Biological Bases of Behavior in AP Psychology

Gilal cells

Protect & nourish neurons (providing nutrients/structure, removing waste, and helping speed up with communication in the brain between neurons).

The Neuron

Dendrites

Receives info & transfers it to the cell body.

Axon (Think "A" for Axon, "A" for Away 🚗)

The long, thin structure of a neuron that carries electrical messages away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands

Myelin sheath (Speed Suit (Speeds up messages)

Layer of tissue that covers axon & speeds up neural impulse (thicker it is, faster the messages move).

Terminal Buttons 📩 Red Button (Releases neurotransmitters)

Small structures at the end of the axon that release neurotransmitters into the synapse.

Node of ranvier (Speed Bumps (Help signals jump faster)

Small gaps in the Myelin Sheath that allow the neural signal to jump, making transmission faster.

Synaptic Vesicles Pill Bottles (Store and release neurotransmitters)

Tiny sacs inside the Terminal Buttons that store and release NT's into the synapse when a signal needs to be sent.

Synapse 🌉 Bridge (Gap where messages jump across)

The tiny gap between 2 neurons where they pass messages to each other.

Communication within a neuron

Resting potential (Polarization)

Cell is at rest.

Action potential (Depolarization)

Brief electrical charge that travels down the axon.

Threshold 🚦Weight Limit (Minimum energy needed to trigger action)

The smallest amount of something needed to cause a reaction that makes a neuron send a message in your brain.

Reuptake Vacuum (Recycles neurotransmitters)

When the sending neuron reabsorbs some of the neurotransmitters.

Types of neurotransmitters

Glutamate

Learning and memory, key role in LTP, idea that we need to get our memories from short term to long term.

Dopamine V.A.L.P.E.R.S

Influences voluntary movement, learning, attention, emotions, pleasure, reward, schizophrenia.

Serotonin M.A.S.H.I.D

Affects mood, hunger, sleep, arousal, impulse control, depression.

Acetylcholine 🃏 "Ace helps muscles race!" "Ace the test with memory!"

Enables muscle action, learning, memory, Alzheimer's.

GABA 😌 "GABA = Go And Be Absent (from stress)"

Anxiety reduction, relaxation, primary inhibitory neuron.

Endorphins End (pain) + Dolphins (make you happy)"

Neurotransmitters that act as natural painkillers (relieve pain) and mood boosters.

Norepinephrine/epinephrine

North + Epi-Pen (boosts energy & alertness)

Helps control alertness & arousal, fight or flight.

Excitatory

Make an action potential more likely.

Inhibitory

Make an action potential less likely.

Three types of neurons work in the spinal cord to create a reflex arc

Sensory / afferent neurons

Receive and carry info to the brain.

Motor / efferent neurons

Go from the brain to the other areas of the body.

Interneuron

Make up the spinal cords and the brain.

Nervous system

Central nervous system = Central Command Center (Brain + Spinal Cord)"

Brain & spinal cord, processes information and sends signals to the rest of the body.

Peripheral Nervous System

Somatic & autonomic NS.

Autonomic NS

Control automatic functions of internal organs (heart beating)

Sympathetic NS

In charge of arousal, fight or flight, getting ready fast.

Parasympathetic NS

Brings you back down to a neutral state.

Somatic NS

Things that don't happen automatically.

The Brain

Plasticity

Brain's ability to reorganize itself after an accident or modify itself in response to a change.

Neurogenesis

Growth & formation of new neurons; helps with learning new things, memory, and brain health, and it can be boosted by exercise and sleep.

Cerebellum

Processes sensory input, coordinated movement, balance

Brainstem

Medulla

Controls heart rate, breathing, vomiting, swallowing, and digestion.

Reticular Formation/Reticular activating system

Regulates consciousness, sleep-wake cycle, and filters out information.

Limbic System

A group of brain structures that control emotions, memories, and motivation; plays a big role in making decisions.

Amygdala

Involved in fear and aggression.

Hippocampus

Involved in learning and memories; converts short-term memory to long-term memory.

Hypothalamus

Controls hunger, thirst, and body temperature to keep your body balanced and healthy; regulates heart rate and digestion

Thalamus

Relieves sensory input and sends it to other parts of the brain.

The Lobes

Occipital lobe

Processes visual input and helps you see and understand shapes, colors, and movement.

Temporal lobe

Processes auditory input and linguistic processing; allows you to recognize sounds, voices, and memories.

Wernicke's area

Located on the left temporal lobe; responsible for comprehension of language.

Parietal lobes

Processes sensory input for touch and body position; organizes information.

Somatosensory cortex

Registers touch and movement; responsible for skin sensation.

Frontal lobe

Involved in linguistic processing, executive functioning, higher level thinking, and judgment.

Motor cortex

Responsible for movement.

Broca's area

Located on the left frontal lobe; responsible for spoken language.

Hemispheres of the Brain

Corpus callosum

Band of fibers that connect the left hemisphere and right hemisphere; facilitates communication between hemispheres.

Brain lateralization

Refers to how the two halves of the brain (left and right) have different jobs.

Methods and Tools for Studying the Brain

MRI / fMRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Uses radio waves and magnetism; Can be open or closed; Can show the brain 'working'.

EEG

Electroencephalograph; A painless technique used to measure brain wave patterns; Can be used to detect seizure or tumor activity; Often used in sleep research.

Lesioning

Tissue of the brain that has been damaged through injury or disease.

ESB/Deep Brain Stimulation

Electric Brain Stimulation or Deep Brain Stimulation; Used to relieve pain in severe cases; Stimulates the release of endorphins; Used to treat Parkinson's and certain mental illnesses.

Glandular System

Duct (exocrine)

Exocrine duct is a tube-like structure that carries hormones or other substances from glands (like sweat or salivary glands) to specific parts of the body.

Ductless (endocrine)

Releases hormones directly into the bloodstream to regulate body functions like mood, growth, and metabolism.

Hormones

Adrenaline

Helps your body react to stress or danger by making your heart beat faster, increasing energy, fight-or-flight response, Epinephrine, blood pressure.

Ghrelin

Stimulates appetite and causes stomach growls.

Oxytocin

Love hormone released when feeling about sexual partner, romantic attachment.

Pituitary Gland

Master gland that has some control over the other glands; located underneath hypothalamus; regulates growth.

Sleep

Circadian Rhythm

Sleep-wake cycle; natural 24-hour clock that controls when you feel awake and when you feel sleepy.

Sleep Stages

Stage 1 (NREM 1)

Light sleep, lasting a few minutes; muscles relax, heart rate slows, and brain waves begin to slow down.

Stage 2 (NREM 2)

Deeper sleep; body temperature drops, heart rate slows further, and brain activity includes sleep spindles (bursts of activity).

Stage 3 (NREM 3)

Deep sleep; brain waves are slow (delta waves); this stage is important for physical recovery and memory consolidation.

REM Sleep

The stage where dreaming happens; brain activity is high, eyes move rapidly, and muscles are temporarily paralyzed to prevent acting out dreams.

Why sleep occurs?

Suggests that sleep is useful 4 organizing and consolidating memories or restoring depleted sources

Sleep Disorders

Sleep apnea

Person stops breathing for short periods while sleeping; can cause snoring, gasping for air, and feeling very tired during the day.

Narcolepsy

Treated with amphetamines; makes a person suddenly feel very sleepy or even fall asleep unexpectedly during the day.

REM sleep behavior disorder

Act out vivid, often unpleasant dreams with vocal sounds and sudden, often violent arm & leg movements during REM sleep.