AP and Trimester Psychology

 

                                                                                                      Last Updated 09-22-08

 

 

Current Unit: Neuroscience – The Biological Basis for Behavior

 

Unit 2 – Neuroscience – The Biological Basis for Behavior

Essential Questions:

  • Is everything that is psychological, biological?
  • How do biological processes relate to behavior?
  • How does damage to a biological process affect behavior?
  • What are the core components of the nervous system and how are they organized?
  • How do the nervous system and the endocrine system interact to affect behavior?
  • Nature versus Nurture?

Objectives:

  • Identify the major components of the nervous system and determine how they are organized
  • Describe the neuron and its functioning – action potentials, neurotransmitters, synaptic integration, and modification
  • Identify and describe the functions of the different parts of the brain.
  • Explain split brain studies
  • Describe the nature of the endocrine system and it interaction with the nervous system.
  • Determine the role of genetics in influencing behavior.

Activities, Readings and Viewings:

  • Read Myers chapters 2 & 3
  • Video – The Secret Life of the Brain – PBS
  • Brain coloring book
  • Video – The Brain Module: Split Brain - Online
  • Hemispheric Preference Inventory - Experiencing Psychology

Evaluation:

  • Quizzes
  • Exam 2

 

Daily Class Notes

 

 

 

Internet Resources:

 

 Glial cells –

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/glia.html

How the neuron works –

http://www.arn.org/docs/glicksman/eyw_040701.htm

Action Potential animations- http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/matthews/channel.html

http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/matthews/nmj.html

http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/matthews/neurotrans.html

Drug and Alcohol effect the brain-

http://www.bankhead.net/BoozeAndDrugs/howtheywork.html

http://www.nida.nih.gov/pubs/teaching/Teaching3/Teaching2.html

Hippocampus-

http://www.psycheducation.org/emotion/hippocampus.htm

Split Brain -

http://nobelprize.org/educational_games/medicine/split-brain/

http://nobelprize.org/educational_games/medicine/split-brain/background.html

http://physics.weber.edu/carroll/Wonder/split_brain.htm

 

 

Past Units:

Unit 1

Unit 4 – learning and behavior