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Chapter 3
Biology and Behavior
I) Nerve Cell
    A) Cell Body
        1) Contains a nucleus
        2) Establishes how the cell will function
    B) Dendrites
        1) Branched and receives information from other cells
    C) Axons
        1) Carries information to other cells
        2) Longer than the rest of the neuron
    D) Terminal Buttons
        1) Located at the end of the axon
        2) Sends messages to other cells

II) Nerve Impulse
    A) All or None
        1) Once triggered beyond a point neural impulse will fire
    B) Resting Potential
        1) The inside of the cell is negatively charged (-70 millivolts) while the outside of the
            cell is positive

III) Synapse
    A) Tiny gap between an axon terminal & another neuron (or
         specialized cell)
    B) Firing neurons release neurotransmitters that cross the synapse
    C) The neurotransmitter binds to the receptor site on the target cell
    D) Ion gates open

IV) Neurotransmitters
    A) After crossing the synapse, the neurotransmitter is reuptaken or
         degraded
    B) There are more than 40 known types
    C) Different neurotransmitters have different effects
    D) Drugs, neural diseases often affect neurotransmitters

V) Major Neurotransmitters
    A) Acetylcholine (ACh): important for learning, memory, muscle
         movement
    B) Serotonin (5-HT):  influences mood and regulates food intake
    C) Dopamine (DA):  important to movement and to frontal lobe activity
    D) GABA:  important in inhibiting neural activity
    E) Norepinephrine (NE):  maintains alertness & wakefulness
    F) Endorphins:  regulate firing of pain neurons

VI) Agonistic Drugs
    A) Increase synthesis of neurotransmitter
    B) Increase release of neurotransmitter
    C) Activate receptors, imitate neurotransmitter
    D) Inhibit reuptake of neurotransmitter

VII) Antagonistic Drugs
    A) Interfere with release of neurotransmitter
    B) Occupy and block neurotransmitter sites
    C) Cause neurotransmitter loss from vesicles

VII) Major Structures of the Brain
    A) The Hindbrain
        1) Medulla: Regulates heart rate &  breathing
        2) Pons: Links to cerebellum, affects arousal, dreaming
        3) Cerebellum: Balance, coordination,  movement
        4) Reticular Formation (deep inside): Controls arousal, waking, sleeping
    B) The Midbrain
        1) In mammals, little more than a relay station
        2) Coordinates signals between hindbrain & forebrain
    C) The Forebrain
        1) Thalamus: A critical relay station to the higher brain centers
        2) Hypothalamus: Controls appetites and homeostasis
        3) Pituitary gland: Part of the endocrine system-- connects to the hypothalamus,
            releases critical hormones
        4) Optic Nerve: Extends the brain into the retina in each eye
        5) Corpus Callosum: Connects hemispheres of the cortex
        6) Limbic System:
            a) The hippocampus (memory)
            b) The amygdala (emotional expression)

XI) Lobes of the Brain
    A) Temporal Lobes: Contain the auditory cortex, Wernicke's area,
         associations related to auditory stimuli
    B) Occipital Lobes:  Contain the visual cortex, associations related to
         visual stimuli
    C) Parietal Lobes:  Contain the somatosensory cortex, associations
         related to spatial orientation
    D) Frontal Lobes:  Contain controls for speech production, thinking,
         planning, reasoning, impulse control, motivation
            1) Example:  After Phineas Gage's frontal lobes were destroyed in a blasting
                accident, his ability to plan, limit impulses, and reason were destroyed.

XII)  Related Links