Chapter 3: Biology of behaviour
Neurotransmitters:
Neurons: single cells, covers axon in segments, gaps in between (node of Ranvier)
Multiple sclerosis, loss of myelin
Neural impulse: communication, presynaptic (sending neuron) and postsynaptic (receiving
neuron)
Myelinated axon: white
Unmyelinated axon: grey
Generating on action potential, change in electrical relationship that spreads down axon
during nerve impulse
Acetylcholine (Ach): memory, attention, arousal, Alzheimer’s disease, control of skeletal
muscles
Dopamine: pleasurable emotions, reward, voluntary movement, parkinson’s disease
, Serotonin: sleeping, arousal, mood
Norepinephrine: attention, arousal, mood chemical precursor to epinephrine
GABA: major inhibitory NT
Glutamate: learning, memory
Endorphins: altering perception of pain, feelings of well-being
Nervous systems:
The Central Nervous System:
consists of the brain and the spinal cord
Spinal Cord: connects the brain to the rest of the body through the peripheral
nervous system, spinal reflex (stimulus, afferent neurons carry signals to spinal cord,
efferent neurons carry signals from brain and spinal cord to muscles)
Brain: part of the central nervous system that fills the upper portion of the skull,
carries out instructions of the brain
Brain stem: medulla oblongata (keeps
breathing, heart running, can be affected by alcohol bc
suppresses breathing and heart rate), pons (sleeping and
dreaming), reticular
formation (ability to
attend, sleep and
arousal)
Cerebellum:
coordinated movement, motor function, balance
(alcohol influences coordination within cerebellum)
Forebrain and Subcortical Regions:
Midbrain: locating things in space, dopamine synthesis
Forebrain:
Neurotransmitters:
Neurons: single cells, covers axon in segments, gaps in between (node of Ranvier)
Multiple sclerosis, loss of myelin
Neural impulse: communication, presynaptic (sending neuron) and postsynaptic (receiving
neuron)
Myelinated axon: white
Unmyelinated axon: grey
Generating on action potential, change in electrical relationship that spreads down axon
during nerve impulse
Acetylcholine (Ach): memory, attention, arousal, Alzheimer’s disease, control of skeletal
muscles
Dopamine: pleasurable emotions, reward, voluntary movement, parkinson’s disease
, Serotonin: sleeping, arousal, mood
Norepinephrine: attention, arousal, mood chemical precursor to epinephrine
GABA: major inhibitory NT
Glutamate: learning, memory
Endorphins: altering perception of pain, feelings of well-being
Nervous systems:
The Central Nervous System:
consists of the brain and the spinal cord
Spinal Cord: connects the brain to the rest of the body through the peripheral
nervous system, spinal reflex (stimulus, afferent neurons carry signals to spinal cord,
efferent neurons carry signals from brain and spinal cord to muscles)
Brain: part of the central nervous system that fills the upper portion of the skull,
carries out instructions of the brain
Brain stem: medulla oblongata (keeps
breathing, heart running, can be affected by alcohol bc
suppresses breathing and heart rate), pons (sleeping and
dreaming), reticular
formation (ability to
attend, sleep and
arousal)
Cerebellum:
coordinated movement, motor function, balance
(alcohol influences coordination within cerebellum)
Forebrain and Subcortical Regions:
Midbrain: locating things in space, dopamine synthesis
Forebrain:
