4.5: Neural explanations Flashcards
Neural explanation
The neural explanation is the perception of OCD as resulting from abnormally functioning brain mechanisms
What have some forms of OCD been linked to?
Some forms of OCD have been linked to breakdowns in immune system functioning
Some forms of OCD have been linked to breakdowns in immune system functioning, such as what?
Some forms of OCD have been linked to breakdowns in immune system functioning, such as through contracting:
- Streptococcal (throat) infections
- Lyme’s disease
- Influenza
Some forms of OCD have been linked to breakdowns in immune system functioning, such as through contracting streptococcal (throat) infections, Lyme’s disease and influenza.
What would this indicate?
This would indicate a biological explanation through damage to neural mechanisms
Some forms of OCD have been linked to breakdowns in immune system functioning, such as through contracting streptococcal (throat) infections, Lyme’s disease and influenza.
This would indicate a biological explanation through damage to neural mechanisms.
Who is such onset of the disorder more often seen in?
Such onset of the disorder is more often seen in children than adults
Some forms of OCD have been linked to breakdowns in immune system functioning, such as through contracting streptococcal (throat) infections, Lyme’s disease and influenza.
This would indicate a biological explanation through damage to neural mechanisms.
Such onset of the disorder is more often seen in children than adults.
What do PET (positron emission tomography) scans also show?
PET (positron emission tomography) scans also show relatively low levels of serotonin activity in the brains of OCD patients
Some forms of OCD have been linked to breakdowns in immune system functioning, such as through contracting streptococcal (throat) infections, Lyme’s disease and influenza.
This would indicate a biological explanation through damage to neural mechanisms.
Such onset of the disorder is more often seen in children than adults.
PET (positron emission tomography) scans also show relatively low levels of serotonin activity in the brains of OCD patients.
What have drugs that increase serotonin activity been found to do?
Drugs that increase serotonin activity have been found to reduce the symptoms of OCD
Some forms of OCD have been linked to breakdowns in immune system functioning, such as through contracting streptococcal (throat) infections, Lyme’s disease and influenza.
This would indicate a biological explanation through damage to neural mechanisms.
Such onset of the disorder is more often seen in children than adults.
PET (positron emission tomography) scans also show relatively low levels of serotonin activity in the brains of OCD patients.
Because drugs that increase serotonin activity have been found to reduce the symptoms of OCD, what does it suggest?
Because drugs that increase serotonin activity have been found to reduce the symptoms of OCD, it suggests that the neurotransmitter may be involved with the disorder
Some forms of OCD have been linked to breakdowns in immune system functioning, such as through contracting streptococcal (throat) infections, Lyme’s disease and influenza.
This would indicate a biological explanation through damage to neural mechanisms.
Such onset of the disorder is more often seen in children than adults.
PET (positron emission tomography) scans also show relatively low levels of serotonin activity in the brains of OCD patients.
Because drugs that increase serotonin activity have been found to reduce the symptoms of OCD, it suggests that the neurotransmitter may be involved with the disorder.
What do PET scans also show?
PET scans also show that OCD sufferers can have relatively high levels of activity in the orbital frontal cortex
Some forms of OCD have been linked to breakdowns in immune system functioning, such as through contracting streptococcal (throat) infections, Lyme’s disease and influenza.
This would indicate a biological explanation through damage to neural mechanisms.
Such onset of the disorder is more often seen in children than adults.
PET (positron emission tomography) scans also show relatively low levels of serotonin activity in the brains of OCD patients.
Because drugs that increase serotonin activity have been found to reduce the symptoms of OCD, it suggests that the neurotransmitter may be involved with the disorder.
PET scans also show that OCD sufferers can have relatively high levels of activity in the orbital frontal cortex, a brain area associated with what?
PET scans also show that OCD sufferers can have relatively high levels of activity in the orbital frontal cortex, a brain area associated with:
- Higher level thought processes
- The conversion of sensory information into thoughts
Some forms of OCD have been linked to breakdowns in immune system functioning, such as through contracting streptococcal (throat) infections, Lyme’s disease and influenza.
This would indicate a biological explanation through damage to neural mechanisms.
Such onset of the disorder is more often seen in children than adults.
PET (positron emission tomography) scans also show relatively low levels of serotonin activity in the brains of OCD patients.
Because drugs that increase serotonin activity have been found to reduce the symptoms of OCD, it suggests that the neurotransmitter may be involved with the disorder.
PET scans also show that OCD sufferers can have relatively high levels of activity in the orbital frontal cortex, a brain area associated with higher level thought processes and the conversion of sensory information into thoughts.
The brain area is thought to help initiate activity upon receiving impulses to act and then to stop the activity when the impulse lessens.
A non-sufferer may have an impulse to wash dirt from their hands, but once this is done, the impulse to perform the activity stops and therefore so does the behaviour.
It may be that those with OCD have difficulty in doing what?
It may be that those with OCD have difficulty in: 1. Switching off Or, 2. Ignoring impulses
Some forms of OCD have been linked to breakdowns in immune system functioning, such as through contracting streptococcal (throat) infections, Lyme’s disease and influenza.
This would indicate a biological explanation through damage to neural mechanisms.
Such onset of the disorder is more often seen in children than adults.
PET (positron emission tomography) scans also show relatively low levels of serotonin activity in the brains of OCD patients.
Because drugs that increase serotonin activity have been found to reduce the symptoms of OCD, it suggests that the neurotransmitter may be involved with the disorder.
PET scans also show that OCD sufferers can have relatively high levels of activity in the orbital frontal cortex, a brain area associated with higher level thought processes and the conversion of sensory information into thoughts.
The brain area is thought to help initiate activity upon receiving impulses to act and then to stop the activity when the impulse lessens.
A non-sufferer may have an impulse to wash dirt from their hands, but once this is done, the impulse to perform the activity stops and therefore so does the behaviour.
It may be that those with OCD have difficulty in switching off or ignoring impulses, so that they turn into what?
It may be that those with OCD have difficulty in:
1. Switching off
Or,
2. Ignoring
impulses, so that they turn into obsessions
Some forms of OCD have been linked to breakdowns in immune system functioning, such as through contracting streptococcal (throat) infections, Lyme’s disease and influenza.
This would indicate a biological explanation through damage to neural mechanisms.
Such onset of the disorder is more often seen in children than adults.
PET (positron emission tomography) scans also show relatively low levels of serotonin activity in the brains of OCD patients.
Because drugs that increase serotonin activity have been found to reduce the symptoms of OCD, it suggests that the neurotransmitter may be involved with the disorder.
PET scans also show that OCD sufferers can have relatively high levels of activity in the orbital frontal cortex, a brain area associated with higher level thought processes and the conversion of sensory information into thoughts.
The brain area is thought to help initiate activity upon receiving impulses to act and then to stop the activity when the impulse lessens.
A non-sufferer may have an impulse to wash dirt from their hands, but once this is done, the impulse to perform the activity stops and therefore so does the behaviour.
It may be that those with OCD have difficulty in switching off or ignoring impulses, so that they turn into obsessions, resulting in what?
It may be that those with OCD have difficulty in:
1. Switching off
Or,
2. Ignoring
impulses, so that they turn into obsessions, resulting in compulsive behaviour
What are the genes associated with OCD likely to affect?
The genes associated with OCD are likely to affect:
1. The levels of key neurotransmitters
,as well as
2. Structures of the brain
The genes associated with OCD are likely to affect the levels of key neurotransmitters, as well as structures of the brain.
What are these?
These are neural explanations
The genes associated with OCD are likely to affect the levels of key neurotransmitters, as well as structures of the brain.
These are neural explanations.
One explanation for OCD concerns the role of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is believed to help do what?
One explanation for OCD concerns the role of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is believed to help regulate mood
The genes associated with OCD are likely to affect the levels of key neurotransmitters, as well as structures of the brain.
These are neural explanations.
One explanation for OCD concerns the role of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is believed to help regulate mood.
What are neurotransmitters responsible for doing?
Neurotransmitters are responsible for relaying information from:
1. One neuron
to
2. Another
The genes associated with OCD are likely to affect the levels of key neurotransmitters, as well as structures of the brain.
These are neural explanations.
One explanation for OCD concerns the role of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is believed to help regulate mood.
Neurotransmitters are responsible for relaying information from one neuron to another.
If a person has low levels of serotonin, then what?
If a person has low levels of serotonin, then:
- Normal transmission of mood-relevant information does not take place
- Mood, and sometimes other mental processes, are affected
The genes associated with OCD are likely to affect the levels of key neurotransmitters, as well as structures of the brain.
These are neural explanations.
One explanation for OCD concerns the role of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is believed to help regulate mood.
Neurotransmitters are responsible for relaying information from one neuron to another.
If a person has low levels of serotonin, then normal transmission of mood-relevant information does not take place and mood, and sometimes other mental processes, are affected.
What may at least some cases of OCD be explained by?
At least some cases of OCD may be explained by a reduction in the functioning of the serotonin system in the brain
The genes associated with OCD are likely to affect the levels of key neurotransmitters, as well as structures of the brain.
These are neural explanations.
One explanation for OCD concerns the role of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is believed to help regulate mood.
Neurotransmitters are responsible for relaying information from one neuron to another.
If a person has low levels of serotonin, then normal transmission of mood-relevant information does not take place and mood, and sometimes other mental processes, are affected.
At least some cases of OCD may be explained by a reduction in the functioning of the serotonin system in the brain.
Some cases of OCD, and in particular hoarding disorder, seem to be associated with what?
Some cases of OCD, and in particular hoarding disorder, seem to be associated with impaired decision making
The genes associated with OCD are likely to affect the levels of key neurotransmitters, as well as structures of the brain.
These are neural explanations.
One explanation for OCD concerns the role of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is believed to help regulate mood.
Neurotransmitters are responsible for relaying information from one neuron to another.
If a person has low levels of serotonin, then normal transmission of mood-relevant information does not take place and mood, and sometimes other mental processes, are affected.
At least some cases of OCD may be explained by a reduction in the functioning of the serotonin system in the brain.
Some cases of OCD, and in particular hoarding disorder, seem to be associated with impaired decision making.
What may this in turn be associated with?
This may in turn be associated with abnormal functioning of the lateral (side bits) of the frontal lobes of the brain
The genes associated with OCD are likely to affect the levels of key neurotransmitters, as well as structures of the brain.
These are neural explanations.
One explanation for OCD concerns the role of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is believed to help regulate mood.
Neurotransmitters are responsible for relaying information from one neuron to another.
If a person has low levels of serotonin, then normal transmission of mood-relevant information does not take place and mood, and sometimes other mental processes, are affected.
At least some cases of OCD may be explained by a reduction in the functioning of the serotonin system in the brain.
Some cases of OCD, and in particular hoarding disorder, seem to be associated with impaired decision making.
This may in turn be associated with abnormal functioning of the lateral (side bits) of the frontal lobes of the brain.
What are the frontal lobes?
The frontal lobes are the front part of the brain (behind your forehead)
The genes associated with OCD are likely to affect the levels of key neurotransmitters, as well as structures of the brain.
These are neural explanations.
One explanation for OCD concerns the role of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is believed to help regulate mood.
Neurotransmitters are responsible for relaying information from one neuron to another.
If a person has low levels of serotonin, then normal transmission of mood-relevant information does not take place and mood, and sometimes other mental processes, are affected.
At least some cases of OCD may be explained by a reduction in the functioning of the serotonin system in the brain.
Some cases of OCD, and in particular hoarding disorder, seem to be associated with impaired decision making.
This may in turn be associated with abnormal functioning of the lateral (side bits) of the frontal lobes of the brain.
The frontal lobes are the front part of the brain (behind your forehead) that are responsible for what?
The frontal lobes are the front part of the brain (behind your forehead) that are responsible for:
- Logical thinking
- Making decisions
The genes associated with OCD are likely to affect the levels of key neurotransmitters, as well as structures of the brain.
These are neural explanations.
One explanation for OCD concerns the role of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is believed to help regulate mood.
Neurotransmitters are responsible for relaying information from one neuron to another.
If a person has low levels of serotonin, then normal transmission of mood-relevant information does not take place and mood, and sometimes other mental processes, are affected.
At least some cases of OCD may be explained by a reduction in the functioning of the serotonin system in the brain.
Some cases of OCD, and in particular hoarding disorder, seem to be associated with impaired decision making.
This may in turn be associated with abnormal functioning of the lateral (side bits) of the frontal lobes of the brain.
The frontal lobes are the front part of the brain (behind your forehead) that are responsible for logical thinking and making decisions.
What is there also evidence to suggest?
There is also evidence to suggest that an area called the left parahippocampal gyrus, associated with processing unpleasant emotions, functions abnormally in OCD