Biological Basis of Behavior and Sensation

Biological Basis of Behavior

• Neurons have dendrites, axons, and synaptic terminals.
• Synapses mediate communication between neurons.
• Action potentials involve ion movement, maintaining resting potential, and reaching a threshold.
• Neurotransmitters like GABA (inhibitory) and glutamate (excitatory) affect neuronal activity.
• The central and peripheral nervous systems are differentiated.
• Brain lobes (e.g., frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital) have specific functions.
• Broca's and Wernicke's areas are crucial for language.
• The corpus callosum connects the brain hemispheres.
• The limbic system (amygdala, hippocampus) is involved in emotions and memory.
• The thalamus relays sensory information.
• The hypothalamus regulates bodily functions.
• The hindbrain (cerebellum, pons, medulla) controls essential functions.
• The midbrain facilitates sensory and motor functions.

Sensation and Perception

• Sensation involves detecting stimuli.
• Perception is the interpretation of sensory information.
• Transduction converts stimuli into neural signals.
• All senses have specialized receptor cells responding to specific energy types (e.g., light, sound).
• Visual system includes rods and cones, and details of eye structure and visual processing (except synaptic transmission).

Memory and Attention

• Memory involves encoding, consolidation, and retrieval.
• Long-term potentiation (LTP) and sleep contribute to consolidation.
• Amygdala and hippocampus have roles in memory processes.

Abnormal Psychology

• Primary features of disorders (e.g., OCD, anxiety, depression) are described.
• Distinguishing between specific phobias and generalized anxiety (GAD).
• Biological theories of various disorders (e.g., serotonin in depression).
• Unipolar vs. bipolar depression.
• Schizophrenia's positive and negative symptoms.
• Biological theory of dopamine in schizophrenia.
• Factors and components of therapy.

Trauma and Resilience

• The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and its role in stress response.
• Functions of the amygdala, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and posterior cingulate cortex in relation to trauma.
• Definition and major symptom criteria for PTSD.
• Brain networks and primary functions.
• PTSD features like hyperactive amygdala and reduced hippocampal volume.
• Epigenetics: how factors can alter gene expression without changing the DNA sequence.
• Methylation: the process of adding a methyl group to DNA.
• Trauma characteristics and social support.

Evolutionary Psychology

(Specific to PSY102 -6x)

• Evolution, natural selection, and sexual selection are discussed.
• Comparisons of K-selected and R-selected species.
• Intrasexual and intersexual selection.
• Kin selection, reciprocal altruism, and parental investment.
• Biological purposes of emotions.
• Trade-offs in biological and evolutionary strategies.
• Mating strategies in humans.