Communication in the nervous system/ Why psychologists are concerned with human biology?
Neural impulse/using energy to communicate information
Describe the structure of the neuron, including the major parts such as the dendrites, axon, and terminal buttons. Describe how neural impulses are generated. Distinguish between resting and action potentials.
Types of neurons
sensory/receive input from external world
motor/send impulses out from brain
interneurons/conduct impulses between neurons
Neurotransmitters and behavior/part of electrochemical process
Describe how nerve cells communicate (across the synaptic membrane). Describe the impact of neurotransmitter substances and drugs on human behavior.
Peripheral nervous system/autonomic (sympathetic and parasympathetic) and somatic nervous systems/identify functions of each nervous system
Central nervous system/brain (voluntary) and spinal cord (involuntary/reflexive behavior)
EEG/neural activity (brain waves)
CAT scan
PET scan
MRI
Lesioning/behavioral affects (changes in human behavior)
Hindbrain
Medulla
Pons
Cerebellum
Midbrain
reticular formation
Forebrain/
thalamus/
hypothalamus
limbic system
hippocampus
septal area
cerebral cortex (highest level of functioning provides human distinctiveness-four lobes/description of the sensory and motor functions of the cerebral cortex
plasticity of brain/compensatory structure
right brain/left brain-cerebral laterality
split brain research (Sperry)/bisecting the brain
hemispheric specialization/intact brain (right/left brain dominance)
Endocrine system/another method of communication/release hormones directly into the blood stream for immediacy of action as opposed to exocrine glandular system (tear ducts) that secret hormones indirectly
Pituitary gland
Adrenal gland
Sexual glands
Basic principles of genetics
Research methods/studying hereditary influence (human genome project)
Interplay of nature/nurture (heredity/environment)/which factor is more significant? Is it an interaction effect? What are the implications for human behavior? What are the implications for selective breeding, especially among human beings? Can we breed the “perfect” species?
Role of Darwin’s insights
Refinements to evolutionary theory
Behaviors as adaptive traits (physical/psychological)
Parental influences/mating behavior