Psychology I Mon/Tues, Apr 9/10Did you know??

The Damasio study revealed that Phineas Gage had suffered damage to his prefrontal cortex. During

Gage’s lifetime, scientists knew little about how that area of the brain functioned. In the 1930s, researchers at Yale found that aggressive

chimpanzees became docile after undergoing surgeries that damaged their frontal lobes. This discovery led to a hypothesis that similar results

could be duplicated in humans. As a result, during the 1940s and 1950s, many patients with various

psychoses underwent surgery to damage their frontal lobes—a procedure known as a frontal lobotomy. Though the surgeries did not generally produce the intended curative results, they did help researchers better understand the link between the prefrontal

cortex and social behavior.

Please get out: •Your textbook•A writing implement•Your notes for Ch 3, Sec 1

Chapter 3BIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR

• The Big Idea:– The nervous system, the brain, the endocrine

system, and heredity shape human thoughts and behaviors.

• Essential Question:– What are the major functions of the central

nervous system?• Objective– Identify and describe the functions of the nervous

system.

Today’s Agenda1. Chapter 3, Sec 1 start2. To prepare for Class on Wed/Thu, Apr 10/11• Read Ch 3, Sec 2• Complete the Parts of the Brain at their

Functions Chart (on inetteacher.com)

Chapter 3BIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR-Intro• In what ways do you think biology affects

human thoughts and behavior?• Read The Brain of Phineas Gage pg. 64-65

1. How did Phineas Gage’s personality change after his brain injury?

2. What are some other possible circumstances in which individuals experience brain trauma?

Section 1The Nervous System

• Psychology Video: The Fight or Flight Response

• Do you know what you would do, fight or flight?

Neural Transmission• Domino Metaphor• The process involved in the transmission of

messages between neurons is similar to the chain reaction of a row of falling dominoes.

• Neurons, like the dominoes, transmit messages in only one direction

• Neurons always transmit messages at the same strength—just as the dominoes do not gain speed as they fall down.

• Visual of Neural Transmission

The Synapse• Locate the synapse in the big picture on pg 67• The synapse is a small gap-less than a millionth of an

inch wide-and is filled with fluid that transmits the chemicals from one neuron to another.

• Locate the synapse in the smaller picture on pg 67• The neurotransmitters travel from the axon

terminals, across the synapse, to the dendrites of the receiving neuron.

• Animated visual of the synapse with a neuron firing (release neurotransmitters)

Neurons• The human body typically contains how

many neurons?• In what ways do neurons resemble trees?• How might the brain respond to an injury

it has sustained?

Neurons

• What are sensory neurons?• If you burned your hand, what would

happen after the message is sent to the brain?

• Do you believe that memory is a biological process?

Neurotransmitters: The Body’s Chemical Messengers

• Where are neurotransmitters stored?• The firing of a neuron could be compared to

what?• What are four different types of

neurotransmitters?• What happens when acetylcholine amounts

decline?