Biological Psychology Course Notes

Course Overview

• Focus: This course looks at how our brain, genes, and body structures control the way we act. It covers everything from tiny brain cells (neurons) to complex topics like sleep, hunger, and mental health.

Grading and Rules

• Research Paper (20%): You will write a paper analyzing scientific studies.

• Final Exam (80%): A big test covering everything in the course.

• Honesty: No cheating or copying (plagiarism), or you will fail the course.

• Tutorials: You must attend these smaller classes to learn about brain anatomy and how research is done.

What You Will Learn

Part I: The Building Blocks

• Neurons: How brain cells work. They have a resting state (around $-70\text{ mV}$) and use electricity and chemicals ($\text{Na}^{+}$ and $\text{K}^{+}$) to send messages.

• Synapses: The tiny gaps where brain cells talk to each other.

Part II: Sensation and Biology

• The Senses: How we see, hear, and feel things.

• Body Control: How the brain handles sleep, body temperature, and hormones.

Part III: The Modern Brain

• Brain Scans: Using tools like MRI or EEG to see what the brain is doing.

• Disorders: Studying what happens in the brain during conditions like ADHD or Autism.

Big Ideas in Psychology

• Biological Psychology: Studying the physical body to explain why we do what we do.

• The Mind-Body Problem:

  • Dualism: The idea that the mind and body are separate entities.

  • Monism: The idea that the mind and body are the same thing.

  • Materialism: Everything is made of physical matter.

  • Idealism: Everything is just in our minds.

The Nervous System

• Central (CNS): Your brain and spinal cord (the command center).

• Peripheral (PNS): All the nerves connecting the command center to the rest of your body.

  • Somatic: Controls parts you move on purpose (muscles).

  • Autonomic: Controls things that happen automatically (heartbeat).

  • Sympathetic: Your "Fight or Flight" system for emergencies.

  • Parasympathetic: Your "Rest and Digest" system for relaxing.

Brain Cells (Neurons and Glia)

• Dendrites: The "ears" of the cell that listen for signals.

• Soma: The main body of the cell that keeps it alive.

• Axon: The "tail" that sends messages away to other cells.

• Glia: The helper cells. They act like glue, clean up waste, and build insulation (myelin) to make messages travel faster.

Chemical Messages (Synapses)

• Cells release chemicals called neurotransmitters to talk.

• Excitatory: Tells the next cell to "GO!"

• Inhibitory: Tells the next cell to "STOP!"

Drugs and the Brain

• Agonists: Drugs that trick the brain into thinking there is more of a certain chemical.

• Antagonists: Drugs that block the chemicals from working.

Hunger and Balance

• Homeostasis: Your body’s way of staying balanced (like a thermostat).

• Thirst: Can be caused by eating too much salt (Osmotic) or losing fluid through sweat or bleeding (Hypovolemic).

• Hunger: Controlled by the Hypothalamus. It uses hormones like Ghrelin (to make you hungry) and Leptin (to tell you you're full).

Developmental Disorders

• ADHD: Trouble focusing, often because of how the brain handles the chemical dopamine.

• Autism: Differences in how the brain connects and talks to itself.

• Causes: Usually a mix of the DNA you are born with (genes) and what happens to you while growing

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Course Overview

• Focus: This course looks at how our brain, genes, and body structures control the way we act. It covers everything from tiny brain cells (neurons) to complex topics like sleep, hunger, and mental health.

Grading and Rules

• Research Paper (20%): You will write a paper analyzing scientific studies.

• Final Exam (80%): A big test covering everything in the course.

• Honesty: No cheating or copying (plagiarism), or you will fail the course.

• Tutorials: You must attend these smaller classes to learn about brain anatomy and how research is done.

What You Will Learn

Part I: The Building Blocks

• Neurons: How brain cells work. They have a resting state (around $-70\text{ mV}$) and use electricity and chemicals ($\text{Na}^{+}$ and $\text{K}^{+}$) to send messages.

• Synapses: The tiny gaps where brain cells talk to each other.

Part II: Sensation and Biology

• The Senses: How we see, hear, and feel things.

• Body Control: How the brain handles sleep, body temperature, and hormones.

Part III: The Modern Brain

• Brain Scans: Using tools like MRI or EEG to see what the brain is doing.

• Disorders: Studying what happens in the brain during conditions like ADHD or Autism.

Big Ideas in Psychology

• Biological Psychology: Studying the physical body to explain why we do what we do.

• The Mind-Body Problem:

  • Dualism: The idea that the mind and body are separate entities.

  • Monism: The idea that the mind and body are the same thing.

  • Materialism: Everything is made of physical matter.

  • Idealism: Everything is just in our minds.

The Nervous System

• Central (CNS): Your brain and spinal cord (the command center).

• Peripheral (PNS): All the nerves connecting the command center to the rest of your body.

  • Somatic: Controls parts you move on purpose (muscles).

  • Autonomic: Controls things that happen automatically (heartbeat).

  • Sympathetic: Your "Fight or Flight" system for emergencies.

  • Parasympathetic: Your "Rest and Digest" system for relaxing.

Brain Cells (Neurons and Glia)

• Dendrites: The "ears" of the cell that listen for signals.

• Soma: The main body of the cell that keeps it alive.

• Axon: The "tail" that sends messages away to other cells.

• Glia: The helper cells. They act like glue, clean up waste, and build insulation (myelin) to make messages travel faster.

Chemical Messages (Synapses)

• Cells release chemicals called neurotransmitters to talk.

• Excitatory: Tells the next cell to "GO!"

• Inhibitory: Tells the next cell to "STOP!"

Drugs and the Brain

• Agonists: Drugs that trick the brain into thinking there is more of a certain chemical.

• Antagonists: Drugs that block the chemicals from working.

Hunger and Balance

• Homeostasis: Your body’s way of staying balanced (like a thermostat).

• Thirst: Can be caused by eating too much salt (Osmotic) or losing fluid through sweat or bleeding (Hypovolemic).

• Hunger: Controlled by the Hypothalamus. It uses hormones like Ghrelin (to make you hungry) and Leptin (to tell you you're full).

Developmental Disorders

• ADHD: Trouble focusing, often because of how the brain handles the chemical dopamine.

• Autism: Differences in how the brain connects and talks to itself.

• Causes: Usually a mix of the DNA you are born with (genes) and what happens to you while growing.

Sleep and Biological Rhythms

• Circadian Rhythms: Your internal 24-hour clock that regulates when you feel awake or sleepy.

• Sleep Stages:

  • Stage 1-4: Progressively deeper sleep (NREM).

  • REM (Rapid Eye Movement): The stage where most dreaming happens; the brain is active, but the body is paralyzed.

Learning and Memory

• Long-Term Potentiation (LTP): The process where sending signals between two neurons several times makes the connection stronger. This is how we learn.

• Hippocampus: The part of the brain responsible for forming new long-term memories.

• Amnesia: Loss of memory, often caused by damage to the hippocampus.

Emotion and Stress

• The Amygdala: A small structure in the brain that handles emotions like fear and anger.

• The Stress Response (HPA Axis): When you are stressed, your brain tells your body to release Cortisol, the stress hormone, to help you handle the situation.

Course Overview

• Focus: This course looks at how our brain, genes, and body structures control the way we act. It covers everything from tiny brain cells (neurons) to complex topics like sleep, hunger, and mental health.

Grading and Rules

• Research Paper (20%): You will write a paper analyzing scientific studies.

• Final Exam (80%): A big test covering everything in the course.

• Honesty: No cheating or copying (plagiarism), or you will fail the course.

• Tutorials: You must attend these smaller classes to learn about brain anatomy and how research is done.

What You Will Learn

Part I: The Building Blocks

• Neurons: How brain cells work. They have a resting state (around $-70\text{ mV}$) and use electricity and chemicals ($\text{Na}^{+}$ and $\text{K}^{+}$) to send messages.

• Synapses: The tiny gaps where brain cells talk to each other.

Part II: Sensation and Biology

• The Senses: How we see, hear, and feel things.

• Body Control: How the brain handles sleep, body temperature, and hormones.

Part III: The Modern Brain

• Brain Scans: Using tools like MRI or EEG to see what the brain is doing.

• Disorders: Studying what happens in the brain during conditions like ADHD or Autism.

Big Ideas in Psychology

• Biological Psychology: Studying the physical body to explain why we do what we do.

• The Mind-Body Problem:

  • Dualism: The idea that the mind and body are separate entities.

  • Monism: The idea that the mind and body are the same thing.

  • Materialism: Everything is made of physical matter.

  • Idealism: Everything is just in our minds.

The Nervous System

• Central (CNS): Your brain and spinal cord (the command center).

• Peripheral (PNS): All the nerves connecting the command center to the rest of your body.

  • Somatic: Controls parts you move on purpose (muscles).

  • Autonomic: Controls things that happen automatically (heartbeat).

  • Sympathetic: Your "Fight or Flight" system for emergencies.

  • Parasympathetic: Your "Rest and Digest" system for relaxing.

Brain Cells (Neurons and Glia)

• Dendrites: The "ears" of the cell that listen for signals.

• Soma: The main body of the cell that keeps it alive.

• Axon: The "tail" that sends messages away to other cells.

• Glia: The helper cells. They act like glue, clean up waste, and build insulation (myelin) to make messages travel faster.

Chemical Messages (Synapses)

• Cells release chemicals called neurotransmitters to talk.

• Excitatory: Tells the next cell to "GO!"

• Inhibitory: Tells the next cell to "STOP!"

Drugs and the Brain

• Agonists: Drugs that trick the brain into thinking there is more of a certain chemical.

• Antagonists: Drugs that block the chemicals from working.

Hunger and Balance

• Homeostasis: Your body’s way of staying balanced (like a thermostat).

• Thirst: Can be caused by eating too much salt (Osmotic) or losing fluid through sweat or bleeding (Hypovolemic).

• Hunger: Controlled by the Hypothalamus. It uses hormones like Ghrelin (to make you hungry) and Leptin (to tell you you're full).

Developmental Disorders

• ADHD: Trouble focusing, often because of how the brain handles the chemical dopamine.

• Autism: Differences in how the brain connects and talks to itself.

• Causes: Usually a mix of the DNA you are born with (genes) and what happens to you while growing.

Sleep and Biological Rhythms

• Circadian Rhythms: Your internal 24-hour clock that regulates when you feel awake or sleepy.

• Sleep Stages:

  • Stage 1-4: Progressively deeper sleep (NREM).

  • REM (Rapid Eye Movement): The stage where most dreaming happens; the brain is active, but the body is paralyzed.

Learning and Memory

• Long-Term Potentiation (LTP): The process where sending signals between two neurons several times makes the connection stronger. This is how we learn.

• Hippocampus: The part of the brain responsible for forming new long-term memories.

• Amnesia: Loss of memory, often caused by damage to the hippocampus.

Emotion and Stress

• The Amygdala: A small structure in the brain that handles emotions like fear and anger.

• The Stress Response (HPA Axis): When you are stressed, your brain tells your body to release Cortisol, the stress hormone, to help you handle the situation.

Brain Plasticity and Damage

• Neuroplasticity: The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life.

• Brain Damage:

  • Stroke: Caused by a blood clot or a broken vessel, leading to cell death.

  • Reorganization: Other areas of the brain can sometimes take over functions lost due to damage.

Brain Lateralization (Left vs. Right)

• Left Hemisphere: Generally controls the right side of the body and is responsible for logical tasks, math, and language.

• Right Hemisphere: Generally controls the left side of the body and is responsible for spatial tasks, facial recognition, and creativity.

• Corpus Callosum: The thick band of nerve fibers that connects the two hemispheres, allowing them to communicate.

Language and the Brain

• Broca's Area: Located in the frontal lobe; controls the muscles involved in speech.

• Wernicke's Area: Located in the temporal lobe; helps us understand the meaning of words.

• Aphasia: A person’s inability to speak or understand language correctly due to brain damage.

Psychological Disorders (The Biological View)

• Schizophrenia: Often linked to an overactive dopamine system and enlarged fluid-filled spaces ($ventricles$) in the brain.

• Mood Disorders: Depression is frequently associated with low levels of neurotransmitters like Serotonin and Norepinephrine.

• Therapy and Medication: Methods used to adjust the chemical balance or improve neural pathways

Course Overview

• Focus: This course looks at how our brain, genes, and body structures control the way we act. It covers everything from tiny brain cells (neurons) to complex topics like sleep, hunger, and mental health.

Grading and Rules

• Research Paper (20%): You will write a paper analyzing scientific studies.

• Final Exam (80%): A big test covering everything in the course.

• Honesty: No cheating or copying (plagiarism), or you will fail the course.

• Tutorials: You must attend these smaller classes to learn about brain anatomy and how research is done.

What You Will Learn

Part I: The Building Blocks

• Neurons: How brain cells work. They have a resting state (around $-70\text{ mV}$) and use electricity and chemicals ($\text{Na}^{+}$ and $\text{K}^{+}$) to send messages.

• Synapses: The tiny gaps where brain cells talk to each other.

Part II: Sensation and Biology

• The Senses: How we see, hear, and feel things.

• Body Control: How the brain handles sleep, body temperature, and hormones.

Part III: The Modern Brain

• Brain Scans: Using tools like MRI or EEG to see what the brain is doing.

• Disorders: Studying what happens in the brain during conditions like ADHD or Autism.

Big Ideas in Psychology

• Biological Psychology: Studying the physical body to explain why we do what we do.

• The Mind-Body Problem:

  • Dualism: The idea that the mind and body are separate entities.

  • Monism: The idea that the mind and body are the same thing.

  • Materialism: Everything is made of physical matter.

  • Idealism: Everything is just in our minds.

The Nervous System

• Central (CNS): Your brain and spinal cord (the command center).

• Peripheral (PNS): All the nerves connecting the command center to the rest of your body.

  • Somatic: Controls parts you move on purpose (muscles).

  • Autonomic: Controls things that happen automatically (heartbeat).

  • Sympathetic: Your "Fight or Flight" system for emergencies.

  • Parasympathetic: Your "Rest and Digest" system for relaxing.

Brain Cells (Neurons and Glia)

• Dendrites: The "ears" of the cell that listen for signals.

• Soma: The main body of the cell that keeps it alive.

• Axon: The "tail" that sends messages away to other cells.

• Glia: The helper cells. They act like glue, clean up waste, and build insulation (myelin) to make messages travel faster.

Chemical Messages (Synapses)

• Cells release chemicals called neurotransmitters to talk.

• Excitatory: Tells the next cell to "GO!"

• Inhibitory: Tells the next cell to "STOP!"

Drugs and the Brain

• Agonists: Drugs that trick the brain into thinking there is more of a certain chemical.

• Antagonists: Drugs that block the chemicals from working.

Hunger and Balance

• Homeostasis: Your body’s way of staying balanced (like a thermostat).

• Thirst: Can be caused by eating too much salt (Osmotic) or losing fluid through sweat or bleeding (Hypovolemic).

• Hunger: Controlled by the Hypothalamus. It uses hormones like Ghrelin (to make you hungry) and Leptin (to tell you you're full).

Developmental Disorders

• ADHD: Trouble focusing, often because of how the brain handles the chemical dopamine.

• Autism: Differences in how the brain connects and talks to itself.

• Causes: Usually a mix of the DNA you are born with (genes) and what happens to you while growing.

Sleep and Biological Rhythms

• Circadian Rhythms: Your internal 24-hour clock that regulates when you feel awake or sleepy.

• Sleep Stages:

  • Stage 1-4: Progressively deeper sleep (NREM).

  • REM (Rapid Eye Movement): The stage where most dreaming happens; the brain is active, but the body is paralyzed.

Learning and Memory

• Long-Term Potentiation (LTP): The process where sending signals between two neurons several times makes the connection stronger. This is how we learn.

• Hippocampus: The part of the brain responsible for forming new long-term memories.

• Amnesia: Loss of memory, often caused by damage to the hippocampus.

Emotion and Stress

• The Amygdala: A small structure in the brain that handles emotions like fear and anger.

• The Stress Response (HPA Axis): When you are stressed, your brain tells your body to release Cortisol, the stress hormone, to help you handle the situation.

Brain Plasticity and Damage

• Neuroplasticity: The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life.

• Brain Damage:

  • Stroke: Caused by a blood clot or a broken vessel, leading to cell death.

  • Reorganization: Other areas of the brain can sometimes take over functions lost due to damage.

Brain Lateralization (Left vs. Right)

• Left Hemisphere: Generally controls the right side of the body and is responsible for logical tasks, math, and language.

• Right Hemisphere: Generally controls the left side of the body and is responsible for spatial tasks, facial recognition, and creativity.

• Corpus Callosum: The thick band of nerve fibers that connects the two hemispheres, allowing them to communicate.

Language and the Brain

• Broca's Area: Located in the frontal lobe; controls the muscles involved in speech.

• Wernicke's Area: Located in the temporal lobe; helps us understand the meaning of words.

• Aphasia: A person’s inability to speak or understand language correctly due to brain damage.

Psychological Disorders (The Biological View)

• Schizophrenia: Often linked to an overactive dopamine system and enlarged fluid-filled spaces ($ventricles$) in the brain.

• Mood Disorders: Depression is frequently associated with low levels of neurotransmitters like Serotonin and Norepinephrine.

• Therapy and Medication: Methods used to adjust the chemical balance or improve neural pathways.

Genetics and Evolution

• Genes and DNA: Your body’s blueprint. DNA ($deoxyribonucleic acid$) contains the instructions for making proteins.

• Heritability: A measure of how much the differences in people’s traits (like height or IQ) are caused by their genes versus their environment.

• Epigenetics: Changes in gene expression (turning genes on or off) based on external factors like stress, diet, or toxins, without changing the DNA sequence.

Movement and Motor Control

• Primary Motor Cortex: Part of the frontal lobe that controls voluntary movements. Each part of the cortex corresponds to a specific body part (motor homunculus).

• Basal Ganglia: A set of structures involved in motor planning, habit formation, and movement initiation.

• Cerebellum: Controls balance, posture, and the coordination of complex movements (like playing the piano or hitting a ball).

Sensory Systems: Vision

• The Retina: The layer at the back of the eye that processes light.

  • Rods: High sensitivity to light; used for night vision and peripheral vision.

  • Cones: High sensitivity to detail and color; concentrated in the fovea.

• Visual Pathway:

  • Signals leave the eye via the Optic Nerve.

  • They pass through the Thalamus (specifically the Lateral Geniculate Nucleus).

  • They reach the Primary Visual Cortex ($V1$) in the Occipital Lobe for processing.

Summary of Key Neurotransmitters

• Acetylcholine (ACh): Involved in muscle contraction and memory.

• Dopamine: Linked to reward, motivation, and motor control.

• Serotonin: Regulates mood, appetite, and sleep.

• Norepinephrine: Involved in arousal, alertness, and the "Fight or Flight" response.

• GABA: The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter (calms the brain).

• Glutamate: The primary excitatory neurotransmitter (stimulates the brain).