Module 1 Part 3: Biopsychology

Central Nervous System (CNS)
Components: Brain and spinal cord.
Function: Processes information and coordinates activity throughout the body.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Components: Nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.
Function: Connects the CNS to limbs and organs.

Somatic Nervous System: Controls voluntary movements.

Autonomic Nervous System: Regulates involuntary functions.

Sympathetic Division: Prepares the body for stress-related activities.

Parasympathetic Division: Conserves energy and restores the body to a restful state.

Brainstem Components: Medulla, pons, and midbrain. Controls basic life functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. 

Cerebellum: Coordinates voluntary movements and balance. 

Limbic System Components: Amygdala, hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus. Regulates emotions, memory, and motivation. 

Cerebral Cortex: Responsible for complex thought processes such as perception, language, and planning.

Frontal Lobes: Involved in decision-making, problem-solving, and planning. Parietal Lobes: Processes sensory information such as touch and spatial orientation.

Occipital Lobes: Responsible for visual processing.

Temporal Lobes: Involved in auditory processing and memory. 

Neurons
Components: Cell body (soma), dendrites, axon, synapse.
Function: Transmit information through electrical and chemical signals. 

Neurotransmitters
Examples: Dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, norepinephrine.
Function: Chemicals that transmit signals across a synapse from one neuron to another. 

Endocrine System

Hormones
Function: Chemical messengers that regulate physiological processes.
Examples: Cortisol, adrenaline, estrogen, testosterone.

Pituitary Gland: Often called the "master gland," it controls other endocrine glands.

Adrenal Glands: Produce hormones involved in stress response. 

Brain Imaging Techniques

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Function: Uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the brain. 

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
Function: Uses radioactive tracers to visualize brain activity. 

Electroencephalography (EEG)
Function: Measures electrical activity in the brain.