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Basics Of Psychology

I. Biological bases of behavior
Students should recognize biological psychology as a perspective of psychology. Specifically, students should recognize:
1. The organization of the nervous system into the CNS and PNS:
• The Central Nervous System-CNS- Brain and Spinal Cord. The Peripheral Nervous System-PNS- are the Nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord.
2. The structure and functions of neurons:
• Neurons are the basic building blocks of the nervous system. The human central nervous system contains about 100 billion neurons. Neurons have a communicative role in the nervous system. Neurons can receive, integrate, and transmit information.
3. How neurotransmitters are related to behavior:
• Acetylcholine (Ach) - Activates motor neurons controlling skeletal muscles. Contributes to the regulation of attention, arousal, and memory. Some Ach receptors stimulated by nicotine (the nicotine acts like Ach itself and binds to receptor sites for Ach).
• Dopamine (DA) – Contributes to control of voluntary movement, pleasurable emotions. Decreased levels associated with Parkinson's disease. Over activity at DA synapses with schizophrenia. Cocaine and amphetamine elevate activity at DA synapses.
• Norephinephrine (NE) – Contributes to modulation of mood and arousal. Cocaine and amphetamines elevate activity at NE synapses.
• Serotonin (SHT) – Involved in regulation of sleep and wakefulness, eating, and aggression. Abnormal levels may contribute to depression and OCD. Prozac and Zoloft are antidepressant drugs that affect serotonin.
• GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid) – Most common inhibitory NT. Valium and Xanex (also alcohol) are anti-anxiety drugs that work at GABA synapses. GABA appears to be responsible for much of the inhibition in the CNS. GABA contributes to the regulation of anxiety.
4. The specialized...