PSYC 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Central Nervous System, Occipital Lobe, Peripheral Nervous System
Lecture 3: Biology of the Mind
Humans are biopsychosocial systems
We know:
1. Nerve cells conduct electricity and communicate through chemical messages across tiny
separating gaps (synapses)
2. Specific brain systems serve specific functions and info is integrated to construct a wide
range of experiences
3. The adaptive brain is wired by experience
Neurotransmitters
travel designated pathways in the brain and may influence specific
behaviors and emotions
- endorphins are natural opiates released in response to pain and exercise
- drugs and other chemicals affect brain chemistry at synapses
can change synapses for dopamine and seratonin
Nervous System: body’s speed, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the
nerve cells of the central & peripheral nervous systems
Central Nervous System (CNS)
- brain & spinal cord are body’s decision maker
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
- Sensory and motor neurons connecting the CNS to the rest of the body for
gathering and transmitting information
o Somatic Nervous System
o Autonomic Nervous System
▪ parasympathetic nerves (rest & digest)
▪ sympathetic nerves (flight or fight): body stops all non-essential
functions
Cerebral Cortex & Our Divided Brain
Frontal lobe:
lies just behind forehead; involved in making plans, judgment, speaking,
muscle movement
- not fully developed until mid-20s
Motor cortex (rear frontal): controls voluntary movements
Parietal lobe
: top of head, toward rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position
Occipital Lobe
: back of head; receives information from visual fields
Temporal Lobe
: above ears, includes auditory areas, receives info from opposite ear
Corpus Callosum: large band of neural fibers that connects the two brain hemispheres and
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Document Summary
Neurotransmitters travel designated pathways in the brain and may influence specific behaviors and emotions. Endorphins are natural opiates released in response to pain and exercise. Drugs and other chemicals affect brain chemistry at synapses can change synapses for dopamine and seratonin. Nervous system: body"s speed, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the central & peripheral nervous systems. Brain & spinal cord are body"s decision maker. Frontal lobe: lies just behind forehead; involved in making plans, judgment, speaking, muscle movement. Parietal lobe: top of head, toward rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position. Occipital lobe: back of head; receives information from visual fields. Temporal lobe: above ears, includes auditory areas, receives info from opposite ear. Corpus callosum: large band of neural fibers that connects the two brain hemispheres and sends messages between them. Split brain hemisphere: isolated by cutting the fibers (mainly corpus callosum) connecting them.
