Brain Response of Behavior: The LivePsych 2.3 - Assignment Example

Axia College Material Appendix C Brain Response of Behavior Part I Parts II and III follow below, complete all three. Run Multimedias 2.3 and 2.4 Go to the Web site www.prenhall.com/morris. Click text: Psychology: An Introduction (12th ed.) Click “2” on the select a chapter tool bar. Click Live!Psych on the left hand menu. Select 2.3 and 2.4. Write a 350- to 700-word response to the following: Explain the communication process of neurons in the brain. List some common neurotransmitters and describe their effect on behavior. The Live!Psych 2.3 (The Synapse and Neurotransmitters) details the communication system that neurons perform in human brain through electrochemical processes. Live!Psych 2.4 (Neurotransmitters) illustrates neurotransmitters and its specific effect on nerve circuits. These two explanations certainly help us get a clear biological idea about what kind of communication do or in what language neurons speak. Neurons are nerve cells that consist of a nucleus, an axon and electrical signals to other neurons. The human brain contains about 100 billion neurons. Nerve impulses are sorts of chemical messages that in turn transfer between neurons. As is illustrated in Live!Psych 2.3, neurons do communication with the help of electrochemical by which neuron receives chemical messages from nearby neurons through dendrites and when it accepts proper messages it experiences a rapid electrical change which is termed as action potential. (Morris and Maisto, Live!Psych 2.3) According to Colombia Electronic Encyclopedia, the synapse is junction between various message-transmitter cells. It may be either between two neurons or between a neuron and a muscle or gland. The nerve impulse reaches the synapse via the axon. Most axons respond to the impulse by releasing a chemical substance which is known to be neurotransmitter. These neurotransmitters are chemical that can transmit messages (information) across the junction- synapse- and separates one nerve cell from another nerve cell (EBSCO data base). Neurons do not touch each other, but there is a small gap between terminal button and dendrites and messages cross this cleft. There are message receiving and sending neurons in the synaptic cleft; the sender is called pre-synaptic neuron and the receiver is called post-synaptic neuron. Palmiter (2009) emphasizes that the level of neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft is like a function of the delicate balance among neurotransmitter synthesis and recycling. Even though, much is known about the process of controlling neurotransmitter synthesis and release, it is poorly understood about the enzymes that degrade peptide neurotransmitters (p, 2130, EBSCO data base). It is described in the Live!Psych 2.3 that the rapid electrical impulse travels down the axon and it results in releasing of neurotransmitters that in turn send messages. Live!Psych 2.4 describes that Psycho-biologists have identified and analyzed a large number of various neurotransmitters within human brain and they either can be excitatory or inhibitory. Excitatory helps perform communication with a nerve impulse while inhibitory hinder the communication. The most known human brain chemicals are Acetylcholine, dopamine, Norepinephrine, Glycene, Serotonin etc. Acetylcholine play significant functions like attention, memory, and motivation. Dopamine affects neurons that are associated with learning, memory and emotions. It was observed that individuals who have less dopamine may get mental illness like perkiness diseases. Norepinephrine influences arousal, learning and mood. Glycene inhibits in the spinal cord and Serotonin regulates sleeping, dreaming, eating and pain etc (Morris and Maisto, 2005, p. 52- 54) Part II Refer to Ch. 2 (pp. 58-78) In Psychology: An Introduction. Write a 350- to 700-word response identifying the major regions of the brain and what functions of behavior the systems of each region control. ‘Psychology: An Introduction 58 to 78’ pages present the central nervous system and functions of each part of human brain in detail. The major parts of brain are detailed throughout these pages. The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord. Brain and spinal cord alone represent more than 90 % of the body’s neurons. Major regions of brain and functions Central Core The Central core region of the brain includes Medulla, Cerebellum, Thalamus, Hypothalamus and Pons. In the brain, at the point where spinal cord comes in is hindbrain near to medulla. At Medulla, a large number of nerves from body cross over to and from brain centres. It is narrow structured about 1.5 inches long. Medulla is considered to be one that controls the most important body functions of breathing, heart rate and blood pressure. The medulla oblongata relays nerve signals between spinal cord and brain. Pons lies near to medulla and it plays vital role in controlling our sleep. It produces chemicals that maintain our sleep-wake cycle. Cerebellum situates at the top of the brain stem. The cerebellum is some time called as little brain. Cerebellum regulates the body’s actions and sense of balances. Feng and Fan (2008) stated that cerebellum has a great role in cognition. Many researchers have analyzed the function of cerebellum in math cognition using connectivity analyses between cerebellum and cerebral cortex (p. 2, EBSCO data base). People who felt difficulty on a sudden in movement is often caused by damage to the cerebellum. The Midbrain is above the cerebellum. Midbrain is highly important in hearing and sight functions of human brain. Two egg shaped structures over the brain stem are called thalamus. Thalamus play vital role in passing sensory information from the lower parts of the brain. Temel and Vandewalle (2004) argued that thalamus is like a relay nuclei that serves as a ‘gate’ of sexual information from spinal cord region (p. 1, EBSCO data base). Hypothalamus which lies below the thalamus plays important role in controlling emotions and motivations. Hunger, thirst and sexual excitement are also controlled by parts of hypothalamus. Limbic System: Limbic system includes structures between the central core and cerebral hemisphere. Hippocampus is part of Limbic system which plays crucial role in formation of memories that are new. It means, if an individual’s hippocampus region is damaged, his brain will fail to form new memories, same time, he may remember something like names, images and structures from the past. Some researchers have found that hippocampus is involved in controlling our emotions. Amygdala is another part of Limbic system that also regulates and controls our emotions. Cerebral Cortex The cerebral cortex is part of brain that plays vital role in memory, attention, language, consciousness etc. The cerebral cortex constitutes outer layer of the cerebrum. the cerebral cortex represent major part of human brain. It contains about 70 % of the neurons in the central nervous structure. The cerebral cortex comprises of different lobes called occipital lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe and frontal lobe. Occipital lobe lies in the back of cerebral part and this performs the functions like receiving and processing visual information. The temporal lobe lies in the front of the occipital lobe. It plays roles in complex visual recognizing. This part receives messages from ears and regulates emotions and motivations. The parietal lobe lies on the top of the temporal and occipital lobes. This part receives sensory information from other parts of the body. The frontal lobe lies behind the forehead occupying a major area that is almost similar to our brain space. This performs like a regulation centre as it receives and coordinates messages from other three lobes (Morris and Maisto, 2005, p. 58-78) Part III Consider the following chain of events. Describe in 350-700 words the sensory process that takes place as the scenario unfolds. In the figure 1, he uses his cerebrum. It is controlling his movement phase. The figure 1 is an example of a man who needs to control his movement and focus the ball. Specifically, the right hemisphere of his cerebrum will control this task, because, the right hemisphere of the cerebrum normally controls touch and movement and is typically superior for non-verbal and visual tasks. The Primary Motor Cortex will send messages to body muscles and glands to react accordingly. Researchers have analyzed that there are two hemispheres in cerebrum. One is Right-half brain and the other is Left-half brain. Between these two lies corpus callosum that is ribbon-like band of nerves fibers (Morris and Maisto, 2005, p. 64). These two hemispheres often perform close communication through corpus callosum. These two hemispheres of cerebrum work together when there are fast and multiple or complex tasks the brain needs to perform. In the picture 1, the cerebrum will send sensory to brain and nervous system that cause an immediate reaction. The main regions of cerebral cortex receive and coordinate visual and auditory information. In the figure-2, he focuses on the ball. This focusing is a reaction of a message passed throughout his brain. This focusing will be performed by the left hemisphere of his cerebrum. There would be a closer communication between left and right hemispheres of cerebrum. In this focusing, the Occipital lobe of cerebrum functions as it receives visual information. As it is a complex visual time, temporal lobe situated in cerebrum also plays vital role in this visual focusing and message transmitting. The temporal lobe will help regulate and control emotions and motivations. Once he focuses on the ball, the temporal lobe will certainly motivates him to move towards and react accordingly. In this phase, multiple and complex forms of message transmitting will be carried out throughput the brain. The Figure-3 is his final moment and action according to what messages are passed to his muscles and glands. Once his Primary Motor Cortex sends messages to his muscles and glands, same time, Frontal lobe hemisphere of cerebrum coordinates and controls the messages from primary motor cortex and it involves in problem solving action. The problem solving action here is to instruct how to get the ball for his turn. References Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia (January 2009), Synapse and Neurotransmitters, Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition;, p1-1, 1p, EBSCO data base, Retrieved 26/09/09 from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=12&sid=df484ec1-bc58-4d22-a287-a5a689588ec4%40sessionmgr14&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=39024009 Feng S and Fan Y (2008), The cerebellum connectivity in mathematics cognition, BMC Neuroscience, EBSCO data base, Retrieved 26/09/09 from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/ehost/pdf?vid=1&hid=12&sid=aefd9ab9-6de3-45a1-9903-213354d599b4%40sessionmgr4 Morris C.G and Maisto A.A (2005), Psychology: An Introduction, Twelfth Edition, Prentice-Hall Morris C.G and Maisto A.A ( 2009), The Synapse and Neurotransmitters, Neurotransmitters, Live!Psych, 2.3 and 2.4, Retrieved 26/09/09 from http://wps.prenhall.com/hss_morris_psychology_12/21/5396/1381484.cw/index.html Palmiter RD (Aug 2009), Reduced levels of neurotransmitter-degrading enzyme PRCP promote obesity, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Departments of Biochemistry and Genome Sciences, University of Washington, USA, EBSCO data base, Retrieved 26/09/09 from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/ehost/pdf?vid=1&hid=113&sid=ab44195f-7fd1-4f71-902f-6a828234f094%40sessionmgr104 Temel V and Vandewalle V.V (2004), Thalamus and penile erection, International Journal of Impotence Research, EBSCO data base, Retrieved 26/09/09 from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/ehost/pdf?vid=1&hid=104&sid=611a41d9-6494-44c9-84bc-64644f8694c9%40sessionmgr104 Read More