Introduction

In this unit we look in detail at the biology that influences psychology. Ultimately, how we think and behave depends on biology. We need to understand the basics of how our brain and body are structured and how they process information so we can understand perception, learning, memory, and the other topics we will study in this course.

This unit should take you about 16 hours to complete.

Objectives

By the end of this unit, you should be able to: Explain the structure and function of neurons and how they communicate with each other Explain the general structure of the human brain, including the location and function of each major area of cerebral cortex Name three methods for studying brain activity. Explain what is measured and how that measurement is linked to thinking or behavior Name the major parts of the Central Nervous System and the Peripheral Nervous System and their main functions Explain this statement: The nervous system controls behavior electrically while the endocrine system controls behavior chemically Describe the experiences of people with several types of brain disorders (a stroke patient, a man impaled through the brain, an epileptic whose corpus callosum was severed)