Lesson Three: Brain and Behavior

You have explored the fundamentals of what psychology is and how psychologists research the human mind and behavior. This lesson focuses on the biological processes that play a role in how we think, feel, react and behave.

Every year, millions of people are affected by disorders of the brain and nervous system including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, stroke and traumatic brain injuries. These illnesses and injuries highlight the importance of the biological bases for our behavior. In this week's lesson, we'll explore some of the basics of biological psychology.

• What is biopsychology?
• What is a neuron?
• The structure of a neuron
• The nervous and endocrine systems
• The brain

Click the links below to read the articles and resources related to each topic in this lesson. Don't worry, there is no homework to complete! Each lesson in this course is entirely self-directed, which means that it is up to you to read and learn the materials. Good luck with today's lesson!

The area of psychology that seeks to understand how the brain affects behavior is known as biopsychology, although you may also hear this subject referred to as psychobiology or behavioral neuroscience. 

Neurons are the basic building blocks of life. These highly specialized cells are responsible for receiving and transmitting information from one part of the body to another. In this article, you'll learn more about how neurons function. 

Neuron Anatomy

In order to better understand how a neuron works to transmit information throughout the body, it is essential to know the different parts of a neuron. Learn about the structure of a neuron and how neural signals are transmitted in this overview of neuron anatomy.

You've seen how a cell is structured and how nerve impulses are propagated down the cell, but how does this information travel from one cell to the next? Learn more these chemical messengers that transmit signals from one cell to the next in this overview of neurotransmitters.

Neurons make up only a small part of the human body's complex communication system. The nervous system is composed of two main parts: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. Additionally, the endocrine system plays an important role in communication. Learn more about these two important systems and the impact they have on the brain, the body and behavior in this article on the nervous and endocrine systems.

Technological advances in recent years have allowed scientists to study the human brain in ways that were not possible in the past. Learn more about the different parts of the brain and the functions that each area serves in this tour of the human brain.

Final Thoughts

Congratulations, you've reached the end of lesson three! This lesson covers just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the brain and behavior, but understanding this information establishes a solid foundation for future study. If you feel that you have fully studied the information in this lesson, then feel free to move on to lesson four. If you are still struggling to understand or remember the material in today's lesson, I recommend coming back to review the information in a few days before you continue on to the next lesson.

Are you struggling with these lessons? Be sure to check out our great selection of psychology study tips, advice on how to take good psychology notes and some excellent strategies to help you study for psychology exams.