Introduction to Psychology (BESC1490) Assignment 2: Biological Bases

This assignment explores the biological bases of mental life and behavior, covering several key topics in psychology. Task A addresses the structure and function of neurons, their communication methods, and the role of the endocrine system. It also examines the structure and function of the central nervous system, split-brain studies, and the nature versus nurture debate. Task B focuses on reaction time, explaining its significance and how it can be tested. It also explores factors influencing reaction time, such as stress and attention, and provides traffic-related examples. Task C reflects on the influence of behavioral psychology on the student's life, emphasizing the importance of attention, alertness, and safe practices. The assignment utilizes references to support the discussions on these topics.

RUNNING HEAD: PSYCHOLOGY
PSYCHOLOGY
Name of Student
Name of University
Author note

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Response to Task A
1.The neuron has a nucleus, a cell body (soma), dendrites and a long projection that is known
as axon which helps in signal transduction greatly. The axon is covered by myelin sheath in
myelinated neurons (Whiteway et al.2019). The signal jumps from one gap to the other,
present between the myelin sheath known as nodes of Ranvier (Brivio et al. 2017). This type
of conduction is called ‘saltatory conduction’ that is multiple folds faster than unmyelinated
nerve. The myelin is produced by Schwann cells.
A neuron ends synaptic bulbs where the transduced signal produces end plate
potentials (EPPs) that crossed over the synaptic junction to the next neuron (Wong et al.
2019). The chemical changes in the synaptic vessels play a very important role in
depolarization and transduction processes. Acetylcholine is released from the vessels which is
an excitatory neurotransmitter and helps actively in excitatory neurotransmission (Reczek and
Chandel).
2. The endocrine glands form a biological or metabolic communication network throughout
the human body (Rosol and Gröne 2015). Pituitary glands also known as the master gland,
under the influence of hypothalamus – control the hormone secretion from the other axis or
parts of the body (Wang et al. 2018). The lobes of pituitary (anterior, posterior and middle)
secretes the ‘stimulating hormones’ that influences the secretion of target endocrine glands
(thyroid, testes, ovaries). While the hormonal control loop acts in an axis, controlled greatly
by the pituitary gland – the metabolic and homeostatic states play a very important part in
functioning of this endocrinal network.
3. Structure and function of central nervous system. The central nervous system consists of
‘two major structures’ - brain and the spinal cord. Brain is protected by skull. Spinal cord is a
continuation or prolonged extension of the brain through the vertebral column. The delicate

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spinal cord is protected by vertebrae. The cerebrospinal fluid or CSF is present in the CNS
that communicated with the spinal cord from skull’s base, continues through ‘foramen
magnum’ and it terminates at the level of second or first lumbar vertebra. The central nervous
system, functionally, involved with higher neurological and psychological functions as well
as interpretation of sensory impulses and production of a desired response.
4. Split brain studies continue to explore the fact certain brain functions are specific and
particular to certain areas in a specific lobe and the ‘function’ appear as ‘exclusive’ to either
left or right hemisphere. Many studies have provided evidences that has pointed towards and
against the idea of ‘lateralization’ (Rogers and Vallortigara 2017). Although, there are
different ‘portions’ identical to both the lobes but still, functionally, some regions are
concentrated on left hemisphere such as speech and writing areas and some areas on
exclusively on the ride side of brain while emotions rise from the right hemisphere.
5. One of the oldest and well known debates in psychology is the ‘nature – nurture
controversy’ according to which, a person’s behavior is determined by nature (genes) and by
the environmental influences (in which a child grows up to become an adult and so on). This
latter influence is called ‘nurture’.
Response to Task B
1. Reaction time calculates how fast or rapid can an individual ‘execute’ a mental or
psychological operation required to perform a certain task. In ‘simple reaction time
experiment’ - the ‘subject’ is presented or given a ‘quite simple stimulus’ such as
‘light’ and then, the subject was instructed to complete a very simple response that is
‘pressing of a button’ (Nagatani 2015)
2. While I took the test, the test results varied from one test to the other. This is because,
the mind uses a lot of collateral mechanisms to handle the stimulus- response loop.

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The mind uses attention to focus on a task and as the repetition increases, the level of
attention increases as well. Stress and anticipation can increase the neuro-hormonal
firing at an elevated rate or decrease the firing substantially and this can cause
imbalance with the ‘cognitive flexibility’ and ‘spontaneity’ that can in turn, distort the
fine mental adjustment processes, required to give a rapid reaction.
3. The drivers, driving their cars in the same route every day, uses a mind map to
navigate through the traffic jams and reacting to traffic light. The pedestrians act in
the same way. While ‘habituation’ to the daily obstacles and scenario in determination
of an effective reaction time, daily life experiences and parallel thought processes
tends to increase stress and reaction time. A lapse in the receptor-effector loop affects
the reaction time and more effective the reaction time, better are the chances of
accident avoidance and ‘hassle-free’ transportation for the pedestrians and the drivers.
4. Differences between the safety limit, risk limit and reaction time have many grey
shades in between. Adjusting the speed of the car over a span of distance as guided by
the landmarks and in relation to other cars and pedestrians is crucial. As shown in the
video, a car travelling at 50 km/ hour would need 35 meters to completely stop the car
after hitting the brake and it would take 45 meters for a car at 60km/hour and if a
child is beyond 45m, then it’s safe otherwise, the car will hit the child. So, the car
should decrease its speed anyway.
5. A deep seated complex, neuropsychological mechanism such as reacting to the
particular color light and detecting the change from red to green occurs at a very fine
sensory level. Alcohol and fatigue imbalances the hormone mediated excitation-firing
mechanism of neural signaling. In both fatigue and alcohol consumption, certain parts
of the brain are inhibited and certain parts are excited increasingly that affects the
neural transduction and ‘attention’, ‘orientation’ in an adverse manner.

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Response to Task C
Behavioral psychology has greatly influenced me throughout my life. After studying
and doing the assignment, I have learned how attention and a fit and oriented ‘mental
condition’ is required to live a safe, day to day life. Developing a selective attention, being
alert and taking personal measures is what is needed to live a safe life and I would like to do
the same. Even for car driving, I shall maintain the speed limits within safety so as to avoid
accidents.

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References
Brivio, V., Faivre-Sarrailh, C., Peles, E., Sherman, D.L. and Brophy, P.J., 2017. Assembly of
CNS nodes of Ranvier in myelinated nerves is promoted by the axon cytoskeleton. Current
Biology, 27(7), pp.1068-1073.
Nagatani, T., 2015. Chain-reaction crash in traffic flow controlled by taillights. Physica A:
Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 419, pp.1-6.
Reczek, C.R. and Chandel, N.S., 2015. ROS-dependent signal transduction. Current opinion
in cell biology, 33, pp.8-13.
Rogers, L.J. and Vallortigara, G., 2017. Lateralized brain functions. Springer New York.
Rosol, T.J. and Gröne, A., 2015. Endocrine glands. Jubb, Kennedy & Palmer’s pathology of
domestic animals, 3, pp.269-357.
Wang, M., Liu, H., Wei, X., Liu, C., Liang, T., Zhang, X., Jin, C., Li, X., Sun, Q., Jiang, H.
and Yang, J., 2018. Application of Reduced-FOV Diffusion-Weighted Imaging in Evaluation
of Normal Pituitary Glands and Pituitary Macroadenomas. American Journal of
Neuroradiology, 39(8), pp.1499-1504.
Whiteway, M. R., Socha, K., Bonin, V., and Butts, D. A. 2019. Characterizing the nonlinear
structure of shared variability in cortical neuron populations using latent variable
models. arXiv preprint arXiv:1904.10441.
Wong, J., Sampson, S.L., Bell-Briones, H., Ouyang, A., Lazar, A.A., Lotz, J.C. and Fields,
A.J., 2019. Nutrient supply and nucleus pulposus cell function: effects of the transport
properties of the cartilage endplate and potential implications for intradiscal biologic
therapy. Osteoarthritis and cartilage, 27(6), pp.956-964.