Human Behavior, Brain and Body

Course Code: PSY101

Lecture Prepared by
Fariea Bakul
 Human Behavior, Brain and Body
(Neuron)
The primary components of the specialized cell called the neuron, the basic element of the
nervous system. A neuron, like most types of cells in the body, has a cell body, but it also contains
structures that carry messages: the dendrites, which receive messages from other neurons, and
the axon, which carries messages to other neurons or body cells.
Although there are several types of neurons, they all have a similar structure. Like most cells in the
body, neurons have a cell body that contains a nucleus. The nucleus incorporates the hereditary
material that determines how a cell will function. Neurons are physically held in place by glial cells.
Glial cells provide nourishment to neurons, insulate them, help repair damage, and generally
support neural functioning.
 Human Behavior, Brain and Body
(Neuron)
Neurons have a distinctive feature: the ability to communicate with other cells and transmit
information across relatively long distances.
A neuron has a cell body with a cluster of fibers called dendrites at one end. Those fibers, which
look like the twisted branches of a tree, receive messages from other neurons.
On the opposite side of the cell body is a long, slim, tube-like extension called an axon. The axon
carries messages received by the dendrites to other neurons. The axon is considerably longer than
the rest of the neuron (some are as long as 3 feet). Axons end in small bulges called terminal
buttons, which send messages to other neurons.
 Human Behavior, Brain and Body
(Neuron)
The messages that travel through a neuron are electrical in nature.
To prevent messages from short-circuiting one another, axons must be insulated in some fashion
(just as electrical wires must be insulated). Most axons are insulated by a myelin sheath, a
protective coating of fat and protein that wraps around the axon like the casing on links of
sausage.
Neurons follow an all-or-none law for firing: They are either on or off, with nothing in between
the on state and the off state. Once there is enough force to pull the trigger, a neuron fires.
 Human Behavior, Brain and Body
(Neuron)
Synapse The space between two neurons where the axon of a sending neuron communicates
with the dendrites of a receiving neuron by using chemical messages.
Neurotransmitters Chemicals that carry messages across the synapse to the dendrite (and
sometimes the cell body) of a receiver neuron. Ex.: (acetylcholine, dopamine, gamma-
aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate, histamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin).
Human Behavior, Brain and Body
(the Nervous System)
 Human Behavior, Brain and Body
(the Nervous System)

Three kinds of neurons are involved in reflexes.

Sensory (afferent) neurons transmit information
from the perimeter of the body to the central
nervous system.
Motor (efferent) neurons communicate
information from the nervous system to muscles
and glands.
Interneurons connect sensory and motor
neurons, carrying messages between the two.
Human Behavior, Brain and Body
(the Nervous System)
 Human Behavior, Brain and Body
(the Endocrine System)

The endocrine system is a chemical communication network

that sends messages throughout the body via the bloodstream.
Its job is to secrete hormones, chemicals that circulate through
the blood and regulate the functioning or growth of the body.
It also influences—and is influenced by—the functioning of
the nervous system.
Although the endocrine system is not part of the brain, it is
closely linked to the hypothalamus.

Whereas neural messages are measured in thousandths of a

second, hormonal communications may take minutes to reach
their destination.
A key component of the endocrine system is the tiny pituitary
gland, which is found near—and regulated by—the
hypothalamus.
 Human Behavior, Brain and Body
(the Endocrine System)
The pituitary gland has sometimes been called the “master gland”
because it controls the functioning of the rest of the endocrine
system. Hormones secreted by the pituitary gland control growth.

Pineal gland makes melatonin, which regulates daily rhythms.

Thyroid gland regulates metabolic rate and growth.
Thymus is a specialized primary lymphoid organ of the immune
system. Amaturation
lymphoid organ is an organ that is part of the immune system. It is responsible for the production and
of lymphocytes, which are white blood cells that help the body fight infection.

Adrenal glands produce hormones that help regulate your

metabolism, immune system, blood pressure, response to stress and
other essential functions.
Pancreas makes insulin.
Ovaries produce estrogens such as progesterone, which control
reproduction in females.
Testes produce androgens, such as testosterone, which control
reproduction in males.
Human Behavior, Brain and Body
(The Brain and Body)
 Human Behavior, Brain and Body
(The Brain and Body)

The central core is sometimes referred to as the “old brain,” because its evolution can
be traced back some 500 million years to primitive structures found in nonhuman
species.
Moving up right after the spinal cord from the base of the skull to locate the structures
of the central core of the brain, the first part we would come to would be the
hindbrain , which contains the medulla, pons, and cerebellum.
Midbrain is located between the thalamus of the forebrain and pons of the hindbrain.
Forebrain comprises of cerebrum, thalamus and hypothalamus. It is the major portion
of the brain accounting for 2/3rd part.
 Human Behavior, Brain and Body
(The Brain and Body) Somatosensory processing: The parietal lobe receives sensory
information from the body, such as touch, pain, temperature, and
joint position.
Broca's area is a region in the frontal lobe of the brain that is involved in speech production

The somatosensory association area is a region of the

parietal lobe that is involved in processing and interpreting
sensory information from the body
 Human Behavior, Brain and Body
(The Brain and Body)

The cerebral cortex is referred to as the “new brain” because of its relatively recent
evolution. It consists of a mass of deeply folded, rippled, convoluted tissue.
The four major sections of the cerebral cortex are called lobes with each having different
functions: frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital.
Neuroplasticity Changes in the brain that occur throughout the life span relating to the
addition of new neurons, new interconnections between neurons, and the reorganization
of information-processing areas.