Biological Foundations of Behavior- Outline

2.1

1) What is a neuron and what does it do?

Nerve cells that enable you to think, plan, or even dream.

2) What are the three types of neurons of the nervous system?

Sensory neurons, motor neurons, and interneurons.

3) The nervous system has what two type of cells?

Neurons and glial cells.

4) What is the protective coating that covers many axons?

Myelin sheath, which speeds the transmission of neural impulses.

5) When the electrical impulse reaches the axon's terminal button, it triggers the release of

chemicals that either increase or decrease ________?

The likelihood that neighboring cells will fire.

6) Normal psychological functioning is dependent on neurotransmitter activity, which

can be _______?

Affected by factors like disease and drug use.

7) The nervous system is a massive communication network that connects _____?

Billions of neurons throughout your body.

2.2

1) What are the two major parts that make up the nervous system?

The central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.

2) What does the central nervous system consist of?

The brain and the spinal cord.

3) What does the central nervous system do?

Regulates everything in your body, from your heart rate, the movement of your eyes as

you scan words, to your higher mental process such as your thinking and reasoning.

4) What two parts does your peripheral nervous system consist of?

The soma's nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.

5) The peripheral nervous system connects your central nervous system with other parts

of your body.

6) The somatic nervous system transmits messages between your central nervous system

and your sensory organs, glands, and muscles.

7) The autonomic nervous system is the part of the peripheral that controls such internal

bodily processes as heartbeat, respiration, digestion, and dilation of pupils.

8) The sympathetic nervous system speeds up bodily processes and draws energy from

stored reserves.

9) The parasympathetic nervous system fosters bodily processes, such as digestion,

that replenish stores of energy.

2.3

1) The three major parts of the brain are the hindbrain, the midbrain, and the forebrain.

2) The spinal cord is a column of nerves nearly as thick as your thumb- is a true information

highway. It is literally an extension of the brain.

3) A reflex is an automatic, unlearned reaction to a stimulus; a spinal reflex is a reflex

controlled at the level of the spinal cord.

4) The Hindbrain