Organization of the Nervous System

In this video I describe the organization of the nervous system, which includes the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system, which is then divided into the somatic and autonomic divisions. Next I discuss the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems which can activate responses in the autonomic division. I briefly explain how the fight or flight response can influence heart … Read More

Introduction to Neurotransmitters

In this video I introduce several neurotransmitters including acetylcholine, dopamine, GABA, serotonin, and norepinephrine. I also describe some of the functions of each of these neurotransmitters, with the caveat to avoid oversimplifying the role of neurotransmitters in explaining complex behaviors. Don’t forget to subscribe to the channel to see future videos! Have questions or topics you’d like to see covered … Read More

What is Stress?

You’re undoubtedly familiar with the concept of stress, but like many psychological variables we’ve seen, you may find it difficult to come up with a precise definition. What exactly is stress and how can we go about measuring it Walter Cannon coined the term “fight or flight response” to consider how we react to threats in the environment (you may … Read More