Psychology I

Unit III: Inner-Self

Compiled by: Mr. Mark Darket

Unit III: Inner-Self
A. Body and Mind
1. Nervous System
2. The Brain
3. Sensation
4. Perception
5. Threshold, adaptation, constancy
6. Depth perception
7. Attention
B. Personality
1. Motivation
2. Biological needs
3. Psychology needs
4. Emotions
5. Theories of personality
6. Gender roles
Unit III: Inner-Self
A. Body and Mind
1. The Nervous System
Lesson Questions
1. How are messages transmitted by neurons, and what
are the functions of the peripheral nervous system?
2. What are the major structures of the brain, and what
is the function of each structure?
3. How do hormones secreted by the major glands of the
endocrine system affect the body?
4. What is the role of chromosomes and genes in
heredity, and how do psychologists study the role of
heredity in determining traits?
Childish Video on the Nervous System
The Nervous System
 The human nervous system is involved in thinking,
dreaming, feeling, moving, and much more.
 Active or still
 Sleeping or awake
 When we learn a new behavior or acquire new information,
the nervous system registers the experience and changes to
accommodate storage.
 The nervous system has two main parts
1. The central nervous system – the brain and spinal cord
2. Peripheral nervous system – nerve cells
The Nervous System

malct32.blogspot.com
Neurons
 Neurons are nerve cells which run through our
entire body and communicate with each other.
 The neurons send and receive messages from other
structures in the body, such as muscles and glands
 Each of us has over 100 billion neurons.
 The Anatomy of Two
Neurons
“Messages” enter neurons through the
dendrites. These messages are
transmitted along the trunk-like axon to
other neurons, glands, and muscles. On
many neurons, the myelin sheath
protects the axon.
1.Cell body – produces energy that fuels
the cell
2.Dendrites – branchlike fibers that
receive information from other neurons
and pass the message through the cell
body
3.Axon – transmits impulses away from
the neuron cell body
4.Myelin sheath – fatty substance
protecting the axon
5.Axon terminals – small fibers at the
end of the axon to transmit messages

mybrainnotes.com
The Communication Process
 Messages are sent from the
axon terminals of one
neuron to the dendrites of
other neurons.
 In order for a message to be
sent from one neuron to
another neuron, it must
cross the synapse
 The synapse is a junction
between the axon terminals
of one neuron and the
dendrites of another neuron

etbscreenwriting.com
 The Synapse
There is no physical connection
between neurons. A neuron relays its
message across a junction called a
synapse by releasing chemicals called
neurotransmitters. They are received
by the next neuron

scienceblogs.com
 Neurotransmitters
• Neurotransmitters are chemicals
that are stored in sacs in the axon
terminals
• They fire like droplets of water
shooting out of a spray bottle
• There are several kinds of
neurotransmitters each with its
own structure and fit to the next
neuron.
• Acetylcholine is involved in the
control of muscles
• Dopamine is essential for motor
behavior
• Too much = Schizophrenia
• Too little = Parkinson’s Disease

integrativepsychiatry.net
Neurotransmitters

amoryn.com
Central Nervous System
 The brain and the spinal cord are the components
of the central nervous system.
 The spinal cord extends from the brain down the
back. It is a column of nerves about as thick as
thumb.
 It transmits messages between the brain and the
muscles and the glands throughout the body.
The Peripheral Nervous System
 This system spreads the messages from the central
nervous system throughout the rest of the body.
 The two main divisions of the peripheral nervous
system are:
 Somatic nervous system
 Autonomic nervous system
Divisions of the Peripheral Nervous
System
Somatic Nervous System
 Transmits sensory memory to the
central nervous system.
 It is activated by touch, pain,
changes in temperature, and
changes in body position.
 It enables us to feel the
differences between hot and cold
and to feel pain and pressure.
Autonomic Nervous System
 Autonomic = involuntary
 This system regulates heartbeat,
breathing, digestion, and blood
pressure
 Sympathetic nervous system is
activated when the body goes
into action.
 The parasympathetic nervous
system restores the body’s
energy reserves after action has
taken place.
Unit III: Inner-self
A. Body and Mind
2. The Brain
 al
Cerebr
Forebrain Cortex
(Cerebrum)
Corpus
Callosum

Hypo
tha l a mu s
Midbrain

Pons Thala
m us
Medulla Oblongata

Spinal cord Hindbrain

(Cerebellum)
Parts of the Brain
 The human brain is composed of many parts that
work together to organize our movements,
thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
 Psychologists generally divide the parts of the
brain in the following way
 Hindbrain – vitals and balance
 Midbrain – vision and hearing
 Forebrain – complex thought and emotion
 The Hindbrain

web.lemoyne.edu
The Forebrain
The Midbrain