This document provides an overview of the biological bases of behavior, including the structure and function of the nervous system and endocrine system. It describes how the nervous system is composed of the central and peripheral nervous systems. The peripheral nervous system includes the somatic and autonomic nervous systems. It also outlines the basic parts and functions of neurons, neurotransmitters, and the pathway of a neural impulse. Additionally, it summarizes the major structures of the brain and their functions, and identifies the key endocrine glands and hormones.

1. GENERALPSYCHOLOGY CHAPTER II:BIOLOGICAL BASES OF BEHAVIOR

2. Basic building blocks of the nervous system The Nervous Systemis the body’s electrochemical communication circuitry. The field that studies the nervous system is called neuroscience, and the people who study it are called neuroscientist.

3. Basic building blocks of the nervous system The Nervous System is primarily composed of the Central Nervous System and the Peripheral Nervous System.

4. Characteristics of the Nervous System1. Complexity2. Integration3. Adaptability4. Electrochemical Transmission

5. 1. Complexity The brain and nervous system being complex allows the individual to do activities of different kinds. This is due to the orchestration of the billions of cells in the brain and the nervous system.

6. 2. IntegrationIntegration refers to the ability of the brain to pull information together.

7. 3. Adaptability Although the composition of the brain and the nervous system have hereditary foundation, both have the ability to constantly adapt to the changes in the body and the environment. The term plasticitydenotes the brain’s special capacity for modification and change.

8. 4. Electrochemical Transmission The brain being the information processing system, powered by electrical impulses and chemical messages allows the individual to perceive and respond to stimuli.

9. Pathways in the Nervous SystemAfferent Nerves (Sensory Nerves)-transport information to the brain.Stimulus Sensory Receptors Afferent Nerves Brain

10. 2. Efferent Nerves (motor nerves)-carry the brain’s output or response.Brain Efferent Nerves Muscles (motor behaviour response)

11. 3. Neural Networks-cluster of neurons that are interconnected to process information by integrating sensory input and motor output.

14. Peripheral Nervous Systemthe network of nerves that connect the brain and the spinal cord to other parts of the body. It is divided into the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.

15. Somatic Nervous Systemthe division of the PNS consisting of sensory nerves, whose function is to convey information to the CNS, and motor nerves, whose function is to transmit information to the muscles.Autonomic Nervous Systemthe division of the PNS that communicates with the body’s internal organs. It consist of the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems.

16. Sympathetic Nervous Systemthe division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body.Parasympathetic Nervous Systemthe division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body.

17. The neuronSoma or the cell body contains the cell’s nucleus and is responsible for the cell’s health and well-being.Dendrites receive messages from other neurons.Axon transmits information on to additional neurons.

18. The neuron The Myelin sheath is the layer of fat cells that encases and insulates most axons which help speed up the transmission of nerve impulse.

19. The neuron The synapse is the branching end of a neuron’s axon reach out to, but do not touch, the dendrites.

21. Neurotransmitter Substances1. Acetylcholine (ACh) stimulates the firing of neurons and is involved in the action of muscles, learning, and memory.Deficiency in AChwill involve decline in memory storage and Alzheimer’s disease. 2. Dopamine mainly inhibits and helps control the voluntary movement.Dopamine affects sleep, mood, attention and learning (mainly in planning, and the inhibition of irrelevant behaviours and ideas).3. Serotonin also primarily inhibits. It also regulates sleep and wakefulness, mood, attention and learning.

22. Neurotransmitter Substances4. Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) helps to control the preciseness of the signal being carried from one neuron to the next.Low level of GABA is linked to anxiety.5. Norepinephrineusually inhibits the firing of neurons in the central nervous system, but it excites the heart muscle, intestine, and urogenital tract.Stress stimulates the release of norepinephrine. Too little norepinephrine is associated with depression, and too much is linked with agitated and manic states.

23. Neurotransmitter Substances6. Endorphins are natural opiates that mainly stimulates the firing of neurons. It shields the body from pain and elevates feelings of pleasure.

24. The neuron The Glial cells (neuroglia) provide chemicals that a neuron need to function properly. they also serve as the clean up crew by removing dead neurons and excess neurotransmitter substances.

25. Three kinds of neuronsSensory NeuronInterneuronsMotor Neurons

26. The Neural ImpulseResting Potential-the stable negative charge of an inactive neuron.Action Potential-the brief wave of electrical charge that sweeps down the axon during the transmission of a nerve impulse.

27. All-or-none Principle-once the electrical impulse reaches a certain level of intensity, it fires and over all the way down to the axon without losing any of its intensity.

28. Brain structure and functions The human brain has three major components: 1. the hindbrain; 2. the midbrain; and 3. the forebrain.

29. The hindbrain The hindbrain is made up of several smaller structures such as the medulla, the pons, and the cerebellum.

30. The midbrainThe midbrain is composed of two parts:the reticular formation (a.k.a. reticular activating system or RAS); and2. the brainstem.

31. The forebrain The forebrain mainly consists the following: 1. Cerebral cortex 2. Limbic system 3. Thalamus 4. Hypothalamus 5. Hippocampus 6. Amygdala

32. 1. Frontal lobe is largely responsible for a wide variety of human activities such as:languageattentionreasoning planninggoal settingself monitoringdecision makingjudgmentlearning strategiesinterpreting others’ behaviour

33. 2. Parietal lobes receive and interpret somatosensory information. 3. Occipital lobes 4. Temporal lobes

35. The Endocrine SystemThe Endocrine System is a set of glands that regulate the activities of certain organs by secreting hormones to the bloodstream. These hormones are chemical messengers that are manufactured by the glands in the system. The endocrine glands include the pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands, the pancreas, ovaries, and testes.

37. 1. Pituitary Gland-is located at the base of the skull, regulates the secretion of growth hormone and controls all other endocrine glands. It is known as the master gland. The anterior pituitary is controlled by the hypothalamus. 2. Pineal Gland-also located in the brain, it secretes the hormone melatonin, which regulates the sleep and wake cycle.

38. 3. Thyroid Gland-locate inside the neck and secretes a hormone called thyroxin that regulates metabolism (how fast the body burns its available energy). 4. Pancreas-controls the blood sugar level by secreting the insulin and glucagons.

39. 5. Adrenal Glands-one on top of each kidney, produces the main hormone cortisol(steroid). The adrenal glands regulate moods, energy, and the ability to cope with stress. They secrete epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) in response to stress. 6. Gonads-produces sex hormones responsible for primary and secondary sex characteristics.