Neurochemistry Flashcards
1
Q
Neuro chemistry is…
A
– Relating to the substances in the brain and other parts of the nervous system that regulates psychological function
– Emotions and behaviour
2
Q
neurotransmitters are…
A
– Chemicals in the brain and nervous system that transmit signals from one neuron to another across synapses
- Example is serotonin
3
Q
sex hormones are…
A
- chemicals circulating in the blood stream that affect the physical development, sexual development and behaviour osteogen (females) and testosterone (males)
4
Q
What do neurotransmitters do?
A
– Allow communication between nerve cells
– Neurons are tiny cells separated by synapses
– Neurons are electrical signals but between the gaps of the neurones chemical signals pass the signal on
5
Q
What is serotonin?
A
- mood stabiliser
- main neurotransmitter
- effects mood, sleep, learning and eating behaviours
- depression = low levels of serotonin
- neurotransmitters are chemicals and can be altered by drugs
- antidepressants work in increasing levels of septic in in synapses between neurons
6
Q
What are the sex hormones?
A
- oestrogen & testosterone
- released in the bloodstream and target specific organs in the body
- they influence various physical and developmental behaviours
7
Q
What is oestrogen?
A
- female sex hormone
- controls development of female reproductive organs, female secondary characteristics such as breasts and the menstrual cycle
- causes physical changes associated with the menstrual cycle and pregnancy
- linked to greater emotional reactivity in some women = irritability
8
Q
What is testosterone?
A
- male sex hormone
- produced in testes
- controls development of male reproductive organs and make secondary characteristics = deeper voice
- linked to aggression in both males and females
- animal studies show increasing levels of testosterone lead to more aggressive behaviour in males
- castration reduced both testosterone and aggression
9
Q
What is the strength evaluations of neurochemistry?
A
- Goozen et al 1995 = transgender individuals given oestrogen tablet to increase breast fat development, saw reduction in aggression
- Dabbs & Hargrove 1997 = female prisoners used aggression for dominance in prison had higher testosterone levels
10
Q
What is a weakness evaluation of neurochemistry?
A
- correlation not causation
- Deady et al 2006 = found correlations in data (maternal personality and testosterone levels)
- does not show testosterone causes women to have un maternal characteristics as there is other factors
