General Psychology Biopsychology

1. General Psychology Biopsychology Palahang H, Ph.D. The Department of Psychiatry The University of Medical Science

2. Biological Psychology: Core Concepts • At the individual level, Genetic Codes play a role in the unique individual characteristics • Genotype—unique genetic code inherited by the individual from biological parents

3. Biological Psychology: Core Concepts • Phenotype—expression 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

4. The Individual: Chromosomes, Genes, and Inherited DNA • Why are some people shorter than others? • Why are some children born with Down’s syndrome?

5. The Individual: Chromosomes, Genes, 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 of genes—with specific DNA codes. • Each gene is responsible for some characteristic of the organism

6. The Individual: Chromosomes, Genes, 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

7. The Individual: Chromosomes, Genes, 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 frequently minimized by alterations in the environment (e.g. corrective lenses).

8. The Central Nervous System

9. The Human Brain

10. Brain Structures and Functions • Brain stem • First to evolve • Life-sustaining systems: breathing, pulse rate • Similar to brains of reptiles • Cerebellum • Coordination of “automatic” movements (walking, dancing) • Processing other temporal stimuli (e.g. music)

11. Brain Structures and Functions Limbic system • Emotion, memories, desires • Functions to help us remember highly emotional experiences • Contains the hypothalamus—control center for many functions • Cerebral cortex • Last to evolve • Linked to higher mental processes • Different areas or “lobes” control different functions

12. Cerebral Cortex: Higher Mental Functions

13. Frontal Lobe • “Executive functions”—Planning, controlling, recognize future outcomes from current actions etc., • Broca’s area of the frontal lobe—production of complex language • Motor functions—controls voluntary muscle groups • Alcohol likely decreases the functioning of this part of the brain related to impulse control (Amen, 1999)

14. Parietal Lobe • Receives input from senses • Distributes sensory information to other parts of the brain • Supports selective attention to particular sensory information • With parietal lobe damage, attention may be disrupted (Vecera & Flevaris, 2004)

15. Occipital Lobe • Visual information—color, brightness, motion, etc., • Specialized areas for human face recognition

16. Temporal Lobe • Left temporal lobe (Werneke’s area) language comprehension, naming, etc. • Auditory sense is processed

17. Peripheral Nervous System • Somatic Nervous System—links with senses and voluntary muscles • Sensory NervousSystem—brings information FROM the senses to the central nervous system • Motor NervousSystem—carries information from the central nervous system TO the muscles for action

18. Peripheral Nervous System • Autonomic Nervous System—links internal glands and organs • Sympathetic Division—arouses our systems when the need arises (e.g. anxiety producing stimulus, sexual arousal) • Parasympathetic Division—inhibits our systems or reduces the arousal