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Chapter 3
Biopsychology and the
Foundations of Neuroscience
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ISBN: 0-131-73180-7
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
What is Biopsychology?
Biopsychology –
The specialty in psychology that studies
the interaction of biology, behavior, and
the environment
Neuroscience –
Interdisciplinary field that focuses on the
brain and its role in psychological
processes
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How Are Genes and
Behavior Linked?
Evolution has fundamentally
shaped psychological
processes because it favors
genetic variations that
produce adaptive behavior
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How Are Genes and
Behavior Linked?
Innate –
Inborn; present at birth; part of the
organism’s biological heritage
Evolution –
The gradual process of biological change
that occurs in a species as it adapts to its
environment
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Evolution and Natural Selection
Natural selection –
The driving force behind evolution, by
which the environment “selects” the fittest
organisms
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How Natural Selection Works
Environmental pressure
(changes in the environment)
Competition
(for resources)
Selection of fittest phenotype
(from among a variety of phenotypes)
Reproductive success
(genotype corresponding to fittest
phenotypes passed to next generation)
Frequency of that genotype increases
(in next generation)
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Genes and Inheritance
Genotype –
An organism’s genetic makeup
Phenotype –
An organism’s observable physical
characteristics
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Genes and Inheritance
Mutations –
Genetic variations, which occur
randomly, especially during the
recombination of chromosomes in sexual
reproduction
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Chromosomes, Genes, and DNA
DNA –
A long, complex molecule that encodes
genetic characteristics
Genes –
The functional units of a chromosome
Composed of nucleotides
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Chromosomes, Genes, and DNA
Chromosomes –
Tightly coiled threadlike structures along
which the genes are organized
Sex chromosomes –
The X and Y chromosomes that
determine our physical sex characteristics
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Genetic Explanations for
Psychological Processes
Genes influence our psychological
characteristics as well as our physical
traits
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How Does the Body
Communicate Internally?
The body’s two
communication systems, the
nervous system and the
endocrine system, both use
chemical messengers to
communicate with targets
throughout the body
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
The Neuron
Types of Neurons
Sensory neurons (carry messages from
sense receptors towards the CNS)
Motor neurons (carry messages from
CNS toward muscles and glands)
Interneurons (carry messages
between nerve cells)
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The Neural Impulse
Neural impulse –
Brief electric surge that carries the
neuron’s message
Ions –
Charged particles that are moved across
the cell membrane
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The Neural Impulse
Resting potential
Action potential
Synapse
Synaptic transmission
http://neuron video
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Start
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How the brain is studied.
1.Lesions
2.Brain damage
3.Stimulation
4.Recording
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MRI
PET
FMRIchanges
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The Cerebral Cortex
 Cerebral Cortex
 the intricate fabric of interconnected
neural cells that covers the cerebral
hemispheres
 the body’s ultimate control and
information processing center
 Aka “gray matter”
The Cerebral Cortex
 Frontal Lobes
 involved in speaking and muscle movements and in
making plans and judgments
 Parietal Lobes
 include the sensory cortex
 Occipital Lobes
 include the visual areas, which receive visual
information from the opposite visual field
 Temporal Lobes
 include the auditory areas
The Cerebral Cortex
Left/Right quiz
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Specialization of the
Cerebral Hemispheres
Left Hemisphere
Right Hemisphere
• Spontaneous
speaking and
writing
• Responses to
complex commands
• Word recognition
• Memory for words
and numbers
• Sequences of
movements
• Feelings of anxiety
• Positive emotion
• Music/art
• Responses to simple
commands
• Facial recognition
• Memory for shapes
and music
• Spatial interpretation
• Emotional
responsiveness
• Negative emotion
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The Cerebral Cortex
 Motor Cortex
 area at the rear of the frontal lobes that
controls voluntary movements
 Sensory Cortex
 area at the front of the parietal lobes that
registers and processes body sensations
The Cerebral Cortex
The Cerebral Cortex
 Functional MRI
scan shows the
visual cortex
activated as the
subject looks at
faces
Visual and Auditory Cortex
Specialization and
Integration
Specialization and
Integration
 Brain activity when hearing, seeing, and speaking
words
Manipulation of
Neurotransmitters allow for
control of pain and
pleasure.
animation
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Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters –
Chemical messengers that relay neural
messages across the synapse
ANIMATION
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Puzzles o’ the day
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Seven Important Neurotransmitters
Dopamine
Serotonin
Norepinephrine
Acetylcholine
GABA
Glutamine
Endorphins
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Neurotransmitters
Dopamine
Serotonin
Norepinephrine
Normal Function:
Produces sensations of
pleasure and reward; used
by CNS neurons in
voluntary movement
Problems with Imbalance:
Acetylcholine
GABA
Glutamine
Endorphins
Schizophrenia, Parkinson’s
disease
Substances that Affect:
Cocaine, amphetamines,
Ritalin, alcohol
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Neurotransmitters
Dopamine
Serotonin
Normal Function:
Regulates sleep and
dreaming, mood, pain,
aggression, appetite and
sexual behavior
Norepinephrine
Problems with Imbalance:
Acetylcholine
GABA
Depression, certain anxiety
disorders, obsessivecompulsive disorder
Glutamine
Substances that Affect:
Endorphins
Prozac, hallucinogenics
(e.g. LSD)
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Neurotransmitters
Dopamine
Serotonin
Norepinephrine
Normal Function:
Controls heart rate, sleep,
sexual responsiveness,
stress, vigilance and
appetite
Problems with Imbalance:
Acetylcholine
GABA
Glutamine
Endorphins
High blood pressure,
depression
Substances that Affect:
Tricyclic antidepressants,
beta blockers
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Neurotransmitters
Dopamine
Serotonin
Norepinephrine
Acetylcholine
Normal Function:
Primary transmitter used by
neurons carrying messages
from CNS; involved in
some kinds of learning and
memory
Problems with Imbalance:
GABA
Certain muscular disorders,
Alzheimer’s disease
Glutamine
Substances that Affect:
Endorphins
Nicotine, botulism toxin,
curare, atropine
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Neurotransmitters
Dopamine
Serotonin
Norepinephrine
Normal Function:
Most prevalent inhibitory
neurotransmitter in neurons
of CNS
Problems with Imbalance:
Acetylcholine
Anxiety, epilepsy
GABA
Substances that Affect:
Glutamine
Endorphins
Barbiturates, tranquilizers
(e.g. Valium, Librium),
alcohol
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Neurotransmitters
Dopamine
Normal Function:
Norepinephrine
Primary excitatory
neurotransmitter in CNS;
involved in learning and
memory
Acetylcholine
Problems with Imbalance:
Serotonin
GABA
Glutamine
Brain damage after stroke
Substances that Affect:
PCP (“angel dust”)
Endorphins
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Neurotransmitters
Dopamine
Normal Function:
Serotonin
Pleasurable sensations and
control of pain
Norepinephrine
Problems with Imbalance:
Acetylcholine
Lowered levels resulting
from opiate addiction
GABA
Glutamine
Endorphins
Substances that Affect:
Opiates: opium, heroin,
morphine, methadone
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Plasticity
Plasticity –
Ability of the nervous system to adapt or
change as the result of experience;
sometimes helps the nervous system
adapt to physical damage
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Glial Cells
Glial cells
• Provide structural support for neurons
• Help in forming new synapses
• Form myelin sheath
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The Organization of the
Nervous System
Nervous system
Peripheral nervous
system
Autonomic
nervous system
Sympathetic
nervous system
Central nervous
system (CNS)
Somatic
nervous system
Parasympathetic
nervous system
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The Endocrine System
(the body’s chemical messenger system)
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The Endocrine System
Pituitary gland –
Master gland that produces
hormones influencing the
secretions of all other endocrine
glands; produces hormone that
influences growth; attached to
hypothalamus
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How Does the Brain
Produce Behavior and
Mental Processes?
The brain is composed of
many specialized modules
that work together to create
mind and behavior
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Windows on the Brain
EEG (electroencephalograph) –
Device for recording brain waves,
typically by electrodes placed on the
scalp
Brain waves –
Patterns of electrical activity generated
by the brain
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Windows on the Brain
Epilepsy –
Brain disorder that is often marked by
seizures and loss of consciousness;
caused by out-of-control electrical activity
in the brain
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Windows on the Brain
Lesions –
Tissue damage that results from
disease or injury
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Windows on the Brain
Brain scans –
Recordings of the brain’s electrical or
biochemical activity at specific sites
• CT scanning (computerized tomography)
• PET scanning (positron emission
tomography)
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
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Three Layers of the Brain
Brain stem and cerebellum
Drive vital functions, such as heart rate,
breathing, digestion
Limbic system
Adds emotions, complex motives, increased
memory abilities
Cerebrum
Enables reasoning, planning, creating,
problem solving
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The Brain Stem and Cerebellum
Thalamus
Pons
Cerebellum
Medulla
Brain stem
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The Limbic System
Hypothalamus –
Serves as the
brain’s bloodtesting
laboratory,
constantly
monitors blood to
determine the
condition of the
body
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The Limbic System
Amygdala –
Involved in
memory and
emotion,
particularly fear
and aggression
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The Limbic System
Hippocampus –
Involved in establishing
long-term memories
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The Cerebrum
Cerebrum –
Topmost layer of the brain; the
bulbous cap over the limbic system
Cerebral cortex –
Thin gray-matter covering of the
cerebrum; carries on thinking and
perceiving
Cerebral hemispheres –
The two walnut shaped halves of the
cerebrum, connected by the corpus
callosum
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The Structure of a Neuron
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The Four Lobes of the
Cerebral Cortex
Frontal lobes
(movement and thinking)
Parietal lobes
(touch sensation and spatial
relationships)
Occipital lobes
(contain visual cortex)
Temporal lobes
(process sounds, including
speech)
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The Cooperative Brain
Association cortex –
Cortical regions that combine information
from various other parts of the brain
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Cerebral Dominance
Cerebral dominance –
Tendency of each brain hemisphere to
exert control over different functions
Aphasia –
The loss of speech caused be brain
damage
Spatial orientation –
Process of locating one’s body or other
objects in space
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The Split Brain
Split-brain patients –
Individuals who have had the corpus
callosum surgically severed
Duality of consciousness –
Condition in which a split-brain patient
has a separate consciousness in each
hemisphere
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End of Chapter 3
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007