This document provides an overview of a psychology unit on biopsychology that covers the brain and nervous system. It includes 10 lessons that discuss topics like the main parts of the brain, lobes and areas of the cerebral cortex, split brain research, neurons, neurotransmitters, and the nervous and endocrine systems. Students are given assignments to label diagrams, answer questions, watch educational videos, and study guides to help them learn the key concepts in preparation for an exam on biopsychology. The goal is to understand how biological processes and systems impact behavior.

1. Psychology
Unit 2: Biopsychology

2. Lesson 1: The Brain
Parts of the Brain
ACTIVATOR:

3. Lesson 1: The Brain
• Cerebrum (Cerebral Cortex)
• Cerebellum
• Pons
• Medulla
• Reticular Activating System
• Corpus Callosum
• Thalamus
• Hypothalamus
• Hippocampus
• Amygdala
• Pituitary Gland
• Spinal Cord
EQ: How do biological processes and systems
impact behavior?
Vocabulary

4. Parts of the Brain
Part of the Brain Primary Function(s)
Medulla
Pons
Reticular
Activating System
Cerebellum
Thalamus
Hypothalamus
Hippocampus
Amygdala
Pituitary Gland
Cerebral Cortex
Corpus Callosum
Use Your Textbook Resources to Complete the Chart Below

5. Central Nervous System

6. Spinal Cord
• Transmits neural
signals between
the brain and the
rest of the body.
• Contains neural
circuits that can
independently
control numerous
reflexes

7. The Brain

8. Brain Structures
• Some scientists
divide the brain up
into three parts.
• Hindbrain
• Midbrain
• Forebrain

9. Medulla (Oblongata)
•Heart rate
•Breathing
•Blood Pressure

10. Pons
• Connects hindbrain,
midbrain and
forebrain together.
• Respiration
• Movement
• Sleep
• Facial expressions

11. Reticular Activating System
(RAS)
• Responsible for
regulating arousal
and sleep
• Helps mediate
transitions from
relaxed
wakefulness to
periods of high
attention.

12. Cerebellum
• Means “little brain”
• Voluntary muscle
movements.
• Coordination
• Balance

13. Thalamus
• In Forebrain
• Receives sensory
information and
sends them to
appropriate areas
of the cerebral
cortex.
• Like a switchboard.
• Everything but
smell.

14. Limbic System
• EMOTIONAL
CONTROL CENTER
of the brain.
• Includes:
• Amygdala
• Hippocampus
• Hypothalamus

15. Hippocampus and Amygdala
• Hippocampus is
involved in memory
processing.
• Amygdala is vital
for our basic
emotions. Involved
with anger

16. Hypothalamus
• Pea sized in brain, but
plays a not so pea sized
role.
• Body temperature
• Hunger
• Thirst
• Sexual Arousal (libido)
• Endocrine System

17. Pituitary Gland
• “Master Gland”
• An important link
between the nervous
system and the endocrine
system
• Releases many hormones
which affect growth,
sexual development,
metabolism and the
system of reproduction.

18. Cerebrum (Cerebral Cortex)
• Top layer of our
brain.
• Responsible for high-
level mental process
and thought
• Contains wrinkles
called fissures.
• The fissures increase
surface area of our
brain.
• Divided into two
hemispheres

19. Cerebral Cortex Brain
Comparison

20. Corpus Callosum
• Corpus Callosum
attaches the two
hemispheres of
cerebral cortex.
• Allows both
hemispheres to
communicate with
one another

21. Lesson 1: The Brain
Brain Parts and
Functions
Summarizer:

23. Lesson 2: The Brain
3 Parts of the Brain
2 Facts learned
1 Question
ACTIVATOR:

24. Lesson 2: The Brain
• Frontal Lobe
• Parietal Lobe
• Occipital Lobe
• Temporal Lobe
• Motor Cortex (Strip)
• (Soma)Sensory
Cortex (Strip)
• Broca’s Area
• Wernicke’s Area
EQ: How do biological processes and systems
impact behavior?
Vocabulary

25. Lobes and Areas Assignment
1. Read the article in your packet entitled Men and
Women are Different and answer the questions on
the accompanying question sheet.
2. Using colored pencils, locate, label, and shade the
following: (Use pg. 74 in your text)
• Frontal Lobe, Parietal Lobe, Temporal Lobe, Occipital
Lobe, Motor Cortex, Somasensory Cortex, Broca’s
Area, and Wernicke’s Area.
• Note: The areas and cortexes are located in lobes. This
means you must locate all areas prior to coloring.
3. Meet with a partner to check each other’s work

26. Lobes and Areas of the Brain

27. Areas of the Cerebral Cortex
• Divided into eight
lobes, four in each
hemisphere (frontal,
parietal, occipital
and temporal).
• Any area not dealing
with our senses or
muscle movements
are called
association areas.

28. Frontal Lobe
• Executive center of the
brain.
• Deals with planning,
maintaining emotional
control, abstract thought,
and the storage of
memories.
• Contains Broca’s Area.
• Contains Motor Cortex
(Strip)

29. Parietal Lobes
• Located at the top of our
head.
• Contains the Somasensory
Cortex (Strip)
• Rest are association areas.

30. Temporal Lobes
• Process sound
sensed by ears.
• Not lateralized.
• Contains Wernicke’s
area.

31. Occipital Lobes
• In the back of our
head.
• Contains the visual
association area
which handles visual
information from the
eyes.
• Right half of each
retina goes to left
occipital lobe and
vice versa.

32. Broca’s and Wernicke’s Areas
• Broca’s Area
• Located in the frontal lobe
• Responsible for speaking
• When damaged (aphasia) people speak
slowly/laboriously with simple sentences
• Wernicke’s Area
• Located in the temporal lobe
• Responsible for understanding speech
• When damaged(aphasia) speech is meaningless

33. Mapping of the Motor and Sensory Strips

36. Lesson 3: Split Brain/Cerebral Lateralization
• Corpus Callosum
• Epilepsy
• Longitudinal Fissure
EQ: How do biological processes and systems
impact behavior?
Vocabulary

37. Activating Strategy
• Get into pairs
• With your partner hold the paper in place and a writing utensil
in each hand, attempt to draw a “star” and a “circle” at the
same time.

38. Hemispheres
• Divided into a left and
right hemisphere.
• Contra-lateral
controlled- left
controls right side of
body and vice versa.
• Brain Lateralization.

39. Cutting the Corpus Callosum
WHY?
Longitudinal
Fissure

40. Split Brain: Assignment 1
•Read with a Purpose: Read p. 65
in alternate textbook.
•Summarize the main points and
the experiment discussed.
•Focus on the outcomes.

42. Split Brain Research
Watch The Video: Part 1- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfGwsAdS9Dc

43. Split Brain: Assignment 2
• Group discussion:
• Now that you have watched the film, what are
some right and left brain abilities that were
revealed in the film the film?
• What are some questions that you have
remaining?

44. Cerebral Specialization

45. Split Brain: Hint on Remembering
LEFT
LANGUAGE
LOGIC
LINEAR

46. Lesson 4: The Neuron
• Dendrites
• Cell body (Soma)
• Axon
• Myelin Sheath
• Synapse
• Vesicles
• Nodes of Ranvier
• Neurotransmitters
EQ: How do biological processes and systems
impact behavior?
Vocabulary

47. Lesson 4 Activator
Neural Communication Line Test
Post Activity Question:
Why was there a difference in the results?

48. Neuroanatomy
SynapseSynapse
Neurotransmitters (chemicals held in terminal
buttons that travel through synaptic gap)

49. The Synapse

50. Types of Neurons
• Efferent (Motor)
Neurons
• Interneurons
• Afferent (Sensory)
Neurons

51. Neuroanatomy: Formal Assessment
Link Through Color: Using the three
sheets provided, color the
corresponding parts on each sheet.
Colors should be consistent
demonstrating your understanding of
the connection between diagrams. You
have 15 minutes to complete this
assignment.

52. How does a Neuron fire?
• Resting Potential: slightly
negative charge.
• Reach the threshold when
enough neurotransmitters
reach dendrites.
• Go into Action Potential.
• All-or-none response.
• Transfer of ions across
axon’s membrane causes
electrical charge.

53. Lesson Activator
Any questions prior to the neuron quiz?

54. Lesson 5: Neurotransmitters
• Acetylcholine
• Dopamine
• Serotonin
• Endorphins
• Reuptake
• SSRI
• Neurotransmitter
EQ: How do biological processes and systems
impact behavior?
Vocabulary

55. Neural Communication Refresher

56. Using the article Plunge of Pleasure
and the Read with a Purpose technique
collect evidence on the psychological
importance of dopamine and
serotonin. This information includes
associated behaviors, disorders, and
relationship to other drugs.
Neurotransmitter Assignment

57. Neurotransmitters
Serotonin
EndorphinsAcetylcholine
Dopamine

58. • Involved in mood
control.
• Lack of Serotonin
has been linked to
clinical depression
• SSRI’s
• Paxil
• Zoloft
Serotonin

59. Dopamine
• Deals with infatuation,
motor movement, and
alertness.
• Lack of dopamine has
been linked to
Parkinson’s disease.
• Too much has been
linked to schizophrenia.
• Cocaine increases levels
of dopamine by blocking
reuptake
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OS2C4NemJI&feature=related

60. Acetylcholine (ACH)
• Deals with motor
movement and
memory.
• Lack of ACH has
been linked to
Alzheimer’s disease.
• Nicotine triggers
ACH receptor sites.
• Reduce # of ACH
receptors resulting in
withdrawal
symptoms and
cravings.

61. Endorphins (Endogenous Morphine)
• Involved in pain
control and feelings
of wellbeing
• Opiates and
endorphins trigger
the same receptor
sites. (morphine,
codeine, heroin)
• Causes the Runner’s
High

62. Drugs can be…..
• Agonists- make neuron fire
• Antagonists- stop neural firing
• Reuptake Inhibitors- block
reuptake

63. Lesson 6: The Nervous and Endocrine Systems
• Central Nervous System
• Peripheral Nervous System
• Somatic Nervous System
• Autonomic Nervous System
• Sympathetic Nervous System
• Parasympathetic Nervous System
• Endocrine System
• Thyroid
• Androgen
• Estrogen
EQ: How do biological processes and systems
impact behavior?
Vocabulary

64. The Nervous System

65. Central Nervous System

66. Peripheral Nervous System
• All nerves that are not
encased in bone.
• Everything but the
brain and spinal cord.
• Is divided into two
categories….somatic
and autonomic.

67. Somatic Nervous System
• Controls voluntary
muscle movement.
• Uses motor
(efferent) neurons.

68. Autonomic Nervous System
• Controls the automatic
functions of the body.
• Divided into two
categories…the
sympathetic and the
parasympathetic
• Memory Hint: Auto like
automatic or autopilot.
Don’t have to think or do.

70. Sympathetic Nervous System
• Fight or Flight
Response.
• Automatically
accelerates heart rate,
breathing, dilates
pupils, slows down
digestion.

71. Parasympathetic Nervous System
• Automatically slows
the body down after a
stressful event.
• Heart rate and
breathing slow down,
pupils constrict and
digestion speeds up.
• Memory Hint: Para is
like parachute. It slow
us down.

73. Pituitary Gland
• “Master Gland”
• An important link
between the nervous
system and the endocrine
system
• Releases many hormones
which affect growth,
sexual development,
metabolism and the
system of reproduction.

74. Thyroid
Metabolism: the chemical and physical processes in an
organism by which protoplasm is produced, sustained, and
then decomposed to make energy available.

75. Gonads
• Sex Glands
• Ovaries
• Testes
• Estrogens
• Greater amounts in females
• Necessary for normal sexual development of the female
• Regulates the menstrual cycle during the childbearing
years.
• Androgens
• Greater amounts in males
• Present in females in small amounts
• Related to aggression

76. Unit 2: Biopsychology Summarizer
1. Using the Learning Goals Outline in your
biopsychology packet, attempt to answer
the questions without the use of your
notes. This will act as a pre-study test.
2. Identify your areas of weakness
3. Complete any unanswered or correct any
incorrect questions
4. Study your packet using the resources
provided. (Flashcards, graphic organizers,
diagrams, Learning Goals Outline)

77. Study
for the
Biopsychology Exam

78. Lesson Activator
Any questions prior to the Biopsychology
Exam?