neurotransmitters abd their effect on behavior

Question 1

neurotransmitters and effect on behav. intro

Answer 1

ISSUE
UNderstaning how neurotransmitters affect behavior is importnat bc they affect everything we think and do. If we can understand them, we can
help ppl with disorders
NICE LINK TO DEPRESSION, serotonin + ssri
but the PROBLEM is that they dont always work
understand exact effect it has on behaviour is v difficult
reductionist argument
saying one neurtransmission causes behaviour
we need to evaluatre it bc we need to be careful not to make reducitonist arguments
a neurotranmission INFLUENCE behaviour, but there may also be lots of neurotranmittors that affect the same behaviour
may not be number of neurotranmittors but rther number of receptors
depression
tried to focus on only neurotranmittor but found it doesnt work
THEORY course companion p 65 + specific theory on specific neurotranmittor

Question 2

crockett study

Answer 2

Crockett
Aim- investigate the effect of serotonin on proscial behavior

Serotonin: inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in sustaining stable mood and regulating sleep cycles.
The effects of serotonin on mood and fatigue is believable bc theyre rooted in bio processes, but prosocial behavior seems to be due to someones free will.

Method:
Ppt were volunteers (30 ppl) w average age 26
Repeated easures design with 2 conditions
Condition 1: ppt given citalopram (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). Blocks reuptake of serotonin from synapse, which boosts its concentration and effects.
COndition 2: given placebo
Design counterbalanced and double blind.
Ppt asked moral diimmas, could choose between utiltiarian response (saving 5 ppl) and aversive harmful actions (killing an innocent person). Aversive harmful action scenarios split into:
Personal (pushing man off bridge to prevent it from hitting 5 ppl)
Impersonal (changing direction a train is going to kill one person and save 5 ppl)
Results
Impersonal version, responses were unchanged with citalopram
Ppl who were given citalopram less likely to push man off bridge

Conclusion
Serotonin reduces acceptability of personal harm, promoting prosocila behavior
Modulates reactions of the brain to emotionally salient situations so inflicting harm on others is less acceptable

Some evidence to suggest that neurotransmitters do affect our behavior, and that though they are biological, they can affect things like proscocial behavior, which is generally seen as being of our free will.
If we are able to understand how serotonin affects prosocial behavior, we could understand why ppl might become murderers? Maybe lack of serotonin?

Question 3

Process of neurotransmission

Answer 3

Nervous system made up of neurons, which are compirsed of the body, dendrites and axon
Dendrites: receive signals from other neurons
Axon : transmit signals further
Synaptic gap: space between dendrites of one dendrite and azon of another
Action potential travels along axon and at the synaptic gap, becomes chemical neurotransmitter.
Neurotransmitter released from axon terminal into synaptic gap
Neurotransmitters are chemical messages. When realeased, they stay in gap for a while and then are either metabolised or pulled back into axon terminal through reuptake
SSRIS
They block reuptake of neurotransmitter serotonin from synpatic gap. Increases concentration of serotonin in the synapse