Biological Basis of Behavior
• It is the part of the human’s
body that coordinates its
actions and transmits signals to
and from different parts of its
body.
• It is the master controlling and
communicating system of the
body - CONTROLS and
COORDINATES ALL
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS of the
Human Body.
SENSORY FUNCTION: Nervous system uses its
millions of sensory receptors to monitor changes
occurring both inside and outside of the body. Those
changes are called STIMULI, and the gathered
information is called Sensory Input.
INTEGRATIVE FUNCTION: The Nervous System
process and interprets the sensory input ad makes
decisions about what should be done at each
moment—a process called Integration.
MOTOR FUNCTION: The Nervous System then
sends information to muscles, glands, and organs
(effectors) so they can respond correctly, such as
muscular contraction or glandular secretions.
The central nervous system
(CNS) is the body's
processing center, composed
of the brain and spinal cord,
responsible for receiving,
processing, and responding
to sensory information,
controlling movements,
thoughts, and emotions, and
managing bodily functions.
Human Brain is divided
into 3 main parts on
the basis of their
function and
placements
The 3 main parts of
Human Brain are ;
1. Fore Brain
2. Mid Brain
3. Hind Brain
Position: It is the
anterior part of the
brain
It has 3 parts
1. Cerebrum
2. Thalamus
3. Limbic System
Position: It is located
above the brain stem and
between the cerebral
cortex and mid-brain
Function: It carries
sensory information from
the body to Cerebrum
and The Limbic System
HYPOTHALAMUS PITUITARYGLAND
Structure: It is pea-shaped structure
Position: It lies under the Function: It is very important
thalamus in Growth and reproduction
Function: It connects the
nervous system with the
endocrine system via pituitary
gland
Structure: It is arc shaped
structure between thalamus and
cerebrum
Function: It controls responses
like
Hunger
Fear
Thirst
Anger
Sexual responses etc
The cerebrum, the largest part of the brain,
is responsible for higher-level functions like
thought, reasoning, and voluntary movement.
Structure:
Hemispheres:
The cerebrum is divided into two
hemispheres: the right and left, connected
by the corpus callosum, a bundle of nerve
fibers.
Lobes:
Each hemisphere contains four lobes:
frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital.
Cerebral Cortex:
The outer layer of the cerebrum is the
cerebral cortex, composed of gray matter,
which contains billions of nerve cells.
Conscious Thoughts and Actions:
The cerebrum is the seat of our conscious awareness,
allowing us to think, plan, and act.
Higher-Level Functions:
Language: Understanding and producing speech.
Memory: Forming and retrieving memories.
Reasoning and Problem-Solving: Analyzing
information and making decisions.
Sensory Processing: Interpreting sensory
information from the world around us (sight, sound,
touch, etc.).
Motor Control: Initiating and coordinating voluntary
movements.
Emotions and Personality: Regulating emotions and
contributing to personality.
The cerebrum is divided into two
hemispheres: the left and right,
with the right hemisphere
controlling the left side of the body
and the left hemisphere controlling
the right side. into two
hemispheres: the left and right.
Corpus Callosum:
The two hemispheres are
connected by a thick band of nerve
fibers called the corpus callosum,
which allows communication
between them
Left hemisphere
•Controls the right side of the body
•Responsible for language, speech,
logic, math, and analytical thinking
•Controls word processing, sentence
construction, and word choice
•Controls listening, speaking, reading,
and writing
Right hemisphere
•Controls the left side of the body
•Responsible for interpreting visual
information and spatial processing
•Manages emotional language tone,
creativity, and music
Frontal Lobe
Lobes Involved in planning, decision-making,
Each and voluntary movement.
hemisphere Parietal Lobe
contains four Processes sensory information,
lobes: frontal, including touch, temperature, and
parietal, pain.
temporal, and Temporal Lobe
occipital. Processes auditory information and
plays a role in memory and language.
Occipital Lobe
Processes visual information
Position: It is located
below the cerebral
cortex and above the
hind brain
Function: It controls
reflex movements of
the body and hearing
reflexes
Position: It is present at
the
backside of the Brain
Parts: It consists of
1. Cerebellum
2. Pons
3. Medulla Oblongata
Meaning: It is latin for
Little Brain
Position: It is located at
the back side of head
Functions: It controlsthe
balance of the body and
co-ordinates the
voluntary movement of
the body
Meaning: Pons mean
“Bridge”
Position: It islocated
above medulla
Function: It controls
sleep as well as the rate
and pattern of
breathing
Position: It is the posterior
part of the brain
Function: It controls
automatic actions e.g
1. Breathing
2. Heart rate
3. Swallowing
4. Blood Circulation
The spinal cord is a vital part of the
central nervous system, a
cylindrical column of nerve tissue
that extends from the brainstem
down the spine, carrying messages
between the brain and the rest of
the body.
Location:
The spinal cord is housed within
the vertebral canal, a protective
bony structure formed by the
vertebrae (backbones).
Length:
In adults, the spinal cord typically
extends to the first or second
lumbar vertebra (L1-L2).
Conduction:
The spinal cord serves as a major pathway for
transmitting signals between the brain and the rest of
the body.
Reflexes:
It also plays a role in coordinating reflexes, which are
automatic, involuntary responses to stimuli.
Motor Control:
The spinal cord transmits motor signals from the brain
to control muscles and movement.
Sensory Input:
It receives sensory information from the body and
relays it to the brain for processing.
peripheral nervous system (PNS) is that part of
your nervous system that lies outside your
brain and spinal cord. It plays key role in both
sending information from different areas of
your body back to your brain, as well as
carrying out commands from your brain to
various parts of your body
peripheral nervous system has two main
subsystems: autonomic and somatic.
Autonomic: These are nervous system
processes your brain runs automatically and
without you thinking about them.
Somatic: These are functions you manage by
thinking about them.
Allows us to consciously, or voluntarily, control our
skeletal muscles. SMS is often referred to as the
voluntary nervous system, however, skeletal
muscle reflexes are also initiated involuntarily by
fibers of this same subdivision.
• Senses: Your PNS is a key part of how
your brain gets information about the
world around you. This job falls under the
somatic nervous system.
• Movement: Your peripheral nerves deliver
command signals to all the muscles in
your body that you can consciously
control. This job also falls under the
somatic nervous system.
Regulates events that are automatic, or involuntary,
such as the activity of smooth muscles and glands.
This subdivision is commonly called the involuntary
nervous system.
• Unconscious processes: This is how
your brain runs critical processes that
don’t depend on your thinking about them.
Examples of this include heartbeat and
blood pressure. This job depends on your
autonomic nervous system.
Function: Activates the body's "fight or
flight" response, preparing it for stressful or
dangerous situations.
•Actions:
•Increases heart rate and breathing rate.
•Dilates pupils.
•Releases glucose from the liver for energy.
•Reduces digestive activity.
•Increases sweating.
•Diverts blood flow to muscles and vital organs.
location: Neurons exit the spinal cord at the
thoracic and lumbar regions.
It is the “housekeeping” system and
is in control most of the time.
Function: Promotes "rest and digest"
functions, calming the body and
restoring it to a normal state after
stress or activity.
Actions:
•Decreases heart rate and breathing rate.
•Constricts pupils.
•Stimulates digestion.
•Promotes relaxation.
•Slows down metabolic rate.
Location: Neurons exit the brain or sacral
region of the spinal cord
“Psychologists study the brain and the nervous
system because these parts of the body are
essential to the way that people behave,
think and feel. Psychology is the scientific
study of people's behavior and their mind so
studying the brain and nervous system is
always going to be a crucial element for
psychological study.”
THANK YOU!!!
