Unit 2: Biological Basis of Behavior

Unit Overview

Although we tend to think of our minds as separate from our bodies, there are many biological functions that affect our behavior in different ways. This unit is dedicated to providing resources about the brain's structure and how it receives chemical and electrical signals via neurons and neurotransmitters. You'll also learn about our complex system of glands, which secrete hormones that affect our mood and temperament. The nature versus nurture debate is one of the biggest questions scientists have asked, and we'll look at how genetics play a role in the formation of personality and behavior.

Unit Objectives

•   Identify basic processes and systems in the biological bases of behavior, including parts of the neuron and the process
of transmission of a signal between neurons.
•   Discuss the influence of drugs on neurotransmitters (e.g., reuptake mechanisms).
•   Discuss the effect of the endocrine system on behavior.
•   Describe the nervous system and its subdivisions and functions:
◦   central and peripheral nervous systems;
◦   major brain regions, lobes, and cortical areas;
◦   brain lateralization and hemispheric specialization.
•   Recount historic and contemporary research strategies and technologies that support research (e.g., case studies, split-
   brain research, imaging techniques).
•   Discuss psychology’s abiding interest in how heredity, environment, and evolution work together to shape behavior.
•   Predict how traits and behavior can be selected for their adaptive value.
• Identify key contributors (e.g., Paul Broca, Charles Darwin, Michael Gazzaniga, Roger Sperry, Carl Wernicke).