VS-Ch.2-1

V I S U A L

S U M M A R YChapter Two

Neural Bases of Behavior

Our Genetic Inheritance

Hormones & the Endocrine System

How Do Neurons Communicate?

Behavioral Genetics Evolutionary PsychologyNatural selection and genetic mutations

How Do Neurotransmitters Affect Us?

Pineal gland (helps regulatesleep cycle and body rhythms)

Hypothalamus (controls pituitary gland)

Pituitary gland (influences growthand lactation; also secretes manyhormones, some of which affectother glands)

Parathyroid glands (behindthe thyroid gland, help regulate calcium levelsin the blood)

Thyroid gland (affects metabolism)

Adrenal glands (above the kidneys,arouse the body, control stressresponse, regulate salt balanceand some sexual functioning)

Pancreas (controls theblood’s sugar level)

Ovaries (secrete femalesex hormones)

Testes (secrete male sex hormones)

Nucleus

Neurotransmitter

Axon terminalbutton

Synaptic gap

Receivingneuron

Receiving neuron

Sending neuron

Vesiclecontainingneurotransmitters

Actionpotential

Receptor siteson receivingneuron

Sendingneuron

Terminal buttons

Front Back

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VS-Ch.2-2

The Cerebral Cortex

Two Brains in One?

Biological Tools for Research Brain Organization

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Reticular formationHelps screen incomingsensory information andhelps control arousal

AmygdalaLimbic system structure (Fig. 2.18)influencing emotions(especially aggressionand fear)

Cerebral cortexThin outer layer responsible for most complex behaviorsand higher mental processes

HypothalamusLimbic system structure (Fig. 2.18); responsible for regulating drives (e.g., hunger, thirst, sex, aggression); helps govern endocrine system; linked to emotion and reward

HippocampusLimbic systemstructure (Fig. 2.18);involved inmemory

PonsInvolved withrespiration, movement, waking, sleep, and dreaming

CerebellumCoordinates voluntarymuscle movement,balance, and someperception andcognition

MedullaResponsible forvital automaticfunctions (e.g.,respiration, heartbeat)

Corpus callosumThick band of axonsconnecting and carrying messages between the two hemispheres

ForebrainHigher-levelstructuresand functions

HindbrainLower-levelstructures

ThalamusLimbic systemstructure (Fig. 2.18)serving as brain’ssensory switchboar

BrainstemHelps screen incominginformation and controlsarousal (being awakeand alert)

Spinal cordResponsible for transmitting information between brain and rest of body; controls simple reflexes

MidbrainHelpscoordinatemovementpatterns, sleep,and arousal

Motor cortex(part of frontal lobes) controlsvoluntary movement

Auditory cortex(top area of thetemporal lobes)receives sensoryinformation fromthe ears

Somatosensory cortex(part of parietal lobes)processes tactile information

Frontal lobesReceive and coordinatemessages from otherlobes; motor control,speech production,and higher functions

Parietal lobesReceive and interpretbodily sensations

Visual cortex(part of occipitallobes) receives andprocesses visualinformation

OccipitallobesVision andvisualperception

Temporal lobesHearing, languagecomprehension,memory, and someemotional control

Broca’s area(lower part of lower-left frontal lobe)controls speechproduction

Wernicke's area(upper part of left temporal lobe) involvedin languagecomprehension

A Tour through Our Brain

Our Nervous System’s Organization

Central nervoussystem (CNS)

Directs mental andbasic life processes

Peripheral nervoussystem (PNS)

Carries information toand from the centralnervous system

Somatic nervoussystem (SNS)(voluntary)

Controls voluntary muscles,conveys sensory informationto the CNS, and sends motormessages to muscles

Autonomic nervoussystem (ANS)(involuntary)

Controls involuntary basic lifefunctions, such as heartbeatand response to stress

Spinal cord

Sends information to andfrom the brain and PNSand controls reflexes

Nervous system

Sympatheticnervous system

Arouses body toexpend energy andrespond to threat

Parasympatheticnervous system

Calms body toconserve energy andrestore the status quo

Consists of the brain, spinal cord, sensoryorgans, and all of the nerves that connect

these organs with the rest of the body

Hypothalamus CerebellumMedullaLimbic system

Cerebralcortex

Thalamus Reticularformation

Pons

Brain

Directs mental processesand maintains basic lifefunctions

Forebrain HindbrainMidbrain

Centralnervoussystem

Peripheralnervoussystem

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

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