Physiological Psychology Flashcards
Types of neurotransmitters
ACh Catecholamines Serotonin GABA Glutamate Endorphins
ACh: function
voluntary motor movements
memory
* LOW levels ACh in Alzheimer’s
Catecholamines: function
personality mood drive * catecholamine hypot * dopamine hypot
Examples of catecholamines
norepinephrine
epinephrine
dopamine
Catecholamine hypothesis
Depression due to:
LOW levels norepinephrine
Dopamine hypothesis
Schizophrenia due to:
HIGH levels dopamine
Serotonin: function
hunger temperature regulation sexual activity aggression onset of sleep
Serotonin hypothesis
Schizophrenia & Autism associated with:
HIGH levels serotonin
Depression, PTSD, OCD associated with:
LOW levels serotonin
GABA: function
sleep eating seizure anxiety disorder * LOW levels GABA in Huntington's Disease
Glutamate: function
learning
long-term memory
HIGH glutamate in Huntington’s & Alzheimer’s
Medulla: function
[brainstem; hindbrain]
vital ANS functions:
circulation
respiration
Medulla: damage
[brainstem; hindbrain]
fatal
Pons: function
[brainstem; hindbrain]
transmits motor info from higher brain & spinal cord to cerebellum
integrates movements in R & L sides of body
respiration
feeding
sleep
Cerebellum: function
[brainstem; hindbrain]
balance
posture
coordinated & refined motor movements
Cerebellum: damage
[brainstem; hindbrain]
“ataxia”
lack of balance
severe tremors
drunken-like movements
Reticular Activating System (RAS): function
[midbrain]
screens incoming info & relays to higher centers of brain
arousal
Reticular Activating System (RAS): damage
[midbrain]
disrupts normal sleep-wakefulness cycle
possible permanent coma-like sleep
Thalamus: function
[diencephalon; forebrain]
“relay station” for all sensory input (EXCEPT olfaction)
Thalamus: damage
[diencephalon; forebrain]
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
- caused by thiamine deficiney as a result of alcoholism
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
caused by thiamine deficiency as a result of alcoholism
severe anterograde amnesia
retrograde amnesia
confabulation
Hypothalamus: function
[diencephalon; forebrain]
maintains body’s internal HOMEOSTASIS
controls ANS & endocrine glands
mediates basic drives
regulates emotional expression
Amygdala: function
[limbic sys; telencephalon; forebrain]
controls emotional activities
mediates defensive-aggressive bheaviours
attaches emotions to memories
Amygdala: damage
[limbic sys; telencephalon; forebrain]
reduced aggressiveness Kluver-Bucy Syndrome - compulsive oral behaviours - hypersexuality - visual agnosia
Kluver-Bucy Syndrome
damage to amygdala
compulsive oral behaviours
hypersexuality
visual agnosia
Hippocampus: function
[limbic sys; telencephalon; forebrain]
consolidation of memory
Hippocampus: damage
[limbic sys; telencephalon; forebrain]
inability to form new memories
Frontal lobe: function
[cerebral cortex]
emotion & personality
planning
decision making
Cerebral cortex makes _____ % of the brain’s total weight
80%
Frontal lobe: damage
[cerebral cortex]
changes in personality
loss of a sense of “self”
inability to carry out plans
Parietal lobe: function
[cerebral cortex]
somatosensory cortex pain pressure heat cold
Parietal lobe: damage
[cerebral cortex]
impairments in: spatial orientation touch facial recognition * can cause Gerstmann syndrome
Temporal: function
[cerebral cortex]
auditory perception
Occipital: function
[cerebral cortex]
visual perception
limbic system is primary associated with ___________
emotion
4 lobes of cerebral cortex
frontal
parietal
temporal
occipital
Basal Ganglia: function
[telencephalon; forebrain]
planning
organizing
voluntary movement
regulating motor actions
Basal Ganglia: associated disorders
[telencephalon; forebrain]
Parkinson's Tourette's Mania Depression OCD Psychosis
hemispheric specialization
LEFT (dominant) verbal activities analytical, logical thought positive emotional states RIGHT visual-spatial activities e.g. facial recognition spatial interpretation memory for shapes negative emotions
corpus callosum
major pathway for info travelling between hemispheres
2 branches of nervous system
central nervous system
peripheral nervous system
structures of CNS
brain
spinal cord
Autonomic Nervous System: function
controls internal glands/organs, including: heart bladder stomach endocrine glands
sympathetic nervous system: function
[autonomic nervous sys; peripheral nervous sys]
active during stress & excitement promotes energy expenditure by: inc blood sugar accelerating breathing raising blood pressure & heart rate
parasympathetic nervous system: function
[autonomic nervous sys; peripheral nervous sys]
operates during states of relaxation helps body conserve energy by: slowing heart rate & blood flow inhibiting glucose release constricting blood vessels
suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN): location & function
hypothalamus
mediates sleep-wake cycle
mediates circadian rhythms
*involved in Seasonal Affective Disorder
Broca’s area: location & function
[premotor cortex; frontal lobe; cerebral cortex]
premotor cortex
speech production
Broca’s area: damage
[premotor cortex; frontal lobe; cerebral cortex]
Broca’s (expressive) aphasia
- difficulties in producing spoken & written language
Prefrontal cortex: function
[frontal lobe; cerebral cortex]
complex behaviours emotion sensory self-awareness executive functions
Prefrontal cortex: damage
[frontal lobe; cerebral cortex]
pseudodepression
pseudopsychopathy
probs w/ abstract thinking, planning, decision-making
perseveration
apraxia
inability to perform skilled motor movements in absence of impaired motor
functioning
anosognosia
inability to recognize one’s own neurological sx or other disorder
Wernicke’s area: location & function
[temporal lobe; cerebral cortex]
dominant temporal lobe
comprehension of language
visual agnosia
inability to recognize familiar objects
simultanagnosis
inability to see more than one thing or one aspect of an object at a time
prosopagnosia
inability to recognize familiar faces
contralateral representation
L side of brain controls R side of body, and vice versa
Hemispheric specialization
LEFT (dominant) written & spoken language logical & analytical thinking RIGHT spatial processing creativity facial recognition
“split-brain” patients
sever corpus callosum to control severe epilepsy
deficits in ability to verbally identify info presented to RIGHT hemisphere
only.
types of colour blindness
Trichromats normal colour vision Dichromats lack 1 of 3 pigments usually red-green blind Monochromats no colour vision
3 theories of emotion
James-Lange theory
Cannon-Bard theory
two-factor (cognitive) theory
James-Lange theory of emotion
emotions represent perceptions of bodily reactions
e.g. you are afraid because your knees are skaking
support from quadriplegics experiencing less intense emotions following
injury
Cannon-Bard theory of emotion
emotional & bodily reactions to stimuli occur simultaneously
Two-factor (cognitive) theory of emotion
emotion a consequence of: 1. physiological arousal 2. cognitive interpretation 3. enviornmental context support from Schachter & Singer's epinephrine study
general adaptation syndrome (Selye)
human response to stress mediated by adrenal-pituitary secretions & involves 3 stages alarm reaction resistance (ACTH/cortisol) exhaustion
gonadotropic hormones
estrogen (ovaries)
progesterone (ovaries)
testosterone (testes)
androstenedion (testes)
androgens
testosterone
androstenedione
closed-head injury
loss of consciousness (coma)
post-traumatic (anterograde) amnesia
sometimes retrograde amnesia
cognitive probs if PTA > 24 hrs
hyperthyroidism vs. hypothyroidism
HYPER (Grave's Disease) fast metabolism high body temp inc appetite w/ weight loss nervousness HYPO slow metabolism dec appetite w/ weight gain lethargy depression apathy
Broca’s Aphasia
"expressive, motor, and nonfluent aphasia" slow speech w/ difficulty poor articulation omissions anomia probs repeating phrases comprehension of language OK aware of deficits frustration & depression
Wernicke’s Aphasia
"receptive, sensory, and fluent aphasia" probs understanding speech devoid of content anomia paraphasia unaware that speech is meaningless
Conduction (Associative) Aphasia
damage to structure that connects Wernicke’s & Broca’s areas
anomia
inability to repeat words
know what they want to say, but have difficulty
Global Aphasia
total or near-total loss of language
some automatic speech
Transcortical Aphasia
lesion that isolates Broca’s leads to:
transcortical MOTOR aphasia
lesion that isolates Wernicke’s leads to:
transcortical SENSORY aphasia
2 types of antipsychotic drugs
- Traditional (conventional)
2. Atypical (novel)
Ex: traditional antipsychotics
phenothiazine
thioxanthene
butyrophenone
Use: traditional antipsychotics
+ve sx of schizophrenia
acute mania
NOT -ve sx of schizophrenia
Action: traditional antipsychotics
blocks dopamine (D2) receptors, therefore dec dopamine
Side effects: traditional antipsychotics
- tardive dyskinesia (esp w/ Haloperidol)
- can add benzo or other GABA agonist to treat - neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)
rapid autonomic sx
potentially fatal
stop meds immediately
Ex: Atypical antipsychotics
clozapine
resperidone
olanzapine
quetiapine
Use: Atypical antipsychotics
schizophrenia bipolar alc & drugs huntington's parkinson's note: helpful for +ve & -ve sx of schizophrenia, but SLOWER ONSET
Mode: Atypical antipsychotics
block D2, serotonin & glutamate
side effects: Atypical antipsychotics
- NMS
- agranulocytosis (blood disorder)
NOT tardive dyskinesia
advantage of atypical vs traditional neuroleptics?
no tartive dyskinesia
helps +ve & -ve sx schiz
advantage of traditional vs atypical neuroleptics?
faster acting
no close blood monitoring
Ex: anticholinergic side effects
dry mouth blurred vision tachycardia constipation urinary retention sedation
Ex: extrapyramidal side effects
tardive dyskinesia
akathisia
muscle spasms
parkinsonsim
Types of antidepressants
TCSs
SSRIs
MAOIs
Newer antidepressants
Ex: TCAs
amitriptyline
doxepin
imipramine
clomipramine
Mode: TCAs
block reuptake of norepinephrine, serotonin and/or dopamine, therfore
increasing these
supporting catecholomine hypothesis
Side effects: TCAs
cardiovascular sx
anticholinergic effects
when not to prescribe a TCA
high risk for suicide
heart disease
Ex: SSRIs
fluoxetine (prozac) fluvoxamine (luvox) paroxetine (paxil) sertraline (zoloft) citalpram (celexa)
Mode: SSRIs
blocks reuptake of serotonin, therefore increases it
Use: SSRIs
melancholic depression
etc.
Use: TCAs
vegetative & somatic depression
advantages of SSRIs over TCAs
less cardiotoxic
safer in overdose
less cognitive impairment
more rapid onset
Ex: MAOIs
isocarboxazid
phenelzine
tranylcypromine
Use: MAOIs
atypical depression
- anxiety, hypersomnia
Mode: MAOIs
inhibits enzyme monoamine oxidase, therefore deactivates dopamine,
norepinephrine & serotonin
Side effects: MAOIs
hypertensive crisis - when taken w/ barbiturates, amphetamines,
antihistamines or food w/ TYRAMINE
Ex: newer antidepressants
bupropion (wellbutrin)
venlafaxine (effexor)
nefazodone (serxone)
trazodone (desyrel)
Types of mood stabilizing drugs
Lithium
Carbamazepine
Side effects: Lithium
toxicity
- serum levels monitored
Must avoid fluctuations in salt intake, caffeine, alcohol
when would you use Carbamazepine instead of Lithium in tx of bipolar
disorder
rapid cyclers
dysphoric mood
kidney, liver, thyroid or gastrointestinal probs
Types of sedative-hypnotics
barbiturates
benzodiazepines
Azapirone
Ex: barbiturates
phenobarbital !!
Mode: barbiturates
interrupt impulses to RAS
Ex: benzos
benzodiazepam
Mode: benzos
inhibits GABA
advantages & disadvantages of Azapirone
non-addictive
no sedation
take for several weeks
Use: Beta blockers
high BP
angina
migraines
glaucoma
Types: psychostimulants
amphetamines
methylphenidate (ritalin)
Use: psychostimulants
narcolepsy
ADHD
Mode: psychostimulants
inc norepinephrine & serotonin
Side effects: amphetamines
tolerance
dependence
sensitization
side effects: Methylphenidate
dysphoria
growth suppression (therefore need drug holidays)
contraindicated for family hx tourette’s
Ex: narcotic-analygesics (opioids)
NATURAL OPIODS opium morphine codeine SEMI-SYNTHETIC DERIVATIVES OF MORPHINE heroin percodan dilaudid PURE SYNTHETICS demerol darvon methadone
