PSYC 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Reticular Formation, Natural Selection, Epigenetics
Document Summary
Iii: central nervous system = consist of brain and spinal cord. The endocrine system: consists of glands that secrete chemicals into bloodstream to control body functioning, endocrine glands release hormones, slower than nervous system, mostly controlled by hypothalamus, pituitary gland ( master gland ) secretes lots of different hormones. Evolutionary bases of behavior: darwin, natural selection means heritable characteristics that provide survival advantage will pass down. Cells of the brain: rules of thumb. Botulinum toxin is a cholinergic antagonist: botox (diluted form) is used by people who want to alter their face, ex. Venom is a cholinergic agonist: venom causes uncontrollable muscle contractions/spasms, ex. Nicotine is a cholinergic agonist: monoamines, dopamine involved in physical movement, addiction/cravings, norepinephrine involved in mood, arousal, epinephrine involved in cardiac contraction, ex. Tryptophan -> serotonin -> melatonin: this is why it is possible to use diet to change the amounts of available neurotransmitters ix.
