Physiological Bases of Behavior

Physiological Bases of Behavior

In responding or interacting to environment, it involves three types of physiological structures:
1. Receptors – neural structures within the sensory organs (eyes, ears, skin, tongue, nose), it supplies information about the surroundings.
2. Effectors – enable to respond to stimuli, leads to action through muscle movement or glandular secretion (muscles and glands).
3. Connectors (Nervous System) – responsible for the transmission of messages and for the integration of various parts of the body so the individual can react as coordinated organism.

THE NEURON

Neurons are cells with specialized parts that can generate electrical signals and carry information to adjacent neurons, muscles or organs. It is the basic structural unit for the transmission of messages.
It three basic parts:
1. Axon – carries information away from the body to other neurons, organs or muscles through electrical signals.
2. Dendrites – receive information from other neurons and carries information to cell body.
3. Cell body – main structure where axon and dendrites attached.

Three types of Neurons:
Sensory Neurons – receive impulses from receptors (sensory organs or afferent)
Motor Neurons – send impulses to the effectors (muscles or efferent)
Connector Neurons – connect the sensory and motor neurons, it exists in the brain and spinal cord.

Afferent – implies movement toward something or away from CNS to muscles or organs.
Efferent – implies movement away from something or away from CNS to muscles.

SYNAPSE - region where a nerve impulse passes from one neuron to another neuron.

REFLEX - an automatic response, actions of some parts of the body.
- e.g. Knee jerk – the simplest circuit


CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

CNS serves to connect the sensory and the motor fibers within the Nervous System, hence it is integrating center for all behavior and body functions.

Two divisions of CNS: Brain and Spinal Cord

Brain – the integrations of ascending complexity, it is the most intricate, complex and unique mechanism.

Three major division of the brain: Hindbrain, Midbrain and Forebrain
Hindbrain – close to spinal cord, includes three organs:
Cerebellum – little brain, coordinating movements from different parts of body and maintaining posture.
Medulla – plays important role in such as automatic activities (breathing, blood circulation, etc.)
Pons – contain nerve fibers that connect the two hemispheres of the cerebellum.
Midbrain – forming a connection between hindbrain and forebrain, portion of the organ have a special role in visual and auditory activity.
Forebrain – includes organs like:
Olfactory bulb – involve in the sense of smell
Thalamus – relaying incoming sensory impulses.
Hypothalamus – physiological activities as sleep and emotional behavior.
Cerebrum – are the cerebral hemispheres, each are divided into four lobes:
i. Frontal Lobe – Body movements
ii. Parietal lobes – cortical area of body feelings
iii. Temporal lobes – auditory experiences.
iv. Occipital Lobes – visual areas


PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

It includes nerve fibers and nerve cells lying outside the CNS, this is to conduct impulses to and from the CNS.

Two major divisions:
Somatic System – includes sensory system and motor nerves that activate skeletal (voluntary) muscles responsible for movements. There are 43 major pairs of nerves composed of somatic system.

12 pairs of cranial nerves – serves as receptors and effectors of the head, it extends
from head, neck and body directly into cranial cavity
(skull).
31 pairs of spinal nerves – outward from spaces between vertebrae in spinal column
to various parts of the body, it extends from neck, chest,
trunk and extremities.

Autonomic System – also called the vegetative nervous system, it concerned with activities of the body that make us alive – glands, internal organs, etc.

Make up of two parts:

Sympathetic – responsible for mobilization and expenditure of body energies, particularly to stressful emergency and threatening situations.
Parasympathetic – calms the body after the emergency situation is resolved.


ENDOCRINE SYSTEM:

The main function of the Endocrine system is to control body functions and behavior. Endocrine glands secrete hormones directly to the bloodstream.

Adrenal glands – top of the kidney
Medulla – secretes adrenalin and nonadrenaline which gives energy during emergencies.
Adrenal cortex – control basic chemical mechanisms within the body (metabolism of carbohydrates and reproductive organs)
Islets of Langerhans – posterior to stomach, it delivers a pancreatic secretion into the digestive tract, aiding digestions. Produce insulin and glucagons in utilization of sugar by the body.
Gonads
Testes – male secondary sex characteristics that make male look masculine, secretes testosterone.
Ovaries – female secondary sex characteristics that make female look feminine, secretes estrogen and progesterone.
Pituitary Gland – base of the brain, the master gland because it secretes hormones that control the activities of other glands. Two parts of the gland:
Anterior lobe – secretes important hormones which have to do with the growth.
Posterior lobe – controls excretion of water through the kidneys, stimulates breasts to produce milk and contraction of uterus during labor.
Thyroid Gland – base of throat, function is the general metabolism.
Parathyroid gland – attached to the posterior surface of the thyroid gland, controls balance of various minerals in the bloodstream, particularly calcium.

welcome to basicpsy

Here are the topics that our Psychology Subject uses for the rest of the semester. I know this site will somehow help you understand and appreciate the beauty of life with Psychology.

The topics that I posted are coming from resource books that can be found in the HCDC Library and some are from the internet.

You may copy or print in advance the topics posted here and make an advance study on the subjects.

Feel free to post your comments and questions related to the topics.

Smile.