GEK1064 / PLB1201

Psychology in Everyday Life

Lecture 1

Plotnik, R., & Kouyoumdjian, H. (2014). Introduction to Psychology (10th

edition). Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
About this module
Common Assessment (50%) components :
Mid-term (30%)
Wk 9: 18th March (mcq)
Journal report (12%)
See uploaded slides for details
Tutorial Participation (8%)
RP Requirement
Exams and mid-term
Closed-book
Format: MCQs and fill-in-the-blanks
Tested materials:
Anything covered during lecture and tutorials
Relevant chapters in the textbook
Assigned supplementary readings
Important note for students taking
this module
This is a module meant for students who
have NO intention to major or minor in
psychology.
This module is not recognized as a
foundation module for majoring or
minoring in psychology.
So why this module?
Logistic matter
Students who register for E1-E5 tutorial class (Mon)
please take note:
Tutorial 1 falls on CNY.
Tutorial 1 (make-up tutorial) is now moved one week ahead to
Week 3 (23 Jan) at AS4 03-35
You should try to attend the corresponding time-slot as far as
possible.
If you are unable to do so, you will need to attend another time-
slot that also falls on 23 Jan.You must inform the tutor upon
arrive which time-slot you belong to.
Note that for those who try to attend another time-slot, there
is the risk that you may be turned away and asked to attend
another slot if the classroom is already over-crowded.
Lecture 1. Brains Building Blocks

Structure and working of neurons

How the working of neurons influence behavior

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Neurons (nerve cells): Building blocks
of the nervous system

specialized cells
responsible for
receiving,
processing and
transmitting
information.

Neurons in the brain of a

monkey
10
Neurons: The Elements of Behavior

No two neurons are alike but they have the same structure
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS):

12
What was not mentioned in the
video
Myelin Sheath
Fatty insulating sheath wrapped around
the axon.
Two functions:
Speed up the conduction of neural impulses.
Prevent signals from adjacent cells from
interfering with each other (short circuits
otherwise)

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Points to highlight from the video
Information travels in the nervous system is
electrochemical in nature:
Impulse flowing along the neurons: electrical signal
Messages from one neuron to another: chemical
process (in the form of neurotransmitter)

The electric impulse traveling through the neuron

is known as an action potential, which changes
the cells charge from negative to positive

14
The Electrical Impulse
Points to highlight from the video: How
neurons communicate

Chemical process involving neurotransmitters

traveling across synaptic cleft.
It binds briefly on the receptor site of the
receiving neuron, like a key fits into a lock.
Neurotransmitters deliver either excitatory
or inhibitory messages that determine
whether the receiving neuron fires or not
fires.
Neurotransmitters fundamental to behaviors.
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Synaptic transmission
Neurotransmitters

Copyright 1999 by The McGraw-Hill

Companies, Inc.
End of Lecture