Biopsychology

1. Biopsychology 60 Slides Click to continue

2. What is Biopsychology? • Biopsychology • The specialty in psychology that studies the interaction of biology, behavior, and the environment • Neuroscience • An Interdisciplinary field that focuses on the brain and its role in psychological processes Question: This unit is all about biology, but the class is supposed to be about psychology. Why do you think we have to study all this biology junk? 60 Slides Click to continue

3. Nature or Nurture? • Biopsychology is all about nature • Our nature refers to our biology: • our organs, the brain and chemicals that control us. • Nurture (on the other hand) refers to our interaction with the environment: • our parent’s love, shelter, nutrition and education. Question: Which is more important: Nature or Nurture? This is an argument of epic proportions in psychology and a theme we will continue to see throughout our studies. 60 Slides Click to continue

4. Natural Selection Proposed by - Charles Darwin in 1859 Natural selectionis the driving force behind evolution, by which the environment “selects” the fittest organisms. However, the environment is neutral. It is passive not active. So it is incorrect to say the environment “selects” anything. Instead we say that some animals have a “selective advantage”. They “fit” the environment better than other animals and so they survive better and produce more offspring. Organisms well adapted to their environment will propagate and out produce the competition. Therefore the course of evolution is known as “the survival of the fittest”. 60 Slides Click to continue

5. Evolution and Natural Selection Creation vs. Evolution This course is not about theology and we are not going to debate how everything got onto the planet. We can all agree that life has been on earth for over 5700 years and that life changes. Humans live longer than they did 100 years ago. Crops give better yields. Dogs are bred into specific types for specific functions. Species go extinct. We will talk about how the creatures presently on the earth change over time. I will use the word “evolved” when I talk about how life changed while it was on the earth and leave how they got on the earth for a different course. 60 Slides Click to continue

6. DNA – All organic life has DNA which is a long, complex molecule that encodes genetic characteristics. Normal Chromosomes contain two strands of DNA. DNA, Chromosomes and Genes Genes are the functional units of a chromosome. There are thousands of genes in one chromosome. Genes contain the instructions for creating proteins. 60 Slides Click to continue

7. Basic Genetics • An unfertilized egg contains 23 chromosomes. • A sperm also contains 23 chromosomes. • Put the two together and you get 23 “pairs” of chromosomes. • There are 22 pairs of Autosomes and 1 pair of Sex chromosomes = 23 pairs • The Autosomes are almost duplicates of each other. The genes can be slightly different on each strand. • The sex chromosomes can be very different. They contain an X from the mother and a Y or X from the father. • Almost every cell in your body contains chromosomes. Sometimes the Chromosomes are damaged. 60 Slides Click to continue

8. Genotype –An organism’s genetic makeup - DNA Genes and Inheritance Phenotype – An organism’s observable physical characteristics – Hair Color, Skin Color, Eye Color 60 Slides Click to continue

9. How Are Genes and Behavior Linked? • Behavior that is consistently found in a species is likely to have a genetic basis. • We can say the behavior became this way (evolved) because the behavior has been adaptive to living. Or it was specifically selected for by a breeder. 60 Slides Click to continue

10. More Genetic Terms • Adaptive – • The presence of a condition which increases the likelihood of survival. • Adaptation – • When a condition becomes predominant in a population because it is Adaptive. • Innate – • Inborn; present at birth; part of the organism’s biological heritage • Evolution – • The gradual process of biological change that occurs in a species as it adapts to its environment (as adaptation occurs). • Mutations – • Genetic variations, which occur randomly, especially during the recombination of chromosomes in sexual reproduction. 60 Slides Click to continue

11. How Natural Selection Works Environmental pressure (changes in the environment) Competition (for resources) Selection of fittest phenotype Reproductive success (genotype corresponding to fittest phenotypes passed to next generation) Frequency of that genotype increases (in next generation) 60 Slides Click to continue

12. Genetic Explanations for Psychological Processes • Behavior genetics • studying behavior based on the principles of genetics. In order to study behavior as it relates to genetics, we must know what each gene is. • The Human genome project • attempted to map all the genes in the human DNA. They found close to 25,000 genes among the chromosomes of the human body. Are there really only 25,000 genes directed our growth and control our behavior? If we live long enough, we should know that answer in this century. • There are also another 25,000 dead spaces on the chromosome. We still do not know how those areas are used. 60 Slides Click to continue

13. Genetic Explanations for Psychological ProcessesRemember you can click on the blue underlines to see more information on the internet • Down syndromeis a genetic condition caused by specific chromosomal damage in the 21st chromosomal pair. There are actually three strands of DNA instead of two. You might think more chromosomes is a good thing – nope! 60 Slides Click to continue

14. Genetic Explanations for Psychological ProcessesRemember you can click on the blue underlines to see more information on the internet • Most people have two sex chromosomes. • An X from the mother and an X from the father makes a female. • An X from the mother and a Y from the father makes a male. • Some people have more than or less than they should • Turners syndrome is a single X chromosome • When the embryo has only a Y it spontaneously aborts (miscarriage) and never comes to term. • Super males have an extra Y or (XYY) – this is correlated to criminality (stronger, lower intellect and less control over emotions) • Fragile X syndrome contains a damaged X • This is worse in males because they have no backup • Klinefelters syndrome people have two Xs or (XXY) • Questions: Is Nature or Nurture more important in these conditions? How would we be able to determine the importance scientifically? 60 Slides Click to continue

15. Twin Studies • Psychologists can use twins to study the importance of Nature Vs. Nurture. • Monozygotic twins have 100% identical DNA. • Dizygotic twins have 50% identical DNA. • We do not purposefully separate children from their parents and each other, but situations arise where twins are separated at birth and we can take advantage of those conditions and study the differences and similarities between the twins. • Similarities are attributed to Genetics and Differences are attributed to the environment. • We will talk about some of the similarities and differences in later chapters. 60 Slides Click to continue

16. How Does the Body Communicate Internally? • The body’s two communication systems, the nervous system and the endocrine system, both use chemical messengers to communicate with targets throughout the body. • First we will discuss the Nervous system. • Nerve communication is in one direction. So, we need two pathways for the nerves. One path is for the senses and the other is for the motor functions. 60 Slides Click to continue

17. THE CNS & PNS The Central Nervous System (CNS) is comprised of the brain and spinal cord. The Peripheral Nervous system (PNS) is composed of other nerves in the body that connect the CNS to your senses and organs. The CNS and PNS use Neurons and Nerves. Some people call the CNS cells neurons and PNS cells nerves and they define the difference as “nerves regenerate” while neurons do not. 60 Slides Click to continue

18. THE CNS • The CNS: • The job of the CNS is to integrate and coordinate all bodily functions, process all incoming neural messages and send out commands. • A spinal cord coordinates the activities of the left and right sides of the body. • The spinal cord is also responsible for simple, fast action reflexes that do not involve the brain. • A spinal Reflex is an unlearned response controlled by one efferent (motor) and one afferent (sensory) neuron. Check out this site. • Spinal reflexes allow us to move when we are in danger before the brain knows what the danger is. 60 Slides Click to continue

19. THE PNS • The PNS: • The PNS has two parts: • The Somatic and Autonomic divisions. • The Somatic system regulates the actions of the skeletal muscles (soma means body) and contains the sensory nerves (like sight and smell). • The Autonomic division regulates the heart, respiration and digestion. 60 Slides Click to continue

20. THE Autonomic System • The Autonomic system is so complex it is divided into two subsections: the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic systems. • The Sympathetic system deals with emergency responses and mobilizes energy reserves. • Increases heart & lung activity and inhibits most everything else • The Parasympathetic system monitors the routine operations of the body and conserves and restores energy. • Decreases heart & lung activity and stimulates most everything else. 60 Slides Click to continue

21. Nervous system Peripheral nervous system Central nervous system (CNS) Somaticnervous system Autonomicnervous system Sympatheticnervous system Parasympathetic nervous system A Visual Organization of the Nervous System 60 Slides Click to continue

22. - Sensory (afferent) neurons (carry messages from sense receptors towards the CNS) The Neuron: Building Block of the Nervous System A neuron is a cell in the body specializedfor receiving and transmitting information. I do not make a distinction between neurons and nerves.Types of Neurons: Motor (efferent) neurons (carry messages away from the CNS toward muscles and glands) • Interneurons (carry messages between nerve cells) 60 Slides Click to continue

23. The Neuron:looks like something from a science fiction movie! 60 Slides Click to continue

24. Two Neurons 60 Slides Click to continue

25. Neuron Anatomy • Dendrites • Receive signals from another neuron • Nucleus • contains the chromosomes of the cell • Soma • Nutrient material • Axon • Long leg of the neuron which transmits in only one direction • Myelin Sheath – Glial Cells – • protects, provides nutrients and removes waste for the Axon and speeds up the signal. A breakdown of Glial cells is implicated in Multiple Sclerosis. 60 Slides Click to continue

26. Neuron Anatomy (cont.) • Nodes of Ranvier • places between the myelin sheaths • Terminal Buttons • Contain the chemicals for communications in synaptic vesicles. • Synapse • The space between the neuron’s terminal buttons and the dendrites of the next neuron • Lesions • Tissue damage that results from disease or injury (purposeful or accidental). 60 Slides Click to continue

27. The Neural Impulse • Neural impulse • Brief electric (ionic) surge that carries the neuron’s message in one direction (dendrites, soma, axon, terminal buttons) ending in the terminal buttons with a release of neural transmitters that cross the synaptic cleft and bind to the dendrites of the next neuron (or receptors of the next cell). If enough transmitters bind to the next cell the signal continues to the destination (or trigger a reaction in the cell). • Ions • Charged particles that are moved across the cell membrane. Na & K & Cl • Neural Transmitters • Chemicals that continue the neural impulse. 60 Slides Click to continue

28. The Neural Impulse terms • Resting potential • -70mv • This is the neuron’s charge when it is ready to send a signal. • Action potential • Goes from -70mv to +30mv • This is the change in electrical potential in a neuron when it is sending the signal. • Refractory Period • restorative period where the cell is unable to respond until it re acquires “accumulates” its charge. 60 Slides Click to continue

29. The Neural Impulse terms • Synapse • Also called the synaptic cleft • This is the space between neurons. • Synaptic transmission • A chemical (neurotransmitters) released by the first neuron into the synaptic cleft where the neurotransmitters float to the adjoining neuron, bind to that neuron and if enough chemical binding occurs, create the next electric charge. 60 Slides Click to continue

30. Neurotransmitters • Neurotransmitters • Are chemical messengers that relay neural messages across the synapse. We are not simply electrical signals moving through our bodies. Without chemicals to pass the signal from one neuron to the next, there would be no electrical impulse – no life. • These chemicals work to either suppress or stimulate other nerves. We will talk about seven important Neurotransmitters. Dopamine Acetylcholine Serotonin GABA Norepinephrine Glutamine Endorphins 60 Slides Click to continue

31. Neurotransmitters Dopamine Hint: Different Neurotransmitters are found in different areas of the brain Normal Function: Produces sensations of pleasure and reward; influences learning and attention; used by the CNS neurons in voluntary movement Serotonin Norepinephrine Acetylcholine Problems with Imbalance: Too much causes Schizophrenia, Too little Parkinson’s disease GABA Glutamine Substances that Affect: Cocaine, amphetamines, Ritalin, alcohol Endorphins 60 Slides Click to continue

32. Neurotransmitters Normal Function: Regulates sleep and dreaming, moods, pain, aggression, appetite and sexual behavior Dopamine Serotonin Norepinephrine Problems with Imbalance: Too little is linked to Depression, certain anxiety disorders & obsessive-compulsive disorder Acetylcholine GABA Substances that Affect: Prozac, hallucinogenics (e.g. LSD) Glutamine Endorphins 60 Slides Click to continue

33. Neurotransmitters Dopamine Normal Function: Controls the ANS, heart rate, sleep, sexual responsiveness, stress, vigilance and appetite Serotonin Norepinephrine Problems with Imbalance: High blood pressure, depression Acetylcholine Substances that Affect: Tricyclic antidepressants, beta blockers GABA Glutamine Endorphins 60 Slides Click to continue

34. Neurotransmitters Dopamine Normal Function: Primary transmitter used by efferent neurons carrying messages from the CNS; involved in some kinds of learning and memory Serotonin Norepinephrine Problems with Imbalance: Certain muscular disorders, Alzheimer’s disease Acetylcholine GABA Substances that Affect: Nicotine, botulism toxin, curare, atropine, Black Widow Venom Glutamine Endorphins 60 Slides Click to continue

35. Neurotransmitters Dopamine Serotonin Normal Function: Most prevalent inhibitory neurotransmitter in neurons of CNS Norepinephrine Acetylcholine Problems with Imbalance: Too little can cause epilepsy, insomnia and tremors GABA Glutamine Substances that Affect: Barbiturates, tranquilizers (e.g. Valium, Librium), alcohol Endorphins 60 Slides Click to continue

36. Neurotransmitters Dopamine Normal Function: Primary excitatory neurotransmitter in CNS; involved in learning and memory Serotonin Norepinephrine Acetylcholine Problems with Imbalance: Too much can cause migraines and seizures GABA Substances that Affect: MSG (Foods – especially Chinese) & PCP (“angel dust”) Glutamine Endorphins 60 Slides Click to continue

37. Neurotransmitters Dopamine Serotonin Normal Function: Pleasurable sensations and control of pain Norepinephrine Acetylcholine Problems with Imbalance: Lowered levels resulting from opiate addiction GABA Substances that Affect: Opiates: opium, heroin, morphine, methadone Glutamine Endorphins 60 Slides Click to continue

38. Plasticity • Plasticity is the ability of the brain to change shape and function. The nervous system adapts or change as a result of experience. This ability sometimes helps the nervous system adapt to physical damage. • Function can change – • such as the occipital lobe in blind people activates when they are reading brail. • Structure can change in the 100 billion neural cells • They can change connections as a result of learning. • How do we know? • How can we tell when the brain is functioning properly? • How do we look into the working brain? • How do we know what a properly functioning brain looks like? 60 Slides Click to continue

39. Windows on the Brain • EEG (electroencephalograph) • Device for recording brain waves, typically by electrodes placed on the scalp. • Shows electrical activity like a telegraph Morse code. • Brain waves • Patterns of electrical activity generated by the brain. Measured in amplitude and frequency (Cycles per second). We will talk more about these later. 60 Slides Click to continue

40. Windows on the Brain • Brain scans • Recordings of the brain’s electrical or biochemical activity at specific sites • CT scanning (computerized tomography) • Shows structure of the brain. • PET scanning (positron emission tomography) • shows functioning of the brain. • MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) • can show either function or structure. • FMRI and DTI 60 Slides Click to continue

41. Brain Scanning 60 Slides

42. Layers of the Brain 60 Slides Click to continue

43. Three Layers of the Brain • Three layers of the brain are the Hind Brain, The Mid Brain and the Cortex. • The Hind Brain (layer 1) contains the Brain stem, Pons, Medulla, Reticular Formation and Cerebellum. • The Pons links the spinal cord and the brain to each other and regulates the brains activity during sleep. • Medulla regulates heart rate and breathing. • The Reticular Formation is involved in maintaining consciousness and waking from sleep and alerting that there is incoming data – narcolepsy. • The Cerebellum regulates motor coordination, posture and balance. According to recent research, this structure may be involved in classical conditioning. 60 Slides Click to continue

44. Three Layers of the Brain • Limbic system (layer 2) • Regulates our emotions, complex motives and urges and helps increase memory abilities. • The Hippocampus is involved in explicit long term memory. In the Multiple memory Trace Theory (MMT), proposed by Nadel and Moscovitch (1997), the assertion is made that the hippocampus is permanently involved in the retention and retrieval of long term episodic, but not semantic memory. • Episodic is the first to go in Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia - • The Amygdala controls emotions like aggression and fear and the formation of emotional memories. Cutting the Amygdala will decrease aggression. If you Lesion the Amygdala in cats you get an excessively tame animal but if you stimulate the Amygdala you get hissing and aggressive posturing. • The Hypothalamus is involved in regulating body temperature, hunger, thirst and emotions & sex. 60 Slides Click to continue

45. The Limbic System Hypothalamus – Serves as the brain’s blood-testing laboratory, constantly monitors blood to determine the condition of the body. Maintains homeostasis. 60 Slides Click to continue

46. The Limbic System Amygdala – Involved in memory and emotion, particularly fear and aggression 60 Slides Click to continue

47. The Limbic System Hippocampus – Involved in establishing long-term memories. Remembering the location of items in space and connects our present and past. 60 Slides Click to continue

48. Cerebrum – (Layer 3)Topmost layer of the brain; the bulbous cap over the limbic system Cerebral cortex –Thin gray-matter covering of the cerebrum; carries on thinking and perceiving Cerebral hemispheres –The two walnut shaped halves of the cerebrum, connected by the corpus callosum Three Layers of the Brain 60 Slides Click to continue

49. Three Layers of the Brain • Cerebrum • Enables reasoning, planning, creating, problem solving, and higher cognitive functions. • It is the largest mass of the brain. The Cortex is the outer most part of the cerebrum. Cortex comes from the Latin word meaning shell or bark. • The cerebrum is divided into two halves connected by a mass of fibers called the corpus callosum. This bundle of nerves allows one half of the brain to “talk” to the other half. • Fissures are the valleys of the brain. The brain is too big to fit into the skull so it is folded onto itself creating hills and valleys. Many of the valleys are found in the majority of humans. 60 Slides Click to continue

50. Three Layers of the Brain • Cerebrum (Cont.) • Two important areas in the frontal & temporal lobes are Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas. • Broca 1824 – 1880 found the center of the brain used to translate thoughts (outgoing) into speech. • It is only found in the LEFT Frontal lobe. • Broca was the first to prove functioning relates to brain structures. • Wernicke 1848 – 1904 found the center of the brain used for understanding (Incoming) speech. • In the LEFT Temporal lobe. 60 Slides Click to continue