Chapter 1 Biology & Behavior

Franz Gall

• Developed phrenology

• If a trait is well developed then the responsible part of the brain expands

Pierre Flourens

• Extirpation (ablation) parts of brain surgically removed, behavioral consequences observed

• Specific parts of the brain have specific functions

William James

“Founder of American Psychology”

Functionalism: how mental processes help individuals adapt to their environments

John Dewey

• Study the whole of an organism as it functioned to adapt to its environment

Paul Broca

• Specific functional impairments could be linked with specific brain lesions

• Broca’s area left side associated w speech

Hermann Von Helmholtz

• First to measure speed of a nerve impulse

• Related that speed of impulses to reaction time

• Psychology & physiology connected

Sir Charles Sherrington

• First inferred existence of synapses

Neruons Mnemonic

Afferent neurons ascend the cord towards the brain; Efferent neurons exit the cord on their way to the rest of the body.

Sensory/Afferent Neurons

Transmit sensory information from receptors to the spinal cord and brain

Motor/Efferent neurons

Transmit information from the brain and spinal cord to muscles and glands

Interneurons

Found between other neurons and are the most numerous. Located predominantly in the brain and spinal cord, they are linked to reflexive behavior.

Reflex arc

A neural pathway that controls reflex reactions

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Composed of brain and spinal cord.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Portion of the nervous system composed of nerve tissue and fibers outside the CNS.

• Includes all 31 pairs of nerves emanating from the spinal cord (spinal nerves)

• 12 pairs of nerves emanating directly from the brain (cranial nerves)

• Connects CNS to the rest of the body

Somatic Nervous System

Consists of sensory (afferent) and motor (efferent) neurons distributed throughout the skin, joints, and muscles.

• Part of PNS

Automatic Nervous System

Generally regulates heartbeat, respiration, digestion, and glandular secretions.

• Involuntary muscles

• Helps regulate body temperature

• Automatic system manages automatic functions

Parasympathetic nervous system

• Conserve energy

• Rest, sleeping

• Digestion (increasing peristalsis and exocrine secretions)

Peristalsis

Involuntary wave like muscle contraction that moves food and waste through digestive tract.

Exocrine

Glands/tissues that secrete directly onto epithelial surface

Acetylcholine

Neurotransmitter responsible for parasympathetic responses in the body

Sympathetic nervous system

• Activated by stress

• Fight or flight

• Increased heart rate, redistributes blood to muscles of locomotion, dilates eyes, releases epinephrine, etc

Meninges

A thick layer of connective tissue that covers and protects the brain; composed of durable mater, arachnoid mater, and pis mater.

• Protect the brain by keeping it anchored within the skull

• Reabsorb cerebrospinal fluid

Cerebrospinal