Chp.2 The Biological Perspective

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Copyright 2015, 2013, 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
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neuron - Sebastian Kaulitzki/Fotolia
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Biological psychology or behavioral neuroscience is a branch of neuroscience

that focuses on the biological bases of psychological processes, behavior, and
learning.
Images: jumping
Young
neuron
istockphoto.com/Nicolesy Photography | Nicole S.

istockphoto.com/ktsimage
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The brain is made up of two types of cells, neurons and glial cells.
Neurons have dendrites, which receive input, a soma or cell body, and axons
that carry the neural message to other cells.
Myelin insulates and protects the axons of neurons that travel in the body.
These axons bundle together in cables called nerves. Myelin also speeds up
the neural message.
Image credits: neuron

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Glial cells are also being investigated for their possible role in a variety of
psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder and schizophrenia.
Lower numbers of glial cells in depressive disorder, higher than average
number of glia in schizophrenia.
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istockphoto.com/Henrik Jonsson
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istockphoto.com/Andrzej Tokarski
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A neuron contains charged particles called ions. When at rest, the neuron is
negatively charged on the inside and positively charged on the outside.
When stimulated, this reverses the charge by allowing positive sodium ions to
enter the cell. This is the action potential.
Images: neuron illustration from figure 2.2
From Ciccarelli, Psychology,
Copyright
2015,
2013, 2010
Pearson Education,
4/e p. 50;icon:
helmet
istockphoto.com/Li
Shen Jun Inc. All Rights Reserved
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Neurons fire in an all-or-nothing manner. It is the speed and number of

neurons firing that tell researchers the strength of the stimulus.
Image credits: Figure 2.2

wanted sign
Ciccarelli, Psychology, 4/e, p. 50
icon:
Charlie Levin, adapting wooden board image from
istockphoto.com/andynwt
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Synaptic vesicles in the end of the axon terminal release neurotransmitter

chemicals into the synapse, or gap, between one cell and the next.
The neurotransmitter molecules fit into receptor sites on the next cell,
stimulating or inhibiting that cells firing.
Image credits: neuron
;
;
synaptic vesicle
illustration
From
Ciccarelli,
Psychology,
p. 51
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iconAll Rights Reserved
Copyright
2015,
2013,
2010
Pearson4/e
Education,
Inc.
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The first known neurotransmitter was acetylcholine. Curare is a poison that

blocks its effect.
GABA is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter; high amounts of GABA are
released when drinking alcohol.
Dopamine is associated with Parkinsons disease and schizophrenia.
Endorphins are neural regulators that control our pain response.
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Most neurotransmitters are taken back into the synaptic vesicles in a

process called reuptake. Acetylcholine is cleared out of the synapse by
enzymes that break up the molecules.
FIGURE 2.4 : Dopamine is removed from the synapse by reuptake sites.
Cocaine acts by blocking dopamine reuptake sites, allowing dopamine to
remain active in the synapse longer.
Image credit: Figure 2.4
From Ciccarelli, Psychology, 4/e p. 54
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NOTE TO INSTRUCTORS: You must be logged in to your MyPsychLab

account in order to view this simulation.
Image credit: laptop
istockphoto.com/CostinT
Description of simulation: A narrated animation showing the communication

between neurons
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Images: Smiling man - Shutterstock; gears Sebastian Kaulitzki/Fotolia;

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Images: brain & spine

istockphoto.com/Mads Abildgaard
istockphoto.com/twentyfourworks
; heart icon -
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The central nervous system consists of the brain and the spinal cord.
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The central nervous system consists of the brain and the spinal cord.
Image credit: brain & spine - istockphoto.com/Mads Abildgaard
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The spinal cord serves two functions. The outer part of the cord transmits
messages to and from the brain, whereas the inner part controls lifesaving
reflexes such as the pain response.
Image credit: brain & spine
istockphoto.com/Mads Abildgaard
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Spinal cord reflexes involve afferent neurons, interneurons, and efferent

neurons, forming a simple reflex arc.

Psychology, 4/e p. 57
From Ciccarelli,
afferent hand
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Great strides are being made in spinal cord repair and the growth of new
neurons in the central nervous system.
Imagecredits : stem cell
istockphoto.com/luismmolina
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The peripheral nervous system is all the neurons and nerves that are not part
of the brain and spinal cord and that extend throughout the body.
There are two systems within the peripheral nervous system, the somatic
nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.
Image: heart icon - istockphoto.com/twentyfourworks
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wanted sign
From Ciccarelli, Psychology, 4/e p. 57; icon:
Charlie Levin, adapting wooden board image from
istockphoto.com/andynwt; running
istockphoto.com/Pete Saloutos
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Image credits: Figure 2.6 - From Ciccarelli, Psychology, 4/e p. 57; napping
istockphoto.com/Daniel Bendjy
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Endocrine glands secrete chemicals called hormones directly into the bloodstream,
influencing the activity of the muscles and organs.
THE PITUITARY GLAND is found in the brain just below the hypothalamus. It has two
parts, the anterior and the posterior. It controls the levels of salt and water in the
system and, in women, the onset of labor and lactation, as well as secreting growth
hormone and influencing the activity of the other glands.
THE PINEAL GLAND is also located in the brain. It secretes melatonin, a hormone
that regulates the sleepwake cycle, in response to changes in light.
THE THYROID GLAND is located inside the neck. It controls metabolism (the burning
of energy) by secreting thyroxin.
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Description of simulation: A narrated animation explaining glands and
hormones
Image credit : laptop - istockphoto.com/CostinT
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LESIONING STUDIES: We can study the brain by using deep lesioning to

destroy certain areas of the brain in laboratory animals or by electrically
stimulating those areas (ESB). We can use case studies of human brain
damage to learn about the brains functions but cannot easily generalize
from one case to another.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS): electrodes in specific deep-brain areas and
then route the electrode wires to a pacemaker-like device called an impulse
generator.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS): magnetic pulses are applied to
the cortex using special copper wire coils that are positioned over the head.
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BRAIN STIMULATION
DBS is an invasive technique. rTMS and tDCS are noninvasive methods for stimulating the
brain.
MAPPING STRUCTURE
CT scans are computer-aided X-rays of the brain and show the skull and brain structure.
MRI scans use a magnetic field, radio pulses, and a computer to give researchers an even
more detailed look at the structure of the brain.
MAPPING FUNCTION
The electroencephalograph allows researchers to look at the electroencephalogram
(EEG), or electrical activity of the surface of the brain, through the use of electrodes placed
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and Pearson
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ERPs
allow
researchers
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Kaulitzki/Fotolia; neuron - Sebastian Kaulitzki/Fotolia
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Image credit: head with brain illustration, section of figure 2.12

From Ciccarelli, Psychology, 4/e p. 72
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The medulla is at the very bottom of the brain and at the top of the spinal
column. It controls life-sustaining functions such as breathing and swallowing.
The nerves from each side of the body also cross over in this structure to
opposite sides.
The pons is above the medulla and acts as a bridge between the lower part of
the brain and the upper part. It influences sleep, dreaming, arousal, and
coordination of movement on the left and right sides of the body.
The reticular formation runs through the medulla and the pons and controls
our general level of attention and arousal.
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The limbic system a group of several brain structures located under the cortex
and involved in learning, emotion, memory, and motivation.
Image credit: Figure 2.13

4/e, p. 74
From
Ciccarelli, Psychology,
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Description of simulation: A narrated animation explaining the hindbrain and
limbic system
Image credit: laptop - istockphoto.com/CostinT
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Image credits: OYB- book with open pages

istockphoto.com/Andrzej Tokarski
istockphoto.com/Li Shen Jun
icon: helmet
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Image credit : Adapted from figure 2.14

Psychology, 4/e p. 77
From Ciccarelli,
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The frontal lobes contain the motor cortex, which controls the voluntary
muscles, and are also where all the higher mental functions occur, such as
planning, language, and complex decision making.
The occipital lobes at the back and base of each hemisphere process vision
and contain the primary visual cortex.
The parietal lobes at the top and back of the cortex contain the
somatosensory area, which processes our sense of touch, temperature, and
body position.
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The motor cortex in the frontal lobe controls the voluntary muscles of the body.
Cells at the top of the motor cortex control muscles at the bottom of the body,
whereas cells at the bottom of the motor cortex control muscles at the top of
the body. Body parts are drawn larger or smaller according to the number of
cortical cells devoted to that body part. For example, the hand has many small
muscles and requires a larger area of cortical cells to control it.
The somatosensory cortex, located in the parietal lobe just behind the motor
cortex, is organized in much the same manner and receives information about
the sense of touch and body position.
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Association areas of the cortex are found in all the lobes but particularly in the
frontal lobes. These areas help people make sense of the information they receive
from the lower areas of the brain.
A region called Brocas area in the left frontal lobe is responsible for producing
fluent, understandable speech. If damaged, the person has Brocas aphasia in
which words will be halting and pronounced incorrectly.
An area called Wernickes area in the left temporal lobe is responsible for the
understanding of language. If damaged, the person has Wernickes aphasia in
which speech is fluent but nonsensical. The wrong words are used.
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Image credit: laptop - istockphoto.com/CostinT
Description of simulation: A narrated animation examining the larger areas of
the human cerebrum and methods for studying the human brain
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Studies with split-brain patients, in which the corpus callosum has been
severed to correct epilepsy, reveal that the left side of the brain seems to
control language, writing, logical thought, analysis, and mathematical abilities.
The left side also processes information sequentially.
The right side of the brain processes information globally and controls
emotional expression, spatial perception, recognition of faces, patterns,
melodies, and emotions. Information presented only to the left hemisphere
can be verbalized but information only sent to the right cannot.
Ciccarelli, Psychology, 4/e, p. 83
icon:
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Image credit: brain
istockphoto.com/Stephen Kirklys
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ACTIVITY
Objectives
This is a two-part activity designed to very loosely measure: 1. reaction time, and 2. neural conductance speed. Students will be exposed to the concept of
neural chains and fast-moving speed of a neural impulse. Given that this activity is a very unscientific way to assess one aspect of neural conductance,
students should be encouraged to discuss the activitys validity/reliability shortcomings.
Extra materials needed
Measuring Tape
Stopwatch (a cell-phone timer will work)
White board and dry-erase marker
Part 1: Reaction Time
1. Invite all students to get up from their chairs and have students form a large circle around the room.
2. Count the number of students in the circle. The activity is most effective if the class size is between 30 and 200 students.
3. Write the number of students on the board.
4. Have each student place their right hand on the shoulder of the person to their right.
5. Identify beginning of the chain and the end of the chain.
6. Instruct the students that when you shout Start, the person at the beginning of the chain will squeeze the shoulder of the person to his/her right and
that this activity should be repeated by everyone in the chain. As soon as a student feels the shoulder squeeze, he or she should pass that squeeze
along to the next person in the circle, as fast as possible. Make sure to start the stopwatch as soon as you shout, Start.
When the last person in the circle feels his/her shoulder being squeezed, he/she should shout, STOP. At this point, the timing will stop.
On the board, write the total time it took students to complete the neural circuit.
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So whats the difference between strong stimulation and weak stimulation? A

strong message will cause the neuron to fire more quickly (as if someone
flicked the light switch on and off as quickly as possible), and it will also cause
more neurons to fire (as if there were a lot of lights going on and off instead of
just one). The latter point can be demonstrated quite easily. Just touch lightly
on the palm of your hand. You feel a very light pressure sensation. Now push
hard in the same spot. You will feel a much stronger pressure sensation, and
you can see with your own eyes that more of the skin on the palm of your
hand is pushed in by your touchmore skin involved means more neurons
firing.
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Image credits: topbar: cactus

topbar: wooden board
istockphoto.com/Lee Daniels
istockphoto.com/yulkapopkova
Psychology, 4/e, p. 62
istockphoto.com/andynwt
Figure 2.8
fighting
Ciccarelli,
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Image credits: painter - istockphoto.com/VikramRaghuvanshitopbar: helmets

- istockphoto.com/Li Shen Jun; topbar: athletic field istockphoto.com/Jamie Otterstetter; topbar: helmets - istockphoto.com/Li
Shen Jun; topbar: athletic field - istockphoto.com/Jamie Otterstetter
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Image credits: painter

police officer
istockphoto.com/VikramRaghuvanshi
istockphoto.com/Katrina Brown
football player
istockphoto.com/George Peters Design And Illustration
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Another activity is to have students draw a figure 8 in the air with their right
hand while simultaneously lifting their left leg and moving their left foot around
in a clockwise circle. This is very difficult to do as conflicting commands are
bumping in to one another as they travel across the corpus collosum.
Image credits: topbar: helmets - istockphoto.com/Li Shen Jun; topbar:
athletic field - istockphoto.com/Jamie Otterstetter; topbar: helmets istockphoto.com/Li Shen Jun; topbar: athletic field - istockphoto.com/Jamie
Otterstetter
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Image credits: topbar: helmets

topbar: athletic field
topbar: helmets
istockphoto.com/Jamie Otterstetter
topbar:
athletic field
istockphoto.com/Jamie Otterstetter
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Image: baseball
istockphoto.com/Dan Thornberg
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Image: hammer - istockphoto.com/Fuat Kose
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If a picture of a ball is flashed to the right side of the screen, the image of the
ball will be sent to the left occipital lobe. The person will be able to say that he
or she sees a ball. If a picture of a hammer is flashed to the left side of the
screen, the person will not be able to verbally identify the object or be able to
state with any certainty that something was seen. But if the left hand
(controlled by the right hemisphere) is used, the person can point to the
hammer he or she didnt see. The right occipital lobe clearly saw the
hammer, but the person could not verbalize that fact. By doing studies such as
these, researchers have found that the left hemisphere specializes in
language, speech, handwriting, calculation (math), sense of time and rhythm
(which is mathematical in nature), and basically any kind of thought requiring
analysis. The right hemisphere appears to specialize in more global
Copyright
2015,
2013,
2010 perception,
Pearson Education,
Inc. All
Rights Reserved
(widespread)
processing
involving
visualization, spatial
perception,

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Images: Smiling man

Image credits: Smiling man - Shutterstock; gears - Sebastian Kaulitzki/Fotolia;

Biological psychology or behavioral neuroscience is a branch of neuroscience

istockphoto.com/Nicolesy Photography | Nicole S.

Image credits: neuron

Image credits: two puzzle pieces

Image: OYB: book with open pages

Images: neuron illustration from figure 2.2

From Ciccarelli, Psychology,

Neurons fire in an all-or-nothing manner. It is the speed and number of

Image credits: Figure 2.2

Ciccarelli, Psychology, 4/e, p. 50

Charlie Levin, adapting wooden board image from

Synaptic vesicles in the end of the axon terminal release neurotransmitter

Image credits: neuron

The first known neurotransmitter was acetylcholine. Curare is a poison that

Most neurotransmitters are taken back into the synaptic vesicles in a

Image credit: Figure 2.4

From Ciccarelli, Psychology, 4/e p. 54

NOTE TO INSTRUCTORS: You must be logged in to your MyPsychLab

Image credit: laptop

Description of simulation: A narrated animation showing the communication

Images: Smiling man - Shutterstock; gears Sebastian Kaulitzki/Fotolia;

Images: brain & spine

Image credits: Smiling man - Shutterstock; gears - Sebastian Kaulitzki/Fotolia;

Image credit: brain & spine

Spinal cord reflexes involve afferent neurons, interneurons, and efferent

Image credits: Figure 2.6

Imagecredits : stem cell

Image credits: Smiling man - Shutterstock; gears - Sebastian Kaulitzki/Fotolia;

Image credits: Figure 2.6

From Ciccarelli, Psychology, 4/e p. 57; icon:

Charlie Levin, adapting wooden board image from

Image credits: Smiling man - Shutterstock; gears - Sebastian Kaulitzki/Fotolia;

NOTE TO INSTRUCTORS: You must be logged in to your MyPsychLab

Image credits: Smiling man - Shutterstock; gears - Sebastian Kaulitzki/Fotolia;

LESIONING STUDIES: We can study the brain by using deep lesioning to

Image credits : Smiling man - Shutterstock; gears - Sebastian

Image credit: head with brain illustration, section of figure 2.12

Image credit: Figure 2.13

NOTE TO INSTRUCTORS: You must be logged in to your MyPsychLab

Image credits: OYB- book with open pages

Image credit : Adapted from figure 2.14

NOTE TO INSTRUCTORS: You must be logged in to your MyPsychLab

Image credit: brain

Image credits: Smiling man - Shutterstock; gears - Sebastian Kaulitzki/Fotolia;

So whats the difference between strong stimulation and weak stimulation? A

Image credits: topbar: cactus

Image credits: painter - istockphoto.com/VikramRaghuvanshitopbar: helmets

Image credits: painter

istockphoto.com/George Peters Design And Illustration

Image credits: topbar: helmets

istockphoto.com/Li Shen Jun

istockphoto.com/Li Shen Jun

Image: hammer - istockphoto.com/Fuat Kose

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