Chapter 3

The Nervous System Two main parts

Central Nervous System: the brain and the spinal cord

Peripheral Nervous System: contains nerve cells; has two divisions ○ Somatic Nervous System: activated

by touch, pain, and temp○ Automatic Nervous System:

regulates the body’s vital functions (like our heartbeat)

The Brain

Parts of the Brain Pons: help regulate sleep

Cerebellum: controls balance and coordination

Limbic System: involved in learning, memory, emotion, hunger, sex, and aggression

Cerebrum/Cerebral Cortex: the part that does the thinking

The Two Halves

Connected by the corpus callosum Information received by one side of the

body is transmitted to the opposite hemisphere of the brain

Don’t act independently, but some think…Right brained people are creativeLeft brained people are logical

The Endocrine System Contains the glands that

release hormones into our bloodstreamPituitary Gland: releases

growth hormonesThyroid Gland: controls

our metabolismAdrenal Glands: help us with stressful

situationsTestes/Ovaries: important for reproduction

Heredity: Our Genetic Background Heredity: passing along traits

from parents to offspring

Nature-Nurture Debate: How did we develop who we are?Through Nature: our genetic

make-upThrough Nurture: from our

environment

Kinship Studies Explore the Nature-Nurture Debate

Twin Studies: look at identical and fraternal twins

Adoptee Studies: look at siblings not raised together

Twins Reared Apart: combines Twin Studies and Adoptee Studies

Read about Bouchard’s study on page 73 and answer the question at the bottom. Do you agree with Bouchard?

Your Assignment

Using information from the book, sketch the brain in your notes

Label at least 7 areas

I’ll check this tomorrow for ten points