Assignment Task:
The technique used: 3-2-1
The strategy asks the student to respond in a 3-2-1 format
Instructions:
- Three facts or findings you learned about the brain and behavior (that you didn't know before)
- Two interesting topics or facts you read about (Something you found interesting)
- One question you still have about the material from this week or prior weeks
Lecture Content - The Physiological Bases of Behavior
Topic 1: Physiological Bases: Behavior and the Brain
The perspective of neuroscience studies behavior, considering the biological functioning of the human being. It is an area that has had a lot of growth in recent years, thanks to advances in technology and scientific research. To understand the physiological basis of behavior, we must understand how the brain, neurons, and nervous system work.
Physiological psychology can also be called biological psychology or psychophysiology. It refers to "the science that deals with the biological basis of behavior, thoughts, emotions, and the reciprocal relations between biological and psychological processes. It also addresses topics such as behavior-changing brain lesions, chemical responses in the brain, and brain-related genetics. It includes such fields as behavioral neuroscience, clinical neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, behavioral endocrinology, and psychoneuroimmunology (APA, 2020). Let's begin by examining some basic definitions related to this area of study (Feldman et al., 2017):
Nervous system: Refers to the brain and the other cells that influence our behavior. The nervous system is the system that allows the body to carry out precise activities.
Neuron: Nerve cells in charge of transmitting messages that allow you to think, remember, and experience emotions. Unlike other cells, neurons can communicate with other cells and transmit information from a distance.
Mirror neurons (Human beings have the innate ability to imitate): Specialized neurons activate not only when a person exhibits a certain behavior, but also when a person observes another individual exhibiting the same behavior. These neurons are believed to be strongly associated with empathy and language development. They are a variety of visuospatial neurons which indicate fundamentally human social interaction. Mirror neurons contribute to complex control systems.
Synapse: Space between two neurons where the axon of a transmitting neuron communicates with the dendrites of a receiving neuron through chemical messages.
Neurotransmitters: Chemicals that carry messages across the synapse to the dendrite of a receiving neuron.
Behavioral neuroscientist or Neuropsychologist: Psychologists or mental health experts specialize in considering the influences that biological structures and functions of the body have on behavior. These topics of study are not exclusive to neuropsychology and can be found in other subspecialties. (Example: Developmental psychology)
Central nucleus of the brain: It is called the primitive brain, its evolution dates back about 500 million years to primitive structures found in non-human species. This part directs breathing, eating, and sleeping.
Cerebral cortex: Governs higher brain functions, such as thinking, learning, and consciousness.
Cerebellum: Part of the brain that controls body balance.
Thalamus: Part of the brain that functions as a relay of sensory information.
Hypothalamus : A tiny part of the brain maintains homeostasis. Produces and regulates vital behaviors such as eating, drinking, and sexual behavior.
Limbic System: Controls feeding, aggression, and reproduction.
Topic 2: Neurotransmitters
As discussed before, neurotransmitters are chemicals in the brain that carry messages to other neurons. Some neurotransmitters have been found to be key to human behavior. Consider the examples in figure 1.
Figure 1: Neurotransmitters and behavior
Think about these neurotransmitters and how so many of the activities in our daily routine are influenced by them. Consider these examples related to how neurotransmitters affect our conduct:
- The overproduction of dopamine generates negative consequences. Scientists think this could play a role in schizophrenia and other serious mental disturbances. Therefore, the drugs given to a schizophrenic patient block the reception of dopamine to reduce symptoms.
- Recent studies on serotonin suggest that it has a broader role, that it is involved in behaviors such as alcoholism, depression, suicide, impulsivity, aggressiveness, and coping with stress.
- Exercise stimulates endorphins (Example: The joy of the runner or" "runners high").
- The use of placebos is related to endorphins, it is believed that this explains how the act of taking placebos causes relief since it can induce the release of endorphins that reduce pain.
Use this search term to learn more: "Runners high AND endorphin"
References:
American Psychological Association [APA]. (2020). Biological psychology. APA dictionary of psychology.
Boyd, D. Bee, H. (2019). Lifespan development. Global edition. Pearson Education Limited.