Ch 2-- Biological Basis of Behavior

Biological approaches

mechanistic processes that lead to behaviors

Psychological approaches

looking at the kinds of behavior an individual may exhibit

Sociological approach

looks at behaviors, organization and feelings of groups

How do genetics mostly influence behavior

Via hard wired instinctual behaviors

Reflexes of infants

palmar, rooting, sucking, Moro, Babinski reflex

Moro reflex

babies will extend limbs out, pull them back in and cry when startled

Critical period

experiences (+and-) will imprint themselves and can extend to lifetime (ex.language)

Adolesence

childhood to adulthood.

Puberty

biological changes during adolescence

Biggest contributor to aging

shorting of telomeres

direct hormones

when they cause target cells to make direct changes

tropic hormones

helps set off the chain reaction of hormones ( a to b, b to c, c to effect)

Job of the hypothalamus

converting nervous system input into endocrine signals

Tropic hormones Hypothalamus releases

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)

Tropic hormones of hypothalamus affect

anterior pituitary

Hormones of anterior pituitary

adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, GH

Hormones Posterior pituitary releases

antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and oxytocin

Endocrine organs

thyroid, parathyroid, pancreas, adrenal cortex, gonads

Oxytocin is good for

bonding, empathy, and trust; uterine contractions and milk letdown reflex during lactation

prolactin

lactation, and contributing factor to postpartum depression

leptin

makes you feel full

ghrelin

makes you feel hungry

neuropeptide Y

stimulates appetite

Epinephrine/norepinephrine

responds to stress

cortisol

caused by multiple systems and has various functions

Thyroid hormone

metabolic rate and neural development

Afferent neurons

sensory neurons

Sensory neurons answer to

CNS

Efferent neurons

motor neurons

Efferent neurons send signals to the ___ from the ____

effector; CNS

where do motor neurons synapse

neuromuscular junctions

what causes muscle contraction

release of acetylcholine

resting potential of a neuron

-70 mv

What do excitatory neurotransmitters do

Increase signal potential (depolarization)

what do inhibitory neurotransmitters do

decrease signal potential (hyperpolarization)

Agonists

stimulates response

antagonist

blocks a receptor

Acetylcholine

muscle activation, involuntary conscious behavior, rest and digest

Glutamate

action threshold agonist

GABA

action threshold antagonist

dopamine

works in rewards, can cause addiction, and if broken can cause parkinsons

serotonin

gut movement, helps with eating, sleeping and being happy. Not enough = depression

endorphins

suppress pain and can produce euphoric response like opiods

peripheral nervous system is made of

somatic and autonomic nervous systems

somatic NS responsible for

voluntary activities and skeletal muscle movement

autonomic NS responsibilites

unconcious activities: sleeping, breathing, peeing

Autonomic NS parts

sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system

sympathetic NS

Flight or fight (oh shit NS)

parasympathetic NS

rest and digest (peace and poo NS)

Enteric NS

regulates gut activity

Hindbrain parts

cerebellum pons medulla oblongata

Cerebellum

makes coordinated movement happen

medulla oblongata

autonomic functions

pons

relay station for most of brain

midbrain pieces

inferior and superior colliculi and substantia nigra

Inferior and superior colliculi

process auditory and visual input

substantia nigra

where neurons that use dopamine to communicate coordinate voluntary movements

Brainstem made of

midbrain, pons, medulla oblongata

reticular activating system purpose

modulation of alertness and arousal

forebrain pieces

thalamus, hypothalamus, pineal gland, posterior pituitary glan, and telencephalon

thalamus

sensory and motor signals for sleep and alternes

hypothalamus

interpret endocrine and nervous ssytems

Electrocephalograms (EEG)

measure activity through electrodes as wave froms

CT (computed tomography)

x-rays taken in 360

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

good for soft tissues and uses magnets

functional MRI

measure brain perfusion

PET scan ( positron emission tomography)

uses radiolabeled glucose to measure metabolic activity