Biological Bases of Behavior
Textbook Reading:
Chapter 2: pages 40-73
On the Web:
Psych Sims
Good overall review of the brain in a step by step process
Website that walks you through the hemispheres of the brain.
Hemispheric Specialization Review Game
The Neuron and Neural Network Communication
On the Web:
Psych Sims
Good overall review of the brain in a step by step process
Website that walks you through the hemispheres of the brain.
Hemispheric Specialization Review Game
The Neuron and Neural Network Communication
Other Sites
The Limbic System
MRI Game
Neuroscience for Kids - This site contains high school age appropriate information about the nervous system and brain. It includes games, activities and practice questions.
Do We Use Only 10% of Our Brains?
Description of how neurons communicate.
Test Yourself
Jeopardy!
The Limbic System
MRI Game
Neuroscience for Kids - This site contains high school age appropriate information about the nervous system and brain. It includes games, activities and practice questions.
Do We Use Only 10% of Our Brains?
Description of how neurons communicate.
Test Yourself
Jeopardy!
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The following three videos are UC Berkeley lectures on Biological Basis for Behavior, these are college level lectures so they're more complex than what we'll do in class, but what an awesome resource to make available for free - thank you UC Berkeley!
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III. Biological Bases of Behavior (8–10%)
An effective introduction to the relationship between physiological processes and
behavior — including the influence of neural function, the nervous system and the
brain, and genetic contributions to behavior — is an important element in the AP
course.
AP students in psychology should be able to do the following:
• 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, agonists, antagonists).
• 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.
• Discuss the role of neuroplasticity in traumatic brain injury.
• 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).
An effective introduction to the relationship between physiological processes and
behavior — including the influence of neural function, the nervous system and the
brain, and genetic contributions to behavior — is an important element in the AP
course.
AP students in psychology should be able to do the following:
• 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, agonists, antagonists).
• 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.
• Discuss the role of neuroplasticity in traumatic brain injury.
• 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).