Introductory Psychology ConceptsThe Nervous System

The Nervous System

Complex network carrying information throughout the body

Nervous System

Central Nervous Central Nervous System (CNS)System (CNS)

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

• Composed of the brain and spinal cord.

• Spinal cord is the primary means for transmitting messages between the brain and the rest of the body.

Central Nervous System

Brain Spinal cord

The Central Nervous System

Central Nervous SystemCentral Nervous System(CNS)(CNS)

Central Nervous System

Forebrain Midbrain Hindbrain

Thalamus Hypothalamus

Cerebellum Pons Medulla

Cerebrum Limbic system

Corpus callosum

Complex network carrying information throughout the body

Nervous System

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Peripheral Nervous Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)System (PNS)

• Made up of neurons Made up of neurons with long axons and with long axons and dendrites.dendrites.

• Branches out from Branches out from the spinal cord and the spinal cord and brain to reach the brain to reach the extremities of the extremities of the body.body.

Peripheral Nervous System

Peripheral Nervous System(PNS)

Peripheral Nervous System

Somatic division• Voluntary muscle

activation

Somatic division

Sympathetic(generally activates)

Parasympathetic(generally inhibits)

Autonomicdivision

Autonomic division•Controls smooth muscle,

cardiac muscle, and glands;

• Basically involuntary

Peripheral -Somatic System

Sensory neurons: Carrying messages to the central nervous system

Motor neurons: Carrying messages from the central nervous system to the voluntary muscles

The Primary Components of the Neuron

Peripheral - Somatic System

Axon

Dendrites

Cell body Myelin sheath

Terminal buttons

Somatic division• Voluntary muscle

activation

Sympathetic(generally activates)

Parasympathetic(generally inhibits)

Peripheral Nervous System(PNS)

Peripheral Nervous System

Somatic division

Autonomicdivision

Autonomic division•Controls smooth muscle,

cardiac muscle, and glands;

• Basically involuntary

Sympathetic division:

• Fight or flight response

• Acts to prepare the body for action in stressful situations, engaging all the organism’s resources to respond to a threat.

Eye:Dilates pupil

Salivary glands:Inhibits flow of saliva

Heart:Accelerates heartbeat

Lungs:Dilates bronchi

Digestive tract:Inhibits digestion

Liver:Stimulates release

of glylcogen

Urinary bladder:Inhibits bladder

contraction

Chain of sympathetic ganglia

Ganglion Secretion of epinephrine by adrenal gland

Postganglionic fibers

Somatic division• Voluntary muscle

activation

Sympathetic(generally activates)

Parasympathetic(generally inhibits)

Peripheral Nervous System(PNS)

Peripheral Nervous System

Somatic division

Autonomicdivision

Autonomic division•Controls smooth muscle,

cardiac muscle, and glands;

• Basically involuntary

Parasympathetic division:

•Maintaining normal functions

•Acts to calm the body after an emergency or stressful situation has ended.

Eye:Constricts pupil

Salivary glands:Stimulates flow of saliva

Heart:Slows heartbeat

Lungs:Constricts bronchi

Digestive tract:Stimulates digestion

Liver:Stimulates release of bile

Urinary bladder:Contracts bladder

Somatic division• Voluntary muscle

activation

Sympathetic(generally activates)

Parasympathetic(generally inhibits)

Peripheral Nervous System(PNS)

Peripheral Nervous System

Somatic division

Autonomicdivision

Autonomic division•Controls smooth muscle,

cardiac muscle, and glands;

• Basically involuntary

Quick Quiz

•Write down everything you remember from the presentation

Identify parts of the neuron and synapse and describe how they communicate information.

Identify parts of the neuron and synapse and describe how they communicate information.

Identify parts of the neuron and synapse and describe how they communicate information.

ThalamusCorpuscallosum

HypothalamusPituitary gland

PonsMedulla

Reticular formation Spinal cordBrain stem

Cerebellum

CerebrumAmygdala Hippocampus

Introductory Psychology Concepts

The BrainThe Brain

The Brain - Major Structures and Their Function

ThalamusCorpuscallosum

HypothalamusPituitary gland

PonsMedulla

Reticular formation Spinal cordBrain stem

Cerebellum

CerebrumAmygdala Hippocampus

The Brain - Major Structures and Their Function

Corpus callosumBridge of fibers passinginformation between thetwo cerebral hemispheres

Cerebellum

ThalamusCorpuscallosum

HypothalamusPituitary gland

PonsMedulla

Reticular formation Spinal cordBrain stem

CerebrumAmygdala Hippocampus

The Brain - Major Structures and Their Function

ThalamusRelay center for incomingsensory information

ThalamusCorpuscallosum

HypothalamusPituitary gland

PonsMedulla

Reticular formation Spinal cordBrain stem

Cerebellum

CerebrumAmygdala Hippocampus

The Brain - Major Structures and Their Function

CerebrumInvolved in sensing,thinking, learning, emotion, consciousness, and voluntary movement

ThalamusCorpuscallosum

HypothalamusPituitary gland

PonsMedulla

Reticular formation Spinal cordBrain stem

Cerebellum

CerebrumAmygdala Hippocampus

The Brain - Major Structures and Their Function

AmygdalaLimbic system structureinvolved in emotion andaggression

ThalamusCorpuscallosum

HypothalamusPituitary gland

PonsMedulla

Reticular formation Spinal cordBrain stem

Cerebellum

CerebrumAmygdala Hippocampus

The Brain - Major Structures and Their Function

HippocampusLimbic system structureinvolved in learning andmemory

ThalamusCorpuscallosum

HypothalamusPituitary gland

PonsMedulla

Reticular formation Spinal cordBrain stem

Cerebellum

CerebrumAmygdala Hippocampus

The Brain - Major Structures and Their Function

CerebellumCoordinates fine musclemovement, balance

ThalamusCorpuscallosum

HypothalamusPituitary gland

PonsMedulla

Reticular formation Spinal cordBrain stem

CerebrumAmygdala Hippocampus

Cerebellum

The Brain - Major Structures and Their Function

Amygdala HippocampusBrain stem

ThalamusCorpuscallosum

HypothalamusPituitary gland

PonsMedulla

Reticular formation Spinal cordBrain stem

Cerebellum

Cerebrum

The Brain - Major Structures and Their Function

Spinal cordTransmits informationbetween brain and rest ofbody; handles simplereflexes

ThalamusCorpuscallosum

HypothalamusPituitary gland

PonsMedulla

Reticular formation Spinal cordBrain stem

Cerebellum

CerebrumAmygdala Hippocampus

The Brain - Major Structures and Their Function

Reticular formationGroup of fibers thatcarries stimulation relatedto sleep and arousalthrough brain stem

ThalamusCorpuscallosum

HypothalamusPituitary gland

PonsMedulla

Reticular formation Spinal cordBrain stem

Cerebellum

CerebrumAmygdala Hippocampus

The Brain - Major Structures and Their Function

MedullaRegulates vital functionssuch as breathing andcirculation

ThalamusCorpuscallosum

HypothalamusPituitary gland

PonsMedulla

Reticular formation Spinal cordBrain stem

Cerebellum

CerebrumAmygdala Hippocampus

The Brain - Major Structures and Their Function

PonsInvolved in sleep andarousal

ThalamusCorpuscallosum

HypothalamusPituitary gland

PonsMedulla

Reticular formation Spinal cordBrain stem

Cerebellum

CerebrumAmygdala Hippocampus

The Brain - Major Structures and Their Function

Amygdala Hippocampus

Pituitary gland“Master” gland that regulates other endocrineglands

ThalamusCorpuscallosum

HypothalamusPituitary gland

PonsMedulla

Reticular formation Spinal cordBrain stem

Cerebellum

Cerebrum

The Brain - Major Structures and Their Function

HypothalamusRegulates basic biological needs: hunger, thirst, temperature control

ThalamusCorpuscallosum

Hypothalamus

Pituitary glandPonsMedulla

Reticular formation Spinal cordBrain stem

Cerebellum

CerebrumAmygdala Hippocampus

Identify the brain’s key structures and functions.

Identify the brain’s key structures and functions.

Identify the brain’s key structures and functions.

Quick Quiz

•Write down everything you remember from the presentation

PerceptionSensation

1. Stimulus isreceived bysensory receptors.

PerceptionGiving Meaning to Sensation. The sorting out, interpretation, analysis, and integration of stimuli by the sense organs and brain.

PerceptionSensation

1. Stimulus isreceived bysensory receptors.

2. Receptors translate stimulus properties into nerve impulses (transduction).

PerceptionThe sorting out, interpretation, analysis, and integration of stimuli by the sense organs and brain.

PerceptionSensation

2. Receptors translate stimulus properties into nerve impulses (transduction).

3. Feature detectors analyze stimulus features.

1. Stimulus isreceived bysensory receptors.

PerceptionThe sorting out, interpretation, analysis, and integration of stimuli by the sense organs and brain.

PerceptionSensation

Introductory Psychology Concepts : Perception

2. Receptors translate stimulus properties into nerve impulses (transduction).

3. Feature detectors analyze stimulus features.

4. Stimulus features are reconstructed into neural representation.

1. Stimulus isreceived bysensory receptors.

PerceptionGiving Meaning to Sensation. The sorting out, interpretation, analysis, and integration of stimuli by the sense organs and brain.

PerceptionSensation

2. Receptors translate stimulus properties into nerve impulses (transduction).

3. Feature detectors analyze stimulus features.

4. Stimulus features are reconstructed into neural representation.

1. Stimulus isreceived bysensory receptors.

5. Neural representationis compared with previously stored information in brain.

The sorting out, interpretation, analysis, and integration of stimuli by the sense organs and brain.

PerceptionSensation

Introductory Psychology Concepts : Perception

PerceptionGiving Meaning to Sensation. The sorting out, interpretation, analysis, and integration of stimuli by the sense organs and brain.

2. Receptors translate stimulus properties into nerve impulses (transduction).

3. Feature detectors analyze stimulus features.

4. Stimulus features are reconstructed into neural representation.

1. Stimulus isreceived bysensory receptors.

5. Neural representationis compared with previously stored information in brain.

6. Matching process results in recognition and interpretation of stimulus.

One stimulus, two perceptions

This reversible figure illustrates alternating figure-ground relations. It can be seen as a vase,or as two people facing one another.

Whichever percept exists at the moment is seen as figure against background.

Gestalt organizing the separate parts of our perceptual field into a unified and meaningful whole

Patterns of light and shadow can serve as monocular depth cues.Drawing Hands, by M.C. Escher

Depth Perception: translating two-dimensional information (length and width) into three-dimensional perceptions.

The power of context is shown in this figure. Note how the B and the 13 are identical.

(Source: Coren & Ward, 1989.)

Factors Affecting Perception:

Concept, ExpectationCombination and interpretation of “whole”

Guides, analysis

Interpretation of incoming stimuli

Breakdown/analysis of stimuli

Detection of individual stimulus elements

BOTTOM-UP PROCESSINGBOTTOM-UP PROCESSING TOP-DOWN PROCESSINGTOP-DOWN PROCESSING

Visual Illusions

The Parthenon looks perfectly straight, with right angles at every corner.

b.b.The Parthenon looks perfectly straight, with right angles at every corner.

However, if had been built with true right angles, it would have looked as it does in figure (b).

The Parthenon looks perfectly straight, with right angles at every corner.

However, if had been built with true right angles, it would have looked as it does in figure (b).

To compensate for this illusion, the Parthenon was designed to have a slight upward curvature as shown in (c).(Source: Coren & Ward, 1989, p.5.)

b.

c.

Quick Quiz

•Write down everything you remember from the presentation

Next 3 Classes:

•Monday, March 5: Chapters 5 and 6

•Wednesday, March 7: Chapter 7 pgs. 242 – 250

•Monday, March 12: pgs. 305 - 321