GENERAL
CHAPTER 4: THE PHYSIOLOGICAL BASIS OF BEHAVIOR
PSYCHOLOGY
THREE MECHANISM OF BEHAVIOR
1. THE RECEIVING MECHANISM
• Sense Organs are sensitive nerve endings located in certain
body parts.
• Characteristics of Sense Organs:
1. Sensitivity and Irritability: power to react to stimulus.
2. Conductivity: power to conduct and transport nerve
impulses.
3. Specificity: attribute of reacting to a particular stimulus.
4. Adaptability: power to become used to particular
stimulus.
• Types of Sense Organs according to location:
1. Exteroceptors: found in the eyes, ears, nose, mouth,
skin and are sensitive to external stimulus.
2. Interoceptors: sense organs in the respiratory tract,
digestive and genitor-urinary tract.
3. Proprieoceptors: sense organs embedded in muscles,
tendons and joints.
2. THE CONNECTING MECHANISM
• Neurons: is an electrically excitable cell that processes and
transmits information by electrical and chemical signaling.
The basic conducting unit of nervous system.
• Basic Part of a Neuron
1. Nucleus: responsible for protein synthesis or
manufacturing chemical substances for neuron
nourishment.
2. Dendrites: of a neuron are cellular extensions with
many branches, and metaphorically this overall shape
and structure is referred to as a dendritic tree. This is
where the majority of input to the neuron occurs.
3. Axon: is a finer, cable-like projection that can extend
tens, hundreds, or even tens of thousands of times the
Prepared by: Mark Fredderick R. Abejo RN,MAN
diameter of the soma in length. The axon carries nerve
signals away from the nucleus.
4. Myelin Sheath: the main purpose of a myelin layer (or
sheath) is to increase the speed at which impulses
propagate along the myelinated fiber
5. Axon Terminal / Synaptic Nerve Ending: contains
synapses, specialized structures where neurotransmitter
chemicals are released to communicate with target
neurons.
• Types of Neurons according to basis function:
1. Sensory Neurons (Afferent Fibers): conduct impulses
towards the brain / nervous system.
2. Association Neurons: connecting conduct impulses
within the nervous system.
3. Motor Neurons (Efferent Fibers): conduct impulses
away from the brain/ nervous system.
Division of Human Nervous System
I. Autonomic Nervous System
Sympathetic – flight or aggression response  release of
norepinephrine  increase in all bodily activity except GI
(constipation); adrenergic; parasympatholytic response.
REMEMBER: GIT is the least important area during stress 
decreased blood flow in the area; Increased blood flow in the brain,
heart and skeletal muscles
 Dry mouth
 Increase in HR and BP
 Tachypnea
 Constipation
Parasympathetic – flight or withdrawal response  release of
Acetylcholine  decrease in all bodily activity except GI (diarrhea);
chonlinergic/ vagal/ sympatholytic response
 Increased salivation
 Decreased HR and BP
 Decresead RR
 Diarrhea
 Seizures
II. Central Nervous System (BRAIN)
 CEREBRUM – divided into two hemispheres, the left and
right and is bridged by the corpus callosum
 Motor, sensory, integrative function
 Lobes:
 Frontal – controls higher cortical thinking,
personality development, motor activity, contains
BROCA’s are or the motor-speech center.
(Expressive Aphasia)
 Occipital – vision
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GENERAL
CHAPTER 4: THE PHYSIOLOGICAL BASIS OF BEHAVIOR
PSYCHOLOGY
 Parietal – appreciation and discrimination of
sensory impulses (pain, touch, pressure, heat and
cold) II. Optic Vision
 Temporal – hearing, short term memory, III. Oculomotor Eye
contains the general interpretative area— Movement
Wernicke’s aphasia
 Insula (Island of Reil) – visceral function IV. Trochlear (smallest) (“down”) Eye
(internal area) Movement
 Limbic System (Rhinencephalon) – sense of
smell, libido or sexual urge control, long term V. Trigeminal (largest) Chewing
memory
VI. Abducens (“at the sides”) Eye
Movement

VII. Facial Facial

Expression

VIII Acoustic (Vestibulocochlear) Hearing and

. Balance

IX. Glossopharyngeal Taste

X. Vagus (longest) Gag Reflex

and control
the muscle of
the throat

XI. Accessory Shoulder

Movement

XII. Hypoglossal Tongue

 MIDBRAIN – acts as a relay station for sight and hearing Movement
particularly helps in size and reaction of pupils and hearing
acuity
 DIENCEPHALON (Interbrain) B. Spinal Nerves
 Thalamus – acts as a relay station for sensation
 Hypothalamus – controls temperature, BP, sleep and
wakefulness, thirst, appetite (satiety), some emotional
responses like fear, anxiety and excitement, controls
pituitary functions
 BRAIN STEM
 Pons – controls rate, rhythm and depth of respiration
 Medulla Oblongata – lowest part; damage: most life
threatening; controls respiration, HR, swallowing,
vomiting, hiccups, vasomotor center
 CEREBELLUM – smallest part; “lesser brain”; balance,
equilibrium, gait and posture.

III. Peripheral Nervous System

A. Cranial Nerves

31 Spinal Nerves
 Cervical – 8 pairs
 Thoracic – 12 pairs
 Lumbar – 5 pairs
 Sacral – 5 pairs
 Coccygeal – 1 pair

3. THE REACTING MECHANISM (Muscles and Endocrine

Glands)
12 CRANIAL NERVE
A. Muscles
I. Olfactory Smell • The Kinds of Muscles
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GENERAL
CHAPTER 4: THE PHYSIOLOGICAL BASIS OF BEHAVIOR
PSYCHOLOGY
1. Voluntary Muscles : stripes, skeletal Thymus • Thymosin Stimulates the
2. Involuntary Muscles: visceral, smooth development of T
3. Cardiac muscles lymphocytes.
Adrenal Adrenal Cortex
• Mineralocorticoids Regulates mineral
(Aldosterone / Renin) composition of body fluids
• Glucocorticoids (Cortisol/ Promotes conversion of
Cortisone) protein into sugar.
• Sex Hormones Promotes development of
( Estrogen / Androgen) secondary sex
characteristics
Adrenal Medulla
• Adrenaline / Epinephrine Stimulates heartbeat,
• Characteristics of Muscles inhibits GIT activity,
1. Contractility: power to shorten increase blood flow.
2. Tonicity: power to be in partial contraction • Noradrenalin / Acts to constrict blood
Norepinephrine vessel throughout the
3. Extensibility: power of muscle to stretch
body.
4. Elasticity: power to resume to its original shape
Pancreas Alpha Cell
• Glucagon Raise the blood sugar level
• Functions of Muscles Beta Cell
1. To lend shape to the body. • Insulin Lowers the blood sugar
2. To propel food and waste product along the intestinal level
tract. Delta Cell
3. For movement • Somatostatin Inhibits growth hormone
4. To control blood flow
Gonads Male Testicle Influences the
5. To covert mechanical energy into chemical work
• Testosterone development of secondary
6. To generate heat sexual characteristics
Sperm production
B. Endocrine Glands
Female Ovaries Influences the
• Estrogen development of secondary
sexual characteristics
• Progesterone Maintenance of
pregnancy.

Glands Hormones Functions

Pituitary Anterior Pituitary
• Growth Hormones
• Thyroid Stimulating H.
• Adrecocorticotropic H.
• Follicle Stimulating H.
• Luteinizing H.
• Prolactin
Posterion Pituitary
• Oxytocin
• Antidiuretic H.
Stimulates growth
Stimulates thyroid gland
Stimulates adrenal gland
Ripening of follicles
(female)
Sperm production (male)
Stimulates ovulation
Milk Production
Stimulates contraction
Regulates volume of urine

Thyroid • Thyroxin Regulates metabolism

• Calcitonin Regulates calcium by bone
re-absorption
Parathyroid • Parathormone Regulates calcium by bone REFERENCES:
demineralization.
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GENERAL
CHAPTER 4: THE PHYSIOLOGICAL BASIS OF BEHAVIOR
PSYCHOLOGY
1. Kahayon and Aquino, General Psychology 4th edition

2. Gaerlan, Limpingco and Tria, General Psychology 5th edition

3. Plotnik, Introduction to Psychology 3rd edition

Prepared by: Mark Fredderick R. Abejo RN,MAN 4