BIOPSYCHOLOGY

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO

LEARN?
The structure and function of bodily systems,
such as the endocrine system an the nervous
system
The structure and function of the synapse
The fight-or-flight response, including the
role of adrenaline

THE DIVISIONS OF THE

NERVOUS SYSTEM
Divided into the Central Nervous System and the
Peripheral nervous system
CNS: Brain and the spinal cord
PNS: is the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.

THE CNS

The Brain
The brain is involved in
psychological processes and its
main job is to ensure life is
maintained.

The Spinal Cord

The spinal cord facilitates the
transferral of messages to and
from the PNS.

Many parts of the brain, some of It is also involved in reflex

which are more primitive and
actions such as the startle
concerned with vital functioning. response.
Others are involved in higher
order thinking such as problem
solving.

THE PNS
Transmits messages to the whole body from the brain and vice
versa.

The Somatic Nervous System

Transmit and receive messages
from the senses such as visual
information from the eyes
Directs muscles to react and
move

The Autonomic Nervous

System
Transmit and receive information
from the organs and is further
divided into the sympathetic and
parasympathetic systems
Sympathetic: Increases bodily
activities
Parasympathetic: conserves
the bodys natural activity levels
by decreasing or maintaining

NEURONS
Receive information and transmit it to other cells.
There are thought to be around 100 billion neurons
in the brain and 1 billion neurons in the spinal cord.
Neurons are an essential part of a massive
communication system within the body.

THE STRUCTURE OF THE

NEURON
Nucleus: contains all
the genetic material for
the cell
Myelin Sheaths:
insulating covering that
surrounds the axon and
speeds up the impulse

Nodes of Ranvier: a
gap in the myelin
sheath

Dendrites: A short
branched extension of a
nerve cell, along which
impulses received from
other cells at synapses
are transmitted to the
cell body
Axon: Thread-like part
of a nerve cell along
which impulses are
conducted from the cell
body to other cells
Terminal Buttons:
Bulblike structures at the
end of the dendrites which
contain neurotransmitters
that carry the neurons
message to the synapse

MOTOR NEURON
Carry signals from the CNS which
helps both organs, including glands
and muscles, function.

SENSORY NEURON
Tell the rest of the brain about the
external and internal environment
by processing information taken
from one of the five senses.

RELAY NEURON
Carry messages from one part
of the CNS to another, the
connect motor and sensory
neurons

THE PROCESS OF SYNAPTIC

TRANSMISSION
The process for transmitting messages from neuron to neuron.
The synapse is a specialised gap between neurons through which
the electrical impulse from the neuron is transmitted chemically.

SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION
STEP BY STEP
1. An electrical impulse is received at the dendrites and the electrical impulse
travels down the axon of the neuron at high speed.
2. The impulse reaches the pre-synaptic terminal, at the pre-synaptic terminal are
vesicles containing neurotransmitters.
3. The electrical impulse causes the vesicles to vibrate and move towards the
pre-synaptic membrane.
4. The vesicles then fuse with the pre-synaptic membrane and neurotransmitters
are released into the synaptic cleft and travel across via fluid in the synapse.
5. The post-synaptic membrane must then take up the neurotransmitters via
receptors.
6. Not all receptors match the neurotransmitters, it is like a lock and key system.

EXCITATION AND INHIBITION

Not all messages prompt activation, it depends on the action
potential of the post-synaptic neuron and the message type
received.
Only certain neurotransmitters can unlock a message channel in
certain receptors at the post-synaptic neuron.
When the right neurotransmitter meets the right receptor a specific
ion channel in the membrane is opened up, ions then flow through
the membrane into the neuron along their specific pathways.
This can then cause a potential in the dendrites. These potentials
can be excitatory or inhibitory.

Excitatory
Potentials
Make it more likely for
the neuron to fire and
so, if a synapse is
more likely to cause
the post-synaptic
neuron to fire, it is
called an excitatory
synapse.

Inhibitory
Potentials
Make it less likely to
fire and, if the
message is likely to be
stopped at the post
synaptic neuron, it is
called an inhibitory
synapse.

THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

Is a series of glands which release chemicals throughout the body
via the blood and other bodily fluids.
Communicates, like the neurons do, messages to the organs of the
body.
Specialist glands in the body which form part of this system.

Pituitary Gland:
Master Gland, it is
important for the
regulation of hormones
released throughout
the body.

Adrenal Glands:
Important in the fight
or flight response.

Testes: Important in
the release of male
hormone.

Thyroid Gland:
Regulates the
metabolic rate as well
as digestive and heart
function.
Parathyroid Gland:
Regulates the amount
of calcium in our
bodies.
Pancreas: Important
for regulating our blood
glucose levels.

Ovaries: Important in
the release of female
hormone.

THE FIGHT OR FLIGHT

RESPONSE
Generated from the autonomic nervous system, specifically the
sympathetic branch.
A reflex response which is designed to help an individual manage
physically when under threat, it is also activated in times of stress
as the body perceives stress to be a threat.
It helps an individual to react quicker than normal and facilitates
optimal functioning so that they can fight the threat or run away
from it.

Label each
stage!

ALERT ALERT!

EVALUATION OF
BIOPSYCHOLOGY
(CAUSE AND EFFECT)

Assessing the extent to which biological structures affect behaviour

can be really problematic.
Are biological structures merely the tools to make the behaviour
happen rather than being the cause?
Cause and effect cannot be established in most research, because
lots of the research is correlational.
Only the relationship between the biological influence and the
behaviour is investigated, research on hormones is problematic for
this reason.

EVALUATION OF
BIOPSYCHOLOGY
(REDUCTIONIST)

Biopsychology attempts to reduce human behaviour and cognitive

processes down to biological processes.
Within theses biological process there is a further reduction down
to a specific component such as the level of a hormone, many
argue that this is too simplistic.

EVALUATION OF
BIOPSYCHOLOGY

What are two strengths of

Biopsychology?

HOMEWORK- TUESDAY 12
APRIL

TH