Introduction To Biology Of Behavior

Introduction to Biology of Behavior

• Definition: The study of how the nervous system, particularly the brain, influences human behavior. This field falls under physiological psychology, which examines the connections between neural activity and behavioral processes.
   
• Components of Human Behavior:
  • Receptors: Sense organs like eyes, ears, and skin that gather sensory information.
  • Effectors: Muscles and glands that carry out responses.
  • Connecting Mechanisms: Primarily the nervous system, which integrates sensory input and motor output.

Body and Its Functions

• Structure:
  • Divided into head, trunk, hands, and feet.
     
• Sense Organs:
  • Five main sense organs: eyes (sight), ears (hearing), nose (smell), tongue (taste), and skin (touch).
     
• Organs of Action:
  • Include feet, hands, mouth, excretory, and rectum, facilitating various bodily responses.
     
• Systems Involved in Functioning:
  • Major systems include respiratory, circulatory, skeletal, digestive, endocrine, and excretory.
     
• Significance:
  • Each of these systems plays a critical role in maintaining physiological health, which supports effective behavior in various life situations.

Mind and Its Functions

1. Concept of the Mind

• Definition: The mind is an abstract construct representing cognitive processes, not a physical entity within the body.
• Development: Mind’s functioning and development are influenced by age and cognitive growth, adapting through experience.

2. Body-Mind Relationship

• Interaction:
  • Psychology views body and mind as interconnected, with mental functions affecting physical states and vice versa.
• Role in Behavior:
  • Mind processes activities like thinking, reasoning, feeling, and remembering, which interact with physical sensations.

Modulation Process in Health and Illness

1. Effects of Bodily Conditions on Mental Functioning

• Physical Health influences mental states:
  • High blood pressure can cause mental excitement.
  • Chronic pain or illness may lead to depression or reduced concentration.
  • Endocrine imbalances can lead to lethargy or nervousness.

2. Effects of Mental Conditions on Bodily Functioning

• Emotions like fear, anger, and stress impact physical health:
  • Stress may lead to insomnia or headaches.
  • Emotional conflicts are linked with issues like peptic ulcers.
  • Repressed emotions can contribute to hypertension and heart disease.

Heredity and Its Influence on Behavior

1. Understanding Heredity

• Definition: Heredity encompasses traits passed genetically from parents to offspring.
• Genetic Components:
  • Chromosomes and Genes: 23 pairs of chromosomes in each cell, with genes determining traits.
     
• Influence on Personality:
  • Gene combinations cause individual differences, with identical twins sharing the same genetic traits, unlike fraternal twins.
     

2. Types of Traits:

• Dominant and Recessive Genes: Traits are inherited based on the dominance of genes.
• Sex-linked Traits: Certain traits appear only in one gender, while the other gender may be a carrier.

Environmental Influences on Behavior

1. Definition of Environment

• Environment includes all external factors impacting growth from conception onward, such as social, economic, and physical factors.
• Internal Environment:
  • Includes influences inside the womb, such as maternal nutrition and health.
• External Environment:
  • Physical Environment: Non-living factors like water, air, housing, and climate.
  • Biological Environment: Living organisms that affect health.
  • Psychosocial Environment: Includes family, cultural values, education, and social influences.

Brain and Behavior

1. Brain Functions

• Nervous System: Manages behavior and cognitive processing by integrating sensory inputs and regulating responses.
• Key Brain Regions:
  • Cerebrum: Divided into right and left hemispheres, each with four lobes:
    • Occipital Lobe: Visual processing.
    • Parietal Lobe: Movement, orientation.
    • Temporal Lobe: Sound and speech.
    • Frontal Lobe: Planning and reasoning.
  • Thalamus: Regulates autonomic functions and affects alertness.
  • Hypothalamus: Influences emotions, motivation, and regulates processes like eating and sleeping.

Nervous System and Endocrine System in Behavior

1. Receptors (Psychology of Sensations)

• External Receptors: Eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin help connect with the external world.
• Internal Receptors: Respond to bodily stimuli, helping maintain balance and equilibrium.

2. Effectors (Muscular and Glandular Controls of Behavior)

• Muscles: Facilitate motor activities and are classified into:
  • Smooth muscles: Digestion, circulation.
  • Cardiac muscles: Heart functions.
  • Skeletal muscles: Voluntary activities.
• Glands:
  • Duct Glands: Secrete externally via ducts, e.g., sweat, salivary.
  • Endocrine Glands: Secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream, impacting emotions and physical growth.

3. Role of Neurons and Neurotransmitters

• Structure of Neurons:
  • Neurons, with dendrites and axons, transmit signals throughout the nervous system.
• Key Neurotransmitters:
  • Acetylcholine: Muscle control, cognition.
  • Dopamine: Movement, emotion.
  • Serotonin: Mood, sleep.