PANPACIFIC UNIVERSITYNORTH PHILIPPINESTAYUG CAMPUS

GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
FIRST SEMESTER
SY 2017-2018
PHYSIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF BEHAVIOR

NERVOUS SYSTEM a complex body system that enables man to receive stimuli and
make the necessary response.
Stimuli the thngs in the environment that cause an organism to react or respond
Receptor cell or organ that perceives a stimulus
Effector cell of organ that demonstrates the bodys reesponse
Neuron the basic unit of the nervouse system responsible in transmitting messages
from one part of the body to another.
Part of a Neuron
Cell Body contains a nucleus.
Dendrites relays signals towards the cell body
Axon conducts signals away from the cell body
Myelin Sheath fatty materials that covers the axon that fuctions in speeding
up the conduction of nueral impulses
Classification of Neurons
Afferent or Sensory Nuerons carry messages to the brain or spinal cord
Efferent or Motor Neurons carry messages from the brain or spinal cord to
the muscles or glands
Connecting or Association Neurons middle man neurons. Most of them are
found in the brain or spinal cord.
Glial Cells or Neuroglia the most abundant cells. They are smaller than neurons and
their function is to provide support to the neurons.
Synapse a microscopic gap between the axon of one neuron and the dendrites of
another.

DIVISIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

I. Central Nervous System composed of the brain and the spinal cord. It is the
processing center of the nervouse system.
A. Brain the portion of the nervous system that is encased in the cranial bone.
It is filled with a colorless fluid CSF (cerebrospinal fluid).
1. Forebrain
a. Cerebrum the largest part of the brain. It is the seat of thinking,
reasoning and power of imagination. It is divided into two hemispheres
left hemisphere and right hemisphere
Frontal Lobe association center for voluntary motor abillity
Pareital Lobe association center for tasting
Temporal Lobe association center for smelling
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 Occipital Lobe association center for seeing
The two hemispheres also functions very differently in some ways.
Roger Sperry (Nobel Prize Winner_ found that:
Left Hemisphere regions responsible for Language, Logic and
Mathematical abilities
Right Hemisphere regions responsible for nonverbal skills
Musical ability, Drawing/Artistic abillity and Emotions.
b. Thalamus sorts out all information from the sense organs as well as
from other parts of the brain before relaying to the cerebrum
c. Hypothalamus regulates blood pressure, body temperature, hunger,
thurst, pain and emotions.
2. Midbrain relays information from the sense organs to the cerebrum. It
coordinates eye reflex and helps regulate sleep.
3. Hindbrain
Medulla Oblongata carries out and regulates life sustaining
functions such as breathing, swallowing and heart rate
Pons responsible for feeling in the face. Controls facial
expressions, chewing and swallowing, allows the eyes to look from
side to side and alloows sound to move from the ear to the brain.
Cerebellum coordinates walking and other movemnets of the
entire body.
B. Spinal Cord contains the connector neuron for reflex
Reflex Action an act done quickly without thinking

II. Peripheral Nervous System part of the nervous system outside the brain and
the spinal cord which includes all the nerves. It is composed of the nerves that
connect the brain and spinal cord to the periphery of the body. These nerves are
called peripheral nerves that are connected to the skin, muslces and glands.
Divisions
A. Somatic System connects the brain and spinal cord to the voluntary
muscles. It controls all the muscles that contract when we walk, talk, write.
(control most of what we call behavior).
B. Autonomic System conncets the brain and spinal cord to involuntary
muscles.
1. Symphatetic tends to operate in stress situations
2. Parasymphathetic governs regular activities