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Psychology: A Biologic Perspective Psychology,

Psychology, may be described as the scientific analysis of mental and behavioral processes. The field is comprised of several different "perspectives." One approach to psychological investigation involves the biological perspective. Biological psychologists attempt to delineate potential relationships between biology and behavior. Obviously, physiological phenomena such as strokes can substantially alter human behavior. For example, the stroke suffered by Richard M. Nixon on April 18, 1994 left the former President bedridden and unable to speak. In accordance with biologic psychology, such functional deficits may be traced directly to pathologic changes in specific brain regions.

Human behavior is quite complex. It requires the coordinated functioning of numerous different processes. The integration of these diverse events is performed primarily by the nervous system. It has been estimated that the human nervous system contains between 10 billion and 1 trillion neurons (Psychology text, p. 37). These specialized cells are responsible for transmitting nerve impulses. Although neurons come in various different shapes and sizes, they do share certain characteristics in common. Typically, a nerve impulse is received by either a neuron's "dendrites" or its "cell body." The messages are then generally transmitted along an "axon." When the impulse reaches the end of the axon, it triggers the release of neurotransmitters at the synapse. These biochemical compounds subsequently diffuse across the synaptic cleft to stimulate either another neuron, a muscle, or a gland.

Neurons can be divided into three general classes: sensory, motor, and interneurons. Sensory neurons are responsible for the various inputs to the central nervous system. They receive impulses from receptors located in the sense organs, muscles, skin, and joints. Secondly, the motor neurons carry outgoing signals from the central nervous system to muscl...

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Psychology: A Biologic Perspective Psychology,. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 01:03, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1701739.html