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Psychology Comp 1 > Bio > Flashcards

Bio Flashcards

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1
Q

Bio What are the 3 assumptions?

A
  1. Nuerotransmitter activity
  2. Localisation of the brain
  3. Evolutionary Influences
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2
Q

Explain the assumption of nuerotransmitter activity.

A

-Nevous system is made up of millions of neurons, at the end of each neuron they have dendrites. Dendrites allow flexablity to connect to other neurons
-Nuerons communicate at the synapse with chemicals called nuerotransmitters
-Neurotransmitters are released from the pre-synaptic vesicles and stimulate/inhibit post-synaptic receptor sites in other neurons

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3
Q

Explain example in psychology: neurotransmitter activity

A

-Mental Health-
.Neurotransmitters play a big role in mental health.
.Serotonin regulates mood, sleep and appetite. Too little serotonin has been linked with depression. Anti-deppressents are given to people and work by increasing the amount of serotonin at the receptor sites, this supports the assumption that neurotransmitters have a role in behvaiour
.High levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine has been linked with schizophrenia symptoms . The use of antipsychotics supports this assumption as it blocks dopamine activity, reducing schizophrenic symptoms

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4
Q

What do dendrites allow neurons to do?

A

Allows them to be flexible to connect to other neurons

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5
Q

How do neurons communicate?

A

They communicate at the synapse with chemicals called neurotransmitters
-they are released from presynaptic vesicle in one neuron
-stimulate/inhibitory post synaptic receptor sites in other neurons

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6
Q

What is little serotonin connected with?

A

Depression

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7
Q

What is high levels of dopamine connected with

A

Symptoms of schizophrenia

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8
Q

Explain the assumption localisation of the brain.

A

-Different areas of the Brian have different function.
-The cerebral cortex is the outer layer of the brain and is divided into 4 lobes
-Each of the lobes have different functions: frontal lobe= personality, creativity and thinking. Parietal lobe= sensory information like touch, pain and temperature. Temporal lobe= memory and processing of auditory information. Occipital lobe= visual processing

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9
Q

Explain example in psychology: localisation of the brain

A

-Raine Et Al; Brain abnormalities in murderers-
.The limbic system is a deeper structure in the brain. Includes the corpus colosseum, amygdala & thalamus
.These all link to Violance
.Raine found that when comparing 41 murderers and non-murderers using PET scans that low activity in this part of the brain which linked to lack of inhibition, fearlessness

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10
Q

What are the 4 lobes?

A

Frontal Lobe, Parietal Lobe, Occipital Lobe, Temporal Lobe

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11
Q

What’s is the function of the Frontal lobe?

A

Personality, creativity and thinking

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12
Q

What the function of the temporal lobe?

A

Memory and processing of auditory

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13
Q

What the function of the parietal lobe?

A

Processing of sensory information like touch, temp and pain

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14
Q

What is the function of the occipital lobe?

A

Visual Processing

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15
Q

What can happen if any of these are damaged?

A

Can lead to a change in an individuals personality

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16
Q

Explain the assumption of evolutionary influences.

A

-Dawkins theory of evolution has been used to explain why human brain/ behaviour has adapted to fit our environments
-The theory of adaptiveness is based on Darwin’s theory of natural selection- the idea that genetically determined behaviour is passed on if it enhances our chances of survivals and reproduction

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17
Q

Explain example in psychology; Evolutionary Influences

A

-Biological Preparedness-
.Seligman proposed the concept of biological preparedness an inherited predisposition to fear certain animal eg. Snakes
.Matchett and Davey: linked animal fears to contamination risk and likeness of attack. They found that animals associated with disgust and predatory are naturally feared.
-This is an example of genetic evolution

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18
Q

What is Darwin’s theory of natural selection?

A

Idea that genetically determined behaviours are passed on if it enhances chances of survival and reproduction

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19
Q

What is Seligmans concept of biological preparedness?

A

We naturally inherit a predisposition to fear certain types of animals.
Eg. Snakes

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20
Q

What did Matchett and Davey suggest?

A

That animals linked to contamination and risk of attacking are more likely to naturally be feared

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21
Q

What is the therapy in the biological Approach?

A

Drug therapy

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22
Q

How have the assumptions been linked to drug therapy?

A
  1. The medical model of mental health
  2. Neurotransmitters
  3. Localisation of the brain functions
23
Q

How does the medical model of mental health relate to drug therapy?

A

-Is based on the view that mental illnesses are like physical illnesses. They have a physical cause, and therefore can be treated in a physical way
-The medical model suggest that mental illness should be treated by direct manipulation of their physical bodily fnctions, eg. Drug therapy

24
Q

How does neurotransmitters relate to drug therapy?

A

Neurotransmitters relate to drug therapy as the biological approach suggest that changes in the levels of neurotransmitters may improve the mental health of people or change their behaviour. Therefore drug therapy can increase or decrease the levels of a neurotransmitter, which can improve a persons mood
-Eg serotonin and depression

25
Q

How does localisation of the brain relate to drug therapy?

A

Drugs target specific regions of the brain which are involved in psychological disorders. For example, the limbic system regulates emotions, and disturbances in the part of the brain may affect mood.

26
Q

How does localisation of the brain relate to drug therapy?

A

Drugs target specific regions of the brain which are involved in psychological disorders. For example, the limbic system regulates emotions, and disturbances in the part of the brain may affect mood.

27
Q

What are anti-depressants?

A

-Work by reducing the rate of reabsorption or blocking the enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter. This increases the amount of the neurotransmitter available for the other neuron.
-The most commonly used Anti-depressant is SSRI, these work by reducing the reabsorption, which results in more serotonin available in the synapse

28
Q

What are Anti-Anxiety drugs?

A

-They are used to treat anxiety and stress
-Most common Benzodiazepines (BZs) they slow down the activity of the central nervous system. They do this by enhancing the activity of GABA, a biochemical substance that is the body’s natural form of anxiety relief
-Another type is Beta-Blockers (BBs) they reduce the activity of adrenaline and noradrenaline, which are part of the response to stress. BBs bind to receptors on the cells of the heart and other parts of the body which are usually stimulated during sympathetic arousal. By blocking these receptors, it’s harder to stimulate cells in this part of the body. Making the heart beat slower ect, resulting in a fall in blood pressure, therefore making the person feeling calmer.

29
Q

What are anti-psychotics?

A

There are 2 types of anti-psychotics: conventional and atypical drugs
-Conventional anti-psychotics are used to combat positive symptoms of schizophrenia (delusions and hallucinations). These drug block the action of neurotransmitter dopamine by binding to, but not stimulating dopamine receptors
-Atypical anti-psychotics work by temporarily occupying dopamine receptors and then rapidly disconnecting to allow normal dopamine transmissio. This may explain why atypical antipsychotics have fewer side effects

30
Q

Is drug therapy Effective?

A

YES
-Research: drugs Vs Placebo
>Randomised control trial is used to compare drugs Vs placebo
>Soomro et al 2008- reviewed 17 studies of the use of SSRIs with OCD patients and found the SSRIs to be more effective than the placebos, in terms of reducing the symptoms of OCD up to 3 months after treatment

31
Q

Is drug therapy effective?

A

Compare to other therapy’s
-Eg: CBT, Mindfulness, Aversion Therapy and Dream Analysis

32
Q

Is drug therapy effective?

A

NO
-They only treat symptoms not the cause
>drugs are effective in minimising symptoms, but doesn’t address the underlying causes, for example if an adult is suffering from depression due to serious childhood trauma, anti depressants provide a short term solution, but the long-term trauma and disorder will not be dealt with. This leads to ‘revolving door syndorme’ , as the disorder is never truly treated

33
Q

Is drug therapy ethical?

A

Valid Consent
-A person may not be in the state of mind where they can give informed consent, and may not remember all the side effects of the drugs they are given, meaning the valid consent is an illusion.
-Some medical professionals may exaggerate the benefits of the drugs and fail to give/ explain to the patient other options of treatment they could have

34
Q

Is drug therapy ethical?

A

The use of placebos
-The use of placebos could be deemed as unethical as the person taking them are unaware they are not the real drug that they were prescribed. Meaning they are not given treatment and are nt being Sucessfull helped, leaving them with their mental illness

35
Q

Is drug therapy ethical?

A

Physical Harm
-Some psychologist argue that the positives of frugality thepray are outweighed by the side effects of the drugs. For example due to taking the medication a person may feel nauseous, tired, sick, loss of appetite ect. Which causes a person physical harm,

36
Q

What is the classical research?

A

Raine et al: Brain Abormalities

37
Q

What is the aim of the research?

A

To use PET scans to examine Brian functioning of murderers who pleaded NGRI to murder or manslaughter

38
Q

What is the independent variable?

A

Whether the particpants is a murderer or non murderer

39
Q

What is the dependant variable?

A

Is the difference in brain functioning using PET scans

40
Q

What is the experimental design?

A

Matched Pairs Design

41
Q

How many participants?

A

41 murderers, 2 women and 39 men
(Same in the control group)

42
Q

Groups of murderers

A

Head Injury- 23
Hyperactivity & learning disability- 3
Psychotic drug abuse- 3
Affective disorder- 2
Personality disorder- 2
Epilepsy- 2
Schizophrenia- 6

43
Q

What was the sampling method?

A

Opportunity sampling

44
Q

What type of scan was used

A

PET scans

45
Q

What was the procedure

A

-All particpants were given an injection of tracer (FDG)
-Tracer is absorbed by the active parts of the brain
-All particpants were asked to do a continuous performance task
-The task aimed to activate the targeted areas of the brain
-30 seconds before the tracer was injected participants started the task
-32 minutes into the task the scans were done
-10 horizontal slices (pictures) of the brain were recorded

46
Q

What were the findings of Raines research?

A

-More activity in occipital lobe
-Less activity in parietal and frontal lobe
-same activity in temporal lobe
-Greater activity in the right side of the brain, this links to Violance
-less activity in corpus collosum, this links to violence

47
Q

What were the conclusions of Raines research?

A

-identified a link between areas of the brain & aggression
-However neutral processes underlying Violance are complex and cannot be reduced to 1 single area of the brain
-Violent behaviour best explained as network of interacting brain structures that doesn’t cause but can predispose someone to Violance

48
Q

What don’t Raines results show?

A

-violent behaviour is determined by biology alone
-that murderers pleading NGRI are not responsible for their actions
-That brain dysfunction causes Violance

49
Q

Is our understanding advanced by this research?

A

Yes
-early diagnosis and treat,ent can reduce rates of violent crimes
-can reduce the economic cost of crime by £124 billion

50
Q

What is the contemporary debate?

A

The ethics of neuro science

51
Q

Strengths of the use of neuro science

A

-Neuro science can predict violent behvaiour
-Neuro science can predict if a person could be predisposed to develop psychological disorders
-Can save government money as violent crimes cost £124 billion a year

52
Q

How is our research advanced due to Raines research?

A

No
-violent behaviour is not determined by biology alone, but environmental factors also play a part
-Reductionist
-can de-emphasis personal responsibility and can lead to leanest sentancing

53
Q

Weakness of ethics of neuro science

A

-violent behaviour is not determined by biology alone, but environmental factors also play a part
-reductionist and simplistic, violent behaviour can not be reduced to areas of the brain
-can de-emphasise personal responsibility and can lead to leanent sentencing
-can lead to labelling

Psychology Comp 1 (4 decks)

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