2a. biopsychology
TRANSCRIPT
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PSY 2012 General PsychologyChapter 2: Biopsychology
Samuel R. Mathews, Ph.D.Associate Professor
The Department of Psychology
The University of West Florida
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Biological Psychology: Core Concepts
At the species level there are uniquecharacteristics that are explained within
biological and psychological sciences from the
Evolutionary Perspective
At the individual level unique characteristics are
influenced by ones Genotype (inherited genetic
make-up from biological parents) andPhenotype (the way the genotype is expressed)
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Evolutionary Perspective
All species have a common origin;
Individual organisms with attributes
that allowed them to survive and breed,were more likely to pass on the genetic
structure to offspring who themselves
had a higher likelihood of surviving;
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Biological Psychology: Core Concepts
Evolutionary Perspective
Based on a scientific approach of prediction,
data collection, analysis, interpretation,
questioning and further prediction with testing
and revision. Other perspectives based on authority or
belief that disallow analysis of empirical data
in favor of belief are not the purview of
science. They are grounded in philosophicalor theological perspectives
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Biological Psychology: Core Concepts
At the individual level, Genetic Codes
play a role in the unique individual
characteristics
Genotypeunique genetic code inherited
by the individual from biological parents
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Biological Psychology: Core Concepts
Phenotypeexpression of the genotype
in physical and psychological
characteristics
Impacted by biological and environmental
forces
Biological forces: disease, toxins, injury
Environmental forces: access to health care,access to stimulation from the environment
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How Natural Selection Works
Environmental pressure
(changes in the environment)
Competition(for resources)
Selection of fittest phenotype(from among a variety of phenotypes)
Reproductive success(genotype corresponding to fittest
phenotypes passed to next generation)
Frequency of that genotype increases
(in next generation)
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The Individual: Chromosomes, Genes,
and Inherited DNA
Why are some people shorter than others?
Why are some babies unable to digest
protein?
Why are some children born with Downs
syndrome?
Why did Sams hair fall out?
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The Individual: Chromosomes, Genes,
and Inherited DNA
Chromosomes
the structure that carries the genetic material (DNA)
23 pairs half contributed by the biological mother
and half by the biological father Chromosomes are made up ofgeneswith
specific DNA codes.
Each gene is responsible for some characteristic of
the organism and work in concert with others to yieldthe whole organism
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The Individual: Chromosomes, Genes,
and Inherited DNA
One pair of chromosomes determines our
biological sex
The biological mother contributes the X
The biological father contributes either
another X or a Y chromosome.
XX= female (more female fetuses survive than
males) XY=male
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The Individual: Chromosomes, Genes,
and Inherited DNA
Relationship between genotype and
characteristics and behaviors is complex;
Inheriting a genotype linked to some
psychopathology does not mean individuals
will experience that pathology (e.g.
schizophrenia).
Impact of the pathology is frequentlyminimized by alterations in the environment
(e.g. corrective lenses).
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Hot Issues in Genetics
Cloning
Choosing the sex of your child
Diagnosis of genetic fetal abnormalities Choosing your mate
Social engineering
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The Central Nervous System
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The Homer Brain
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The Human Brain
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Brain Structures and Functions
Brain stem (reptilian brain)
First to evolve
Life-sustaining systems: breathing, pulse rate
Similar to brains of reptiles
Cerebellum
Coordination of automatic movements
(walking, dancing) Processing other temporal (time related)
stimuli (e.g. music)
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Brain Structures and Functions
Limbic system
Emotion, memories, desires
Functions to help us remember highly emotional
experiences
Contains the hypothalamuscontrol center for manyfunctions
Cerebral cortex
Last to evolve Linked to higher mental processes
Different areas or lobes control different functions
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Cerebral Cortex: Higher Mental
Functions
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Frontal Lobe
Executive functionsPlanning, controlling, recognize
future outcomes from current actions etc.,
Brocas area of the frontal lobeproduction of complex
language
Motor functionscontrols voluntary muscle groups
Matures laterlate adolescence into young adulthood
Issues focus on culpability for crimes among early and
middle adolescents Alcohol likely decreases the functioning of this part of the
brain related to impulse control (Amen, 1999)
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Parietal Lobe
Receives input from senses
Distributes sensory information to otherparts of the brain
Spatial information is processedlocationof limbs in space, location of sounds, etc.,
Supports selective attention to particular
sensory information With parietal lobe damage, attention may
be disrupted (Vecera & Flevaris, 2004)
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Occipital Lobe
Visual informationcolor, brightness, motion, etc.,
Specialized areas for human face recognition
Infants, at birth, orient to human face in lieu of other
stimuli
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Temporal Lobe
Left temporal lobe (Wernekes area) language
comprehension, naming, etc.
Auditory sense is processed
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Peripheral Nervous System
Somatic Nervous Systemlinks with senses and
voluntary muscles
Sensory NervousSystembrings information FROM the
senses to the central nervous system
Motor NervousSystemcarries information from the central
nervous system TO the muscles for action
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Peripheral Nervous System
Autonomic Nervous Systemlinks internal glands and
organs
Sympathetic Divisionarouses our systems when the need
arises (e.g. startling stimulus, anxiety producing stimulus, sexual
arousal)
Parasympathetic Divisioninhibits our systems or reduces the
arousal (reduces salivation, inhibits digestive juices in our
stomachs)
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Putting it all together: Puberty
The experience ofpuberty is one in which
we can examine the relationship among
species-specific and individual differences,
among the CNS and endocrine system,and social factors.
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Puberty Process
Hypothalamus (part of the brain that controls much of the
endocrine system) Gonadotropin Releasing Hormones
(GRH)Pituitary Gland
Pituitary gland GonadotropinGonads (ovaries/testes)
Gonadsstimulate release of sex hormones
(estrogens/androgens) that stimulate secondary sex
characteristics
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Puberty Process: Process begins approximately 2 years prior to initial
secondary sex characteristic changes;
Timing of puberty, particularly for females, is related totiming of maternal puberty but environmental factors also
have a major impact;
Hypothalamus secretions typically increase during deepsleep;
Males and females produce both estrogens andandrogens but in different proportions;
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Puberty Process: Physical
Changes
Secondary sex characteristics
(Phenotype)
Body/pubic hair (males and females)
Breast enlargement (most obvious in females)
Increase in growth rate (females and males)
Changes in voice (most obvious in males)
For females, increase in fat to muscle cellratio (increase in fat cells relative to muscle
cells)
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Puberty Process: Physical Changes
For females: as level of estrogen increases, thehypothalamus produces Gonadotropin InhibitingHormones (GIH). This inhibits the production ofestrogen by the ovaries;
The periodic cycle of increases and decreasesin estrogen controls the ovulation cycle.
Estrogen is stored in fat cells so the increase infat cells relative to muscle cells allows the critical
level of estrogen necessary for ovulation.
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Neurological Changes
Myelinization
Fatty tissue surrounding nerve cells in the
brain
Increases the efficiency of transmission ofsignals across the synaptic junctions in the
brain
Made up of cholesterol and proteins Rapid increase of myelinization during and
after puberty through adolescence
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Neurological Changes
Elaboration of synaptic connections
Neurons form new connections based on
experience throughout the lifespan;
Plasticity still a major forcebrain respondsto stimulation
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Neurological Changes
Frontal cortex major area of developmentacross adolescence
Maturation of neurological systems that allow:
Planning Regulation of emotion
Monitoring
Prediction based on this is that across
adolescence, ability to forecast, anticipatelong-term outcomes and recognize risk islimited
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Health Practices and Puberty Process
Nutritionbalanced diet including appropriate levels ofcarbohydrates (myelinization)
Sleepreasonable opportunities for deep sleep
(supports initiation and maintenance of puberty process)
Limited alcohol consumptionsome evidence thatalcohol interferes with hormonal balance of pubescent
females