2a. biopsychology

7/29/2019 2A. Biopsychology

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PSY 2012 General PsychologyChapter 2: Biopsychology

Samuel R. Mathews, Ph.D.Associate Professor

The Department of Psychology

The University of West Florida


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Biological Psychology: Core Concepts

At the species level there are uniquecharacteristics that are explained within

biological and psychological sciences from the

Evolutionary Perspective

At the individual level unique characteristics are

influenced by ones Genotype (inherited genetic

make-up from biological parents) andPhenotype (the way the genotype is expressed)


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All species have a common origin;

Individual organisms with attributes

that allowed them to survive and breed,were more likely to pass on the genetic

structure to offspring who themselves

had a higher likelihood of surviving;


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Based on a scientific approach of prediction,

data collection, analysis, interpretation,

questioning and further prediction with testing

and revision. Other perspectives based on authority or

belief that disallow analysis of empirical data

in favor of belief are not the purview of

science. They are grounded in philosophicalor theological perspectives


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At the individual level, Genetic Codes

play a role in the unique individual

characteristics

Genotypeunique genetic code inherited

by the individual from biological parents


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Phenotypeexpression of the genotype

in physical and psychological

characteristics

Impacted by biological and environmental

forces

Biological forces: disease, toxins, injury

Environmental forces: access to health care,access to stimulation from the environment


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How Natural Selection Works

Environmental pressure

(changes in the environment)

Competition(for resources)

Selection of fittest phenotype(from among a variety of phenotypes)

Reproductive success(genotype corresponding to fittest

phenotypes passed to next generation)

Frequency of that genotype increases

(in next generation)


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The Individual: Chromosomes, Genes,

and Inherited DNA

Why are some people shorter than others?

Why are some babies unable to digest

protein?

Why are some children born with Downs

syndrome?

Why did Sams hair fall out?


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and Inherited DNA

Chromosomes

the structure that carries the genetic material (DNA)

23 pairs half contributed by the biological mother

and half by the biological father Chromosomes are made up ofgeneswith

specific DNA codes.

Each gene is responsible for some characteristic of

the organism and work in concert with others to yieldthe whole organism


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and Inherited DNA

One pair of chromosomes determines our

biological sex

The biological mother contributes the X

The biological father contributes either

another X or a Y chromosome.

XX= female (more female fetuses survive than

males) XY=male


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and Inherited DNA

Relationship between genotype and

characteristics and behaviors is complex;

Inheriting a genotype linked to some

psychopathology does not mean individuals

will experience that pathology (e.g.

schizophrenia).

Impact of the pathology is frequentlyminimized by alterations in the environment

(e.g. corrective lenses).


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Hot Issues in Genetics

Cloning

Choosing the sex of your child

Diagnosis of genetic fetal abnormalities Choosing your mate

Social engineering


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The Central Nervous System


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The Homer Brain


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The Human Brain


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Brain Structures and Functions

Brain stem (reptilian brain)

First to evolve

Life-sustaining systems: breathing, pulse rate

Similar to brains of reptiles

Cerebellum

Coordination of automatic movements

(walking, dancing) Processing other temporal (time related)

stimuli (e.g. music)


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Brain Structures and Functions

Limbic system

Emotion, memories, desires

Functions to help us remember highly emotional

experiences

Contains the hypothalamuscontrol center for manyfunctions

Cerebral cortex

Last to evolve Linked to higher mental processes

Different areas or lobes control different functions


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Cerebral Cortex: Higher Mental

Functions


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Frontal Lobe

Executive functionsPlanning, controlling, recognize

future outcomes from current actions etc.,

Brocas area of the frontal lobeproduction of complex

language

Motor functionscontrols voluntary muscle groups

Matures laterlate adolescence into young adulthood

Issues focus on culpability for crimes among early and

middle adolescents Alcohol likely decreases the functioning of this part of the

brain related to impulse control (Amen, 1999)


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Parietal Lobe

Receives input from senses

Distributes sensory information to otherparts of the brain

Spatial information is processedlocationof limbs in space, location of sounds, etc.,

Supports selective attention to particular

sensory information With parietal lobe damage, attention may

be disrupted (Vecera & Flevaris, 2004)


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Occipital Lobe

Visual informationcolor, brightness, motion, etc.,

Specialized areas for human face recognition

Infants, at birth, orient to human face in lieu of other

stimuli


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Temporal Lobe

Left temporal lobe (Wernekes area) language

comprehension, naming, etc.

Auditory sense is processed


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Peripheral Nervous System

Somatic Nervous Systemlinks with senses and

voluntary muscles

Sensory NervousSystembrings information FROM the

senses to the central nervous system

Motor NervousSystemcarries information from the central

nervous system TO the muscles for action


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Peripheral Nervous System

Autonomic Nervous Systemlinks internal glands and

organs

Sympathetic Divisionarouses our systems when the need

arises (e.g. startling stimulus, anxiety producing stimulus, sexual

arousal)

Parasympathetic Divisioninhibits our systems or reduces the

arousal (reduces salivation, inhibits digestive juices in our

stomachs)


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Putting it all together: Puberty

The experience ofpuberty is one in which

we can examine the relationship among

species-specific and individual differences,

among the CNS and endocrine system,and social factors.


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Puberty Process

Hypothalamus (part of the brain that controls much of the

endocrine system) Gonadotropin Releasing Hormones

(GRH)Pituitary Gland

Pituitary gland GonadotropinGonads (ovaries/testes)

Gonadsstimulate release of sex hormones

(estrogens/androgens) that stimulate secondary sex

characteristics


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Puberty Process: Process begins approximately 2 years prior to initial

secondary sex characteristic changes;

Timing of puberty, particularly for females, is related totiming of maternal puberty but environmental factors also

have a major impact;

Hypothalamus secretions typically increase during deepsleep;

Males and females produce both estrogens andandrogens but in different proportions;


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Puberty Process: Physical

Changes

Secondary sex characteristics

(Phenotype)

Body/pubic hair (males and females)

Breast enlargement (most obvious in females)

Increase in growth rate (females and males)

Changes in voice (most obvious in males)

For females, increase in fat to muscle cellratio (increase in fat cells relative to muscle

cells)


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Puberty Process: Physical Changes

For females: as level of estrogen increases, thehypothalamus produces Gonadotropin InhibitingHormones (GIH). This inhibits the production ofestrogen by the ovaries;

The periodic cycle of increases and decreasesin estrogen controls the ovulation cycle.

Estrogen is stored in fat cells so the increase infat cells relative to muscle cells allows the critical

level of estrogen necessary for ovulation.


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Neurological Changes

Myelinization

Fatty tissue surrounding nerve cells in the

brain

Increases the efficiency of transmission ofsignals across the synaptic junctions in the

brain

Made up of cholesterol and proteins Rapid increase of myelinization during and

after puberty through adolescence


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Elaboration of synaptic connections

Neurons form new connections based on

experience throughout the lifespan;

Plasticity still a major forcebrain respondsto stimulation


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Frontal cortex major area of developmentacross adolescence

Maturation of neurological systems that allow:

Planning Regulation of emotion

Monitoring

Prediction based on this is that across

adolescence, ability to forecast, anticipatelong-term outcomes and recognize risk islimited


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Health Practices and Puberty Process

Nutritionbalanced diet including appropriate levels ofcarbohydrates (myelinization)

Sleepreasonable opportunities for deep sleep

(supports initiation and maintenance of puberty process)

Limited alcohol consumptionsome evidence thatalcohol interferes with hormonal balance of pubescent

females

2a. biopsychology

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