Module 2: Biological Basis of Behavior

Female student sitting at table holding bookImagine if you switched brains with your best friend, and from this point forward, every memory, emotion, and experience you once had no longer exists to you. How would this make you feel? How would it change who you are as a person?

The brain creates and holds our emotions, memories, personality, and thoughts. Think about it: you are your brain. This organ is arguably the most complex and fascinating object on Earth.

The Ancient Greeks referred to the heart as the seat of one’s emotions and personality. Many sayings exist like, “she broke my heart” or “my heart is aching,” referring to our emotions. But we know the heart does not hold our emotions, dreams, or desires. The brain performs these functions.

In order to better understand yourself, you must understand how your brain works. This module explains how the brain functions by first taking you through the nervous system, where you will encounter the smallest parts of the brain: neurons and neurotransmitters. You will then learn about other integral parts of the brain.

Getting Started

Scientists have called the brain "the last frontier,” because many believe the potential of the human brain has yet to be fully explored and discovered.

The United States government has teamed up with an elite group of scientists for a project called The BRAIN Initiative.The team hopes to understand the human brain's potential and uncover new ways to treat, cure, and prevent brain disorders like Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s, autism, and schizophrenia.

URLBefore continuing your exploration into the brain, take a moment to learn more about the BRAIN Initiative program by looking at The BRAIN Initiative website.

As you discover more about The Brain Initiative program, think about the following:

  • How could learning more about the brain improve society?
  • If you could give your own money to one of the five federal agencies that support the Brain Initiative, which one would you choose and why?


Key Vocabulary

Glossary icon
To view the definitions for these vocabulary terms, visit the course glossary.

ACh or acetylcholine
adrenal glands
amygdala
autonomic nervous system
axon
brainstem
Broca's area
CAT or CT scan
cell body
cerebellum
central nervous system
corpus callosum
dendrite
dopamine
EEG
endocrine system
endorphins
fMRI
forebrain
frontal lobe
hindbrain
hippocampus
hormones
hypothalamus
limbic system
medulla
MRI
myelin sheath
neurotransmitter
norephinephrine
occipital lobe
ovaries
pancreas
parasympathetic nervous system
parietal lobe
peripheral nervous system
PET scan
pituitary gland
pons
reticular formation
serotonin
somatic nervous system
sympathetic nervous system
synapse
temporal lobe
terminal buttons
testes
thalamus
thyroid gland
Wernicke's area