Unit 2: Biological Basis of Behavior
Reading/Assignment Schedule
Big Questions:
A. How do the nervous and endocrine systems influence behavior, and
what is the role of neural communication?
B. What are the major structures of the brain and their functions? How
does the brain influence behavior?
C. How do we acquire knowledge about the brain?
Reading Other assignments, quizzes/tests Date due
p. 53-60 Thurs. Sept. 24th
p. 61-65 Mon. Sept. 28th
______Quiz: Neurons, Nervous system Tue. Sept. 29th
p. 65-70 Wed. Sept. 30th
p. 70-74 Thur. Oct. 1st
p. 74-83 Reading Quiz Fri. Oct. 2nd
p. 83-91 Quiz: Brain parts and functions Wed. Oct. 7th
Brain website exploration packet Thur. Oct. 8th
Unit 2 Test Fri. Oct. 9th
Terms
Neuron
Dendrite
Axon
Myelin sheath
Action potential
Threshold
Synapse
Neurotransmitters
Acetylcholine
Endorphins
Agonist/Antagonist
Dopamine
Serotonin
GABA
Norepinephrine
Nervous system
Central nervous system
Peripheral nervous system
Nerves
Sensory neurons (afferent)
Interneurons
Motor neurons (efferent)
Somatic nervous system
Autonomic nervous system
Sympathetic nervous system
Parasympathetic nervous system
Reflex
Neural networks
Endocrine system
Hormones
Adrenal glands
Pituitary gland
Lesion
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
PET scan
MRI and fMRI
Brainstem
Medulla
Reticular formation
Thalamus
Cerebellum
Limbic system
Amygdala
Hypothalamus
Hippocampus
Cerebral cortex
Frontal lobes
Parietal lobes
Occipital lobe
Temporal lobes
Motor cortex
Sensory cortex
Association areas
Aphasia
Broca’s area
Wernicke’s area
Corpus callosum
Split brain
Plasticity
Glial cells
Suggested reflective writing topics:
1. Discuss examples of people you know who have experienced “a runner’s high” or similar addictive experiences and how this relates to endorphin production.
2. Discuss people you may know who have Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, depression, or other neurotransmitter related disorders. Keep confidentiality in mind of course.
3. Research and report on disorders of the endocrine system and/or relate to people you know who have diabetes. (cite sources)
4. Research and report on human reflexes (cite sources)
5. Describe a situation in which someone you know had a brain scan done, what did they learn from it?
6. Discuss the long term implications and ethical considerations of ability to electrically stimulate certain brain parts.
7. Describe someone you know who suffers from dyslexia and the impact of this on his/her life.
8. Choose 3 upper brain parts and 3 lower brain parts and explain how they would be involved in the same everyday activity. (Example: playing soccer, eating lunch, etc.)
9. Imagine that you must go through an entire day without the use of your left or right brain. How would your day be different?
10. Describe a situation in which someone you know had a spinal cord injury and how this affected his or her life.
11. Describe a situation in which someone you know has had a drug addiction. How does the information you’ve learned help you to understand it better? Confidentiality again!
12. Read headache article(ask me for this) and reflect on how it applies to you or someone you know.