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Figure 2.2 A motor neuronMyers: Psychology, Ninth EditionCopyright © 2010 by Worth Publishers

I. The common household neuron

D. Two types of signal transmission1. Axonal – within neurons2. Synaptic – between neurons

Action Potential PropertiesAll‐or‐None Response: When the depolarizing current exceeds the threshold, a neuron will fire.  If the depolarizing current fails to exceed 

the threshold, a neuron will not fire.

Intensity of an action potential remains the same throughout the length of the axon.

Figure 2.4 How neurons communicateMyers: Psychology, Ninth EditionCopyright © 2010 by Worth Publishers

Synaptic Transmission

Figure 2.6 Agonists and antagonistsMyers: Psychology, Ninth EditionCopyright © 2010 by Worth Publishers

NeurotransmitterBinds

Agonist Mimics

AntagonistBlocks

Synaptic transmission

D. Types of Postsynaptic Potentials (PSP's)1.Excitatory (EPSP)2.Inhibitory (IPSP)

DepolarizesHyperpolarizes

Synaptic transmission

D. Types of Postsynaptic Potentials (PSP's)1.Excitatory (EPSP)2.Inhibitory (IPSP)

E. After release, 1.reuptake2.degradation

DepolarizesHyperpolarizes

Figure 2.4 How neurons communicateMyers: Psychology, Ninth EditionCopyright © 2010 by Worth Publishers

Synaptic Transmission

Synaptic transmission

D. Types of Postsynaptic Potentials (PSP's)1.Excitatory (EPSP)2.Inhibitory (IPSP)

E. After release, 1.reuptake2.degradation

DepolarizesHyperpolarizes

V. Organization of the nervous system

A. Central nervous system1.Brain2.Spinal cord

V. Organization of the nervous system

B. Peripheral nervous system1. Somatic system2. Autonomic system; two branches

work in generally antagonistic fashion

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Sympathetic NS “Arouses”

(fight‐or‐flight)

Parasympathetic NS “Calms”

(rest and digest)

V. Organization of the nervous system

B. Peripheral nervous system2. Autonomic system

a. Sympathetic nervous system1. tends to have system-wide effects2. flight or flight; activity

b. Parasympathetic nervous system1. tends to affect one organ at a time2. quiescent processes--digestion, protects

and conserves energy

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Sympathetic NS “Arouses”

(fight‐or‐flight)

Parasympathetic NS “Calms”

(rest and digest)

VI. The common household brain

CommentaryMore commentary

Phrenology

German Physician Franz Joseph Gall –Various mental faculties related to distinct brain areas.

Then the field got lazy.

http://triggur.org/phreno.html

http://triggur.org/phreno.html

VI. The common household brainA. Overview of brain

1.The primitive central core2.Limbic system3.Cerebral hemispheres

VI. The common household brainA. Overview of brain

1.The primitive central core2.Limbic system3.Cerebral hemispheres

VI. The common household brainA. Overview of brain

1.The primitive central core2.Limbic system3.Cerebral hemispheres

a. Ontogenyb. Phylogeny

Figure 3.28 Ontogeny

Phylogeny

B. Brain Specifics1.Primitive central core

a.Cerebellum1."little brain"2.smooth coordination of

movements3.learning of complex motor

activities

B. Brain Specifics1. Primitive central core

b. Thalamus & Hypothalamus: located just above the brain stem & tucked inside the cerebral hemispheres

B. Brain Specifics1. Primitive central core

b. Thalamus & Hypothalamus:1.Thalamus is a sensory relay station

a. "Gateway to the cortex"b. coming from spinal cord to cortex c. taste touch hearing vision -- olfaction is exception

B. Brain Specifics1. Primitive central core

b. Thalamus & Hypothalamus:2.Hypothalamus

a. literally = "under thalamus"; much smaller, but very important

b. 4 F's: Emotion/MotivationThirst/HungerBody TempSexual Drives

FeelingsFeedingFeverFourth F

B. Brain Specifics2. Limbic system

a. involved in instinctual behaviors in lower animals (caring for young, mating, fleeing from attackers, fleeing from prey)

b. involved in memory and emotion in humansc. Especially important structures within the Limbic

system:i. Hippocampusii. Amygdala

The common household brain3.The cerebral hemispheres

a.Grey matter (cell bodies) vs white matter (myelinated)

Figure 2.23 The cortex and its basic subdivisionsMyers: Psychology, Ninth EditionCopyright © 2010 by Worth Publishers

The common household brain

3. The cerebral hemispheresb. Four lobes: 1. frontal 2. parietal 3. occipital 4. temporal

Sample FunctionsPlanning, Abstract thought, MotorSensory IntegrationVisual PerceptionObject Identification

The common household brain

3. The cerebral hemispheresb. Motor area

1. topographic organization--Homunculus

2. contralateral control of body

The common household brain

3. The cerebral hemispheresd. Somatosensory area

1. heat, cold, touch, pain, sense of body movement

2. contralateral3. space appropriated in accord to

amount of use or need

Figure 2.24 Left hemisphere tissue devoted to each body part in the motor cortex and the sensory cortexMyers: Psychology, Ninth EditionCopyright © 2010 by Worth Publishers

3. The cerebral hemispherese. Visual area

1. Contralateral visual field

The common household brainf. Auditory area

1. bilateral representation2. contralateral stronger

The common household brain

g. Association areas1. functions which are not directly sensory or motor2. Examples:

a. motor planningb. thoughtc. speechd. problem solvinge. complex object recognition (e.g. disorder termed

prosopagnosia)

Exam 1

50 Multiple Choice Questions75 Minutes beginning at 3:45Half from BookHalf from LectureOpen book/note