Cognitive Psychology
February 12, 2025
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Several years of research have made important advancements in explaining the functioning of human brain and explaining how biological processes can influence human thoughts, feelings and behaviour. For understanding biopsychology, it is important to understand the three most important physiological components of human anatomy, i.e. Brain, the neurotransmitters and the Nervous system.
The central nervous system has two important parts: The Brain and the Spinal Cord. Communication in the Central Nervous system takes place with the help of Neurons. The brain and the spinal cord are indispensable and very important for the survival of human life; therefore, they are surrounded and protected by various protective barriers such as the bone (spine and skull) and meninges or the membrane tissues.
In addition, both brain and spinal cord are protected by cerebrospinal fluid. The Central Nervous System is responsible for every thought which we experience or all kinds of sensations.
Cerebral cortex is the outermost portion of the brain, which is responsible for cognition, emotions, sensation, motor movements, etc. This part of the brain is responsible for making humans unique with distinctive human traits and capabilities. The brain comprises of four lobes:
The peripheral nervous system comprises of the nerves or the network of nerves which are actually bundled as axons, situated outside the central nervous system. It is subdivided into two parts:
The automatic functioning processes or the involuntary body functions such as breathing, heart rate and blood pressures are regulated by the autonomic nervous system. Autonomic nervous system is also related with emotional responses such as sweating or crying.
Autonomic nervous system has two parts:
A neuron is considered to be basic building block in the nervous system of a human anatomy. These are specialized or complex nerve cells responsible for transmitting information to the body in the form of electrical and chemical signals. A human body has many types of neurons each responsible for performing different function. These are sensory neurons, motor neurons and interneurons
Structure of a Neuron: Neurons just like other cells of the body has nucleus which holds information about genes. Neurons are protected by a membrane which surrounds the cell and these cell bodies contain organelles which supports life.
Neurons can be divided into 3 parts:
The axons and dendrites are responsible for the transmission and receipt of information from other cells and from one neuron to another. The dendrites receive information from the neurons or sensory receptors and pass it to the cell body and to the axons. Information received in the axon is then further transmitted down to the entire length of the axon as an electrical signal which is known as action potential.
Once the information reaches the entire length of the axon, the information is then transmitted through the synapses to the dendrites of another neuron. Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers which are released at the axon terminal cross the synapses and meet the receptor sites of the other neurons. Neurotransmitters carry electrical messages between various parts of the body to the brain and vice versa. Neurotransmitters can be of various types which affect the functioning of the body in different ways.
A psychologist may investigate or study various neurotransmitters for understanding their effects on human behaviour. Example, dopamine which is one kind of neurotransmitter is associated with learning and movement.
An excess of neurotransmitter dopamine can lead to mental conditions like schizophrenia, or its deficit can be responsible for Parkinson’s disease.
Similarly, another kind of neurotransmitter is Acetylcholine, which is related to memory and learning. Lack of Acetylcholine can be associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Endorphin is another kind of neurotransmitter which is associated with emotional feelings and the perception of pain.
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