Physiological Bases of Human Behavior

Nervous System
Contains many cells that are busy integrating and relaying information. It is a living tissue composed of cells .

Two major categories: GLIA NEURONS OR NERVE CELL

Neuron
It is the individual cells in the nervous system that receive, integrate and transmit information. The basic unit of the nervous system is of differing shapes, sizes and function.

Part of Neuron
CELL BODY/SOMA contains the nucleus which provides nourishment and insulation. DENDRITES receive signals from the neighboring neurons and carry them back to the cell body. AXONS relatively longer than the other neurons which carries messages to the other neuron. Axons terminate in small bulges called Terminal Buttons that send messages to other neurons

Myelin Sheath
These are fatty tissue and proteins surrounding the axons. Gray is the color of the cell bodies and white is the color of myelin sheath.

Kinds of neuron According to Speed

Speed of condition is matched by the thickness of the myelin sheath.

Kinds of Neuron According to Basic Function

1. Sensory(Afferent neurons) conveys information from the bodys sense organs to the brain and spinal cord. This is initiated by the receptor specialize cells in the sense organs, muscles, skin and joints that detect physical or chemical change and convert these into impulse that pass along the sensory neurons.

2. Motor (Efferent neurons) carry impulse away from the brain and spiral cord to the reacting organs, the muscles and glands. 3. Association/Inter-neurons connect the neurons together and combine the activities of the sensory and motor neurons.

Glial Cells
(Greek word glia means glue) these are the non-neural celss that surround the neurons and ensure that it can perform its function while holding them in place.

Neurotransmitters
This neural impulse reaches an axons terminal buttons, it triggers the release of chemical messengers. The molecules diffuse across the synaptic cleft and binds through receptor sites on the postsynaptic neurons. It can bind only to receptor sites that its molecular structure will fit into, much like a key must fit the lock (Weiten, 2008)

How The Neurons Fire

ALL-or-NONE-LAW The firing neurons occurs at either in full strength or not at all. After each firing, the neuron needs time to recover which is called the refractory period. RESTING STATE The state of the neuron when not firing a neural impulse and when the message arrives, gate in the cell membrane open briefly to allow positivele charged ions to rush in rates as high as 100million ions per second(Feldman, 2010).

ACTION POTENTIAL The time when there is a release of the neural impulse consisting of a reversal of the electrical charge within the axon. THE SYNAPSE: SENDING THE MESSAGE TO OTHER CELL Two neurons do not actually meet. They separated by the synaptic cleft which is a microscopic gap between the terminal button of one neuron and the cell membrane of another neuron. This situation, the neurons that send a signal across the gap is called pre-synaptic neuron and the neurons that receive the signals is called post-synaptic neuron. NEURONTRANSMITTER: MESSENGER OF THE NETWORK These are chemicals that carry message across the synapse or cell body of a receiving neuron.

ORGANIZATION OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

A. Central Nervous System (CNS): Brain-Spinal Cord
BRAIN Protection: Skull SPINAL CORD Protection: Vertebrae

B. Peripheral Nervous System(PNS): Extension of CNS

Somatic System Reacts to outsides stimuli Autonomic System Maintains homeostasis Sympathetic System Response: Involuntary Parasympathetic System Response: Normal

Modern Brain Scanning Techniques: Providing Snapshots of its Internal Works

1. 2. 3. Electroencephalogram (EEG) records electrical activity in the brain electrodes placed on the outside of the skull. The device used to assess brain damage, epilepsy and other problems. Positron Emmission Tomography (PET) scans show the biochemical activity within the while hearing, seeing, thinking and speaking. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (FMRI) scans provide a detailed, three-dimensional computer image of the brain structures and activity by aiming a powerful magnetic field at the body. Computerized/Computed Tomography (CT) scan produces a three-dimensional image obtained from X-rays of the head that area assembled into a composite image by a computer. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) one of the newest types of scans. The enormous advantage of TMS, of course, is that the virtual cut is only temporary (Fedman, 2010; Santrock, 2005; White, 2009).

4. 5.

Major Parts of the Brain

A human brain which can easily be held in one hand, weighs about 1,350 grams or 3 pounds, and has the consistency of a firm Jell-O. Major Areas: Forebrain Midbrain Hindbrain

The Hindbrain
- The lowest portion of the brain. Three Identified Structure: Medulla it controls some sensitive body functions such as breathing, heartbeat, blood pressure and body posture. Pons joining two halves of the cerebellum, this lies adjacent to it containing large bundles of nerves. Cerebellum extends from the rear of the hindbrain, just above the medulla and behind the pons. It consist of two-rounded structures thought to play important roles in motor coordinator(Santock, 2005).

The Midbrain
Relays information between the brain and the eyes and the ears.

Two Systems of the midbrain that are of special interest:

Reticular Formation Small groups of neurons that use the neurotransmitter serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine.

The Forebrain
The largest part of the brain, which has left and right sides that are called hemispheres. that connected by a wide band of the fiber, are responsible for an incredible number of functions.

THE CEREBRAL CORTEX: Our New Brain

Cortex means cover It consist of a mass of deeply folded, rippled, convoluted tissue. Cortex is divided into two hemispheres called CELEBRAL HEMISHERES, which are connected by a thick, tough band of neural fibers (axons) called CORP CALLOSUM which literally means hard bodies as calluses on the feet are hard.

The cortex has four major sections called LOBES 1. 2. 3. 4. Frontal Lobe (personality) Parietal Lobe (spatial location) Temporal Lobe (languages processing) Occipital Lobe (vision)

Three main areas in the Cerebral Cortex:

Motor Areas largely reponsible for the voluntary movement. Association Areas responsible for the coordination and interpretation of information. Sensory Areas include three regions

THE LIMBIC SYSTEM: Old Brain

Its structure are found in the inner margin of the upper brain which includes the thalamus, hypothalamus, and amygdale. In general, the limbic system is involved in emotion, motivation and learning.

Thalamus (inner chamber)

- the middle of the central core that acts primarily to relay information about senses.

Hypothalamus (below the inner chamber)

- regulates body temperature, thirst, hunger, sleeping and waking, sexual activity and emotions.

Hippocampus (Greek word for sea horse) - located inside the temporal lobe which is responsible for the formation of long-term memories and the storage of memory for the location of objects. Amygdala (almond) - area of the brain located near the hippocampus.

THE CHEMICAL CONNECTION: THE ENDOCRINE GLANDS

ENDORINE SYSTEM is a chemical communication network that sends message throughout the body via the bloodstream. Glands are organs in the body that secrete chemicals Endocrine Glands have no ducts and secrete their chemicals directly into the bloodstream.

A. Pituitary Gland: The master of the Hormonal Universe

Pituitary gland is located in the brain itself, just below the hypothalamus.
Anterior Pituitary Posterior Pituitary

B. Pineal Gland
It is also located in the brain near the back. It secretes hormones called MELATONIN, which regulates the sleep-wake cycle.

C. Thyroid Gland
Also located inside the neck and secretes a hormone called THYROXIN that regulates metabolism.

D. Pancreas
Controls the level of blood sugar in the body by secreting INSULIN and GLUCAGONS.

E. Gonads
are sex glands, including the ovaries in the female and testes in the male. They secrete hormones that regulates sexual behavior and reproduction.

F. Adrenal Glands
Adrenal means to or on the kidney Each adrenal gland is divided into two sections, the ADRENAL MEDULLA and the ADRENAL CORTEX.
CORTICOIDS CORTISOL