Issues in mental health - 2

Question 1

What is a neuron?

Answer 1

Nerve cells that transmit nerver signals to and from the brain

Question 2

What are neurotransmitters?

Answer 2

chemical messengers that allow neurons to communicate with one another at the synapse

Question 3

What are all the areas of the neuron?

Answer 3

Dendrite
Nucleus
Myelin
Axon
Synapse

Question 4

What are all the areas of a synapse?

Answer 4

Presynaptic ending - contains neurotransmitters
Postsynaptic ending - contains receptor sites
Synaptic cleft - space between endings

Question 5

What is serotonin?

Answer 5

A neurotransmitter responsible for maintaining mood balance
Believed to affect mood and social behaviour

Question 6

What are some natural ways to increase serotonin levels?

Answer 6

Getting more sunlight
Excersising
Socialising
Eating foods that are high in tryptophan e.g. pineapple and cheese

Question 7

What are some strengths of the biochemical explanation?

Answer 7

Use of standardised equipment
Supported by strong scientific evidence

Question 8

What are some weaknesses of the biochemical explanation?

Answer 8

Difficult to establish cause and effect
Reductionist
Deterministic - ignor individuals ability to controll their own behaviour

Question 9

How do SSRI’s work?

Answer 9

Increase the amount of serotonin in the synapse by preventing the serotonin from being reabsorbed

Question 10

How do MAOA’s work?

Answer 10

Block the neurotransmitters from being degraded making them stay in the synpase longer causing them to be released in higher quantities