Biology 338: Lecture 4Spring 1997

Nervous System and Behavior

  1. Functions of nervous system
    1. Detect
    2. Collect/compute
    3. React

  2. Neurons
    1. Functional zones
      1. Dendrite
      2. Cell body
      3. Axon
      4. Synapse
    2. Properties/physiological functioning
      1. Resting potential
      2. Action potential
      3. Neurotransmitters
    3. Types
      1. Sensory neurons
      2. Interneurons
      3. Motor neurons

  3. Bats and moths: Hearing the silence
    1. Natural history
      1. Bats use ultrasound (20kHz) to locate food
      2. Evasive behavior in moths
    2. Ultrasound detection
      1. Properties of auditory receptors
      2. Information obtained
    3. Stimulus filtering/selective perception

  4. Bees and flowers: Seeing the invisible
    1. Electromagnetic spectrum
    2. Honeybee vision
      1. Von Frisch
      2. Von Hess
      3. Pohl and Kuhn
      4. Kramer