Biological psychology explores how our brain and nervous system influence behavior, thoughts, and emotions.
The nervous system serves as the body's command center, with the Central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) working alongside the Peripheral nervous system (nerves throughout the body). The Somatic nervous system controls voluntary movements, while the autonomic system manages involuntary functions through its Sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight response) and Parasympathetic nervous system (rest-and-digest functions).
Biological psychologists study how neural communication occurs through specialized cells called neurons. These neurons communicate using chemical messengers called neurotransmitters. The major types of neurotransmitters include dopamine (reward and pleasure), serotonin (mood and sleep), norepinephrine (alertness), acetylcholine (memory and muscle control), GABA (calming effects), glutamate (learning and memory), and endorphins (pain relief and pleasure). These can be classified as excitatory neurotransmitters that increase neural firing or inhibitory neurotransmitters that decrease it. Understanding these systems helps explain many examples of biological psychology in everyday life, from stress responses to learning and memory formation. Famous biological psychologists like Donald Hebb have contributed greatly to our understanding of how neural connections strengthen through repeated use. This field continues to advance our knowledge of the biological basis of human behaviour, helping us better understand conditions like depression, anxiety, and other psychological disorders through their underlying neural mechanisms.
The organization and functions of the nervous system in AP psychology demonstrates how our bodies maintain homeostasis while responding to environmental changes. When faced with a threat, the sympathetic nervous system increases heart rate and breathing, while the parasympathetic nervous system later helps return these functions to normal. This intricate balance of neural systems and neurotransmitters shapes every aspect of human experience, from basic survival functions to complex cognitive processes like learning, memory, and emotion.
