Pair-share
Do you think that chemicals and hormones in our bodies determine our behavior? (Discuss with your table partner).
Nervous SystemQ: Why do psychologists study the brain and the
nervous system? !
A: Some biological functions underly human behavior, and in order to form a fuller understanding of ourselves,
it’s important to recognize what aspects of our behavior we can attribute to our own bodies.
!Psychologists who examine behavioral problems based on the ways in which our bodies affect our behavior are using the “biological” or “neuroscience” approach. Psychologists who specialize in studying the effects of biological functions on
behavior are called “behavioral neuroscientists.”
Nervous System
You have about 1 trillion nerve
cells in your body, and 100 chemicals that
transfer messages
between those nerves.
!(Those chemicals
are called neurotransmitters).
Nerve Ending (outgoing)
Nervous System
Neurotransmitters stimulate the nerve endings, or transmit electrical impulses from the brain to the body.
Nerve Ending (incoming)
Neurotransmitters
(Axon)
(Dendrite)
NeurotransmittersNeurotransmitter Name Function
Acetylchloline (ACh) Muscle movement, thinking/comprehending
Glutamate Memory
Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) Eating, sleeping, aggression
Dopamine (DA) Movement control, attention, pleasure and reward
Serotonin Eating, sleeping, mood, pain, depression, coping with stress
Endorphins Pain suppression, pleasurable feelings, appetite
NeurotransmittersAn excess or lack of certain neurotransmitters
can impact our behavior.
For example, Parkinson’s Disease
causes the brain cells that produce
dopamine to die. The lack of dopamine in the body leads to shaking, irregular
movements, and loss of motion control.
NeurotransmittersAn excess or lack of certain neurotransmitters
can impact our behavior.
Dopamine is also associated with reward. When we do things like
eating, exercise, and “romancing,” dopamine
is released in our brains. Certain drugs like cocaine cause an overproduction of
dopamine, mimicking the reward sensation.
Studies show that unusually high amounts of dopamine in our bodies is related to
schizophrenia.
NeurotransmittersToday in modern medicine, glutamate-based drugs
are being tested to see if they help relieve symptoms of clinical depression.
Symptoms of depression: Loss of interest Loss of appetite Loss of energy Feelings of loneliness Feelings of worthlessness Anger or irritability Concentration problems Reckless behavior
NeurotransmittersEndorphins block pain in your body, and are also
responsible for some feelings of pleasure or happiness. A lack of endorphins may be responsible for certain forms of mental illness such as obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Some people who engage in self-hurting behaviors may do so in part to feel the feelings of euphoria and
emotional isolation that can be prompted by controlled
amounts of self-inflicted pain, and subsequent release of
endorphins.
NeurotransmittersAcetylcholine deficiency is an
abnormally low level of acetylcholine. This
neurotransmitter is involved in the control of muscle movement, learning, and memory formation. A lack of it causes uncontrolled muscle movements and difficulty forming and retrieving memories.
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Serotonin is a neurotransmitter greatly
involved in your mood. If you’re feeling pessimistic, sad,
distrustful, unconfident, or have panic attacks, you may have a
serotonin deficiency.
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