right and left halves
of the cerebrum
• Spatial Neglect: Right hemisphere stroke
victims pay no attention to the left side of
visual space
Chapter 2
Split Brains
• Corpus Callosum: Bundle of fibers connecting

cerebral hemispheres
• In Split Brains, Corpus Callosum is cut; done
to control severe epilepsy (seizure disorder)
• Result: The person now has two brains in one
body
• This operation is rare and is often used as a
last resort
Chapter 2
Figure 2.21
Chapter 2
The Corpus Callosum

Chapter 2
Figure 2.18
Chapter 2
Right Brain/Left Brain
• Humans use 95 percent of our left brain for

language
Chapter 2
The Left Hemisphere
• Left hemisphere is better at math, judging

time and rhythm, and coordinating order of
complex movements
– Processes information sequentially
Chapter 2
The Right Hemisphere
• Right hemisphere is good at perceptual skills,

and at expressing and detecting other’s
emotions
– Processes information simultaneously
Chapter 2
Figure 2.20
Chapter 2
Figure 2.30
Chapter 2
Central Cortex Lobes
• Areas bordered by major grooves or fissures

or defined by their functions
• Occipital Lobe: Back of brain; vision center
• Parietal Lobe: Just above occipital; bodily
sensations such as touch, pain, and
temperature (somatosensory area)
Chapter 2
The Occipital Lobe

Chapter 2
The Parietal Lobe

Chapter 2
The Last Two Lobes
• Temporal Lobe: Each side of the brain;

auditory and language centers
• Frontal Lobe: Movement, sense of smell,
higher mental functions
– Contains motor cortex; controls motor
movement
Chapter 2
Figure 2.23
Chapter 2
The Temporal Lobe

Chapter 2
The Frontal Lobe

Chapter 2
Figure 2.24
Chapter 2
When the Brain Fails to Function Properly
• Association Cortex: All areas of the cerebral

cortex that are not primarily sensory or motor
in function
• Aphasia: Speech disturbance resulting from
brain damage
Chapter 2
Broca’s Area
• Language area related to grammar and

pronunciation
– If damaged, person knows what s/he wants
to say but can’t say the words
Chapter 2
Wernicke’s Area
• Wernicke’s Area: Related to language

comprehension; in left temporal lobe
– If damaged, person has problems with
meanings of words, NOT pronunciation
Chapter 2
Figure 2.28
Chapter 2
Subcortex
• All brain structures below cerebral cortex;

immediately below cerebral hemispheres
• Hindbrain (Brainstem)
• Medulla: Connects brain with the spinal cord
and controls vital life functions such as heart
rate and breathing
Chapter 2
More Subcortex Structures
• Pons (Bridge): Acts as a bridge between

brainstem and other structures; influences
sleep and arousal
• Cerebellum: Located at base of brain;
regulates posture, muscle tone, and muscular
coordination
Chapter 2
The Brainstem
Chapter 2
Subcortex: Reticular Formation (RF)
• Reticular Formation: Inside medulla and

brainstem
– Associated with alertness, attention, and
some reflexes (breathing, coughing,
sneezing, vomiting)
• Reticular Activating System (RAS): Part of RF
that activates cerebral cortex
– Its alarm clock
Chapter 2
Forebrain
• Structures are part of Limbic System: System

within forebrain closely linked to emotional
response and motivating behavior
• Thalamus: Relays sensory information on to
the cortex; switchboard
• Hypothalamus: Regulates emotional
behaviors and motives (e.g., sex, hunger,
rage, hormone release)
Chapter 2
More Forebrain Structures
• Amygdala: Associated with fear responses

• Hippocampus: Associated with storing
permanent memories; helps us navigate
through space
Chapter 2
The Limbic System

Chapter 2
Figure 2.27
Chapter 2
Figure 2.26
Chapter 2
Endocrine System
• Glands that pour chemicals (hormones)

directly into the bloodstream or lymph system
• Pituitary Gland: Regulates growth via growth
hormone
Chapter 2
Pituitary Problems
• Too little means person will be smaller than

average
– Hypopituitary Dwarfs: As adults, perfectly
proportioned but tiny
– Treatable by using growth hormone; will
add a few inches
– Treatment is long and expensive
Chapter 2
Endocrine System (cont.)
• Too much growth hormone leads to giantism

(excessive body growth)
• Acromegaly: Enlargement of arms, hands,
feet, and facial bones; due to too much
growth hormone released late in growth
period
– Andre the Giant
• Pituitary also governs functioning of thyroid,
adrenals, and gonads
Chapter 2
Figure 2.29
Chapter 2
The Pineal Gland
• Regulates body rhythms and sleep cycles

– Releases hormone melatonin, which
responds to daily variations in light
Chapter 2
The Thyroid Gland
• Thyroid: In neck; regulates metabolism

– Hyperthyroidism: Overactive thyroid;
person tends to be thin, tense, excitable,
nervous
– Hypothyroidism: Underactive thyroid;
person tends to be inactive, sleepy, slow,
obese
Chapter 2
The Adrenal Glands
• Adrenals: Arouse body, regulate salt balance,

adjust body to stress, regulate sexual
functioning; located on top of kidneys
– Releases epinephrine and norepinephrine
(also known as adrenaline and
noradrenalin)
Chapter 2
The Adrenal Glands (cont.)
• Adrenal Medulla: Source of epinephrine and

norepinephrine
• Adrenal Cortex: Produces hormones known
as corticoids
– Regulate salt balance
– Deficiency in some types will cause
powerful salt cravings in humans
Chapter 2
Adrenal Hormones
• Epinephrine arouses body; is associated with

fear
• Norepinephrine arouses body; is linked with
anger
Chapter 2
Adrenal Problems
• Oversecretion of adrenal sex hormones can

cause virilism: exaggerated male
characteristics (Bearded woman)
– May also cause premature puberty if
occurs early in life
Chapter 2
Figure 2.31
Chapter 2
Handedness
• Preference for right or left hand in most

activities
• Dominant Hemisphere: Term usually applied
to the side of the human brain that produces
language
• Lateralization: Specialization in abilities of
brain hemispheres

Journey 2

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Psychology: A Modular Approach to Mind and Behavior, Tenth Edition, Dennis Coon

Chapter 2: Brain and Behavior

Neuron and Its Parts

• Neuron: Individual nerve cell; 100 billion in

Main Parts of the Neuron

The Nerve Impulse

• Resting Potential: Electrical charge of an

• Ion Channels: Tiny holes through the axon

Neuron and Neural Impulse

Windows Mac OS 8-9 Mac OS X

• Chemicals that alter activity in neurons; brain

Normal Synaptic Transmission of Dopamine

Windows Mac OS 8-9 Mac OS X

• Neuropeptides: Brain chemicals that regulate

Interaction of Endorphins & Opiates

Nerves and Neurons

• Nerves: Large bundles of axons and

Nerves and Neurons (cont.)

• Neurilemma: Thin layer of cells wrapped

• Central Nervous System (CNS): Brain and

Two Divisions of the Peripheral Nervous

Two Divisions of the Autonomic Nervous

The Spinal Cord

• Spinal Nerves: 31 of them; carry sensory and

The Spinal Cord and Behavior

• Reflex Arc: Simplest behavior in which a

Researching the Brain

• Ablation: Surgical removal of tissue

Brain Imaging Techniques

• Computed Tomographic Scanning (CT):

More Brain Imaging Techniques

• Functional MRI (fMRI): MRI that makes brain

• Outer layer of the cerebrum

• Corpus Callosum: Bundle of fibers connecting

The Corpus Callosum

Right Brain/Left Brain

• Humans use 95 percent of our left brain for

The Left Hemisphere

• Left hemisphere is better at math, judging

The Right Hemisphere

• Right hemisphere is good at perceptual skills,

Central Cortex Lobes

• Areas bordered by major grooves or fissures

The Occipital Lobe

The Parietal Lobe

The Last Two Lobes

• Temporal Lobe: Each side of the brain;

The Temporal Lobe

The Frontal Lobe

When the Brain Fails to Function Properly

• Association Cortex: All areas of the cerebral

• Language area related to grammar and

• Wernicke’s Area: Related to language

• All brain structures below cerebral cortex;

More Subcortex Structures

• Pons (Bridge): Acts as a bridge between

Subcortex: Reticular Formation (RF)

• Reticular Formation: Inside medulla and

• Structures are part of Limbic System: System

More Forebrain Structures

• Amygdala: Associated with fear responses

The Limbic System

• Glands that pour chemicals (hormones)