Transcript Everything psychological is simultaneously

Neurons, Neural Processing, and
Neurotransmitters
“Everything psychological is
simultaneously biological.”
Advancements in neuroscience have
helped us to understand the role the
brain plays in our thoughts, feelings and
behaviors.
Phrenology
• German Franz Gall 1800’s
• Bumps in the skull are indicators of cognitive ability
(false)
• Different parts of the brain are responsible for different
tasks (true)
A human is a system composed
of subsystems
• cells
• organs
• individual
• family
• culture
• community
What are neurons and how do they
communicate?
NEURAL COMMUNICATION
neurons – the body’s building blocks
sensory neurons – carry messages to the brain (a few million)
motor neurons – receive messages from the brain (a few million)
interneurons – connect and process information between sensory and motor
neurons (multiple billions)
Example: Dave touches a hot stove. Sensory neurons in his finger tips carry
the message to the brain that says, “TOO HOT!” The brain then sends
messages to the motor neurons that says, “Take your hand off the stove!”
See Khan Academy Video Clip & Fill in Neuron Diagram
PARTS OF A NEURON
See Neuron Diagram worksheet.
Neurotransmitters
• chemical messengers that travel through neurons.
Synapse / Synaptic Gap
• Space between the axon terminal and the dendrite. (1 millionth of an inch)
How do neurotransmitters influence
behavior?
Well Known
Neurotransmitters
• Acetylcholine
(Uh-seet-l-koh-leen)
• Dopamine
(doh-puh-meen)
• Serotonin
(ser-uh-toh-nin)
Epinephrine
(ep-uh-nef-rin)
Norepinephrine
(nawr-ep-uh-nef-rin)
• Gamma-aminobutyric
• Glutamate
(gloo-tuh-meyt)
• Endorphin
(en-dawr-fin)
Fill out “Neurotransmitters Chart”
How do Drugs and Other Chemicals
Alter Neurotransmission?
See “Your Brain on Cocaine”