BIOPSYCHOLOGY Everything that is psychological is simultaneously biological.

1. BIOPSYCHOLOGYEverything that is psychological is simultaneously biological. Nervous system, endocrine system, genetics and prenatal environment

2. DIVISIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM • Central nervous system • Peripheral nervous system

3. DIVISIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM • Somatic nervous system • Autonomic nervous system

4. DIVISIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM • Sympathetic nervous system • Parasympathetic nervous system • Think: “para-” chute as it slows you down.

5. Nervous System • Steps of the neural chain

6. Neurons: the cells that make up the nerves

7. Types of Neurons • Sensory (afferent) vs. Motor (efferent) neurons: • Sensory/afferent neurons take messages away from sensory organs to the brain. • Motor/efferent neurons take messages from the brain to the muscles resulting in motor tasks. • Interneurons: central nervous system neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs. We have billions and billions of these.

8. Neural communication in the cell • Neurons are either excited or inhibited and it is “all or nothing”…most votes wins!

9. Neural communication in the cell • When “excited” an electrical impulse called an action potential travels down the axon and it is propagated by the opening and closing of sodium and potassium “gates.”

10. Neural communication between cells • A synapse (gap) exists between an axon and a neighboring dendrite. When stimulated the axon terminal will release neurotransmitters into the synapse wear they will travel to excite the next neuron.

11. Neurotransmitters

12. Research has shown that your mood is influenced in part by the amount of serotonin receptor binding. When you are happy, it is likely that you have more serotonin receptors activated. Positive events in your life (like falling in love, perhaps) cause greater serotonin release, increasing receptor binding. After a little while the serotonin molecule will detach ("unbind") from the recepter and float back into the synapse. When this happens, the receptor stops sending chemical signals to the cell body, and it waits for another serotonin molecule to come along. (Those yellow things on the membrane of the axon terminal are serotonin reuptake transporters.)

13. About an hour or so after you take Ecstasy(the peak experience) When you take Ecstasy, the vesicles release enormous amounts of serotonin into the synapse. This significantly increases serotonin receptor binding (more serotonin in the synapse means a greater chance for some of them to bind to the receptors). This increased receptor activity leads to significant changes in the brain's electrical firing and is primarily responsible for the MDMA experience (i.e. empathy, happiness, increased sociableness, enhanced sensation of touch, etc.).

14. Notice that there is some dopamine in the synapse as well (the blue things). MDMA also causes dopamine release (from dopamine cells). As you can see, dopamine receptors have also been activated.

15. Long term effects • Research has shown people who have once used MDMA regularly have measureable degrade in memory function, attention problems, and impaired executive function such as decision making and planning. They also measure within range to be diagnosed with depression. • Data is statistically significant (likely not due to chance) BUT confounding variables such as alcohol use and use with other drugs as well as the fact that these a self-reports, not necessarily a representative sample make it difficult to draw causal conclusions.

16. ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

17. ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

18. Hormones vs. Neurotransmitters • Some hormones, like adrenaline, are chemically like neurotransmitters. Therefore, hormones & NTs function in very similar ways. • They differ in processing speed: NTs communicate very rapidly and hormones move much more slowly throughout the body. • But even though it takes longer for hormones to have their effect, the effect is often more long lasting. • Brain > pituitary gland > other glands > hormones > brain

19. The BRAINThe brainstem consists of the medulla, pons, and reticular formation.

20. THE BRAINThe thalamus sits atop the brainstem and the cerebellum is located to the rear of the brainstem.

21. THE BRAINThe limbic system lies on the border of the brain’s older evolutionary parts and the most advanced cerebral hemisphere.

22. THE BRAINThe cerebral cortex is the outer layer of the brain’s hemispheres. It is the body’s control and information-processing center.

23. OTHER CORTICAL AREAS(Other areas of the cerebral cortex) • Association area (cortex): any of the various areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved primarily in sensory or motor function. • Broca’s area: area of the frontal lobe associated with the control of speech. (Think “boca”=mouth in Spanish) • Wernicke’s area: area association with the interpretation of sound • Aphasia: loss or impairment of the ability to understand language or express oneself through language due to injury or illness.

24. Illustration of brain structures involved in making conversation.

25. The Anatomy of the Brain • http://www.gwc.maricopa.edu/class/bio201/brain/brshpx.htm

26. THE BRAIN

27. THE BRAIN • ** The idea that we are “left” or “right” brained has been over simplified by “pop” psychology articles. We all use both sides of our brains and anyone who has sustained damage to one or both sides of the brain shows remarkable compensation made by the opposing side. • “wax on, wax off” activity

28. BRAIN SCANS

29. BRAIN SCANS

30. GENETICS & HUMAN BEHAVIOR Behavioral geneticists study our differences and weigh the relative effects of heredity and environment. NATURE VS. NURTURE Genetically, all humans are 99.9% identical. It is the .1% in conjunction with varying environmental factors that makes us all unique. Human traits are influenced by gene complexes meaning multiple genes play a role in height, intelligence, temperament, etc.

31. GENETICS & HUMAN BEHAVIOR • TWIN STUDIES Identical >> Fraternal

32. Genetics & Behavior • Identical twins share identical genes and very similar developmental environments • Fraternal twins share 50% of the same genes and very similar developmental environments • Separated identical twins share identical genes but very different developmental environments.

33. Genetics & Behavior • Research shows that identical twins are much more similar behaviorally than non-identical twins. • Lykken & McGue found that you are 5.5 times more likely to divorce if your identical twin had divorced. • Loehlin & Nichols found identical twins to be more similar in abilities, personal traits, and interests, regardless of parental treatment.

34. Genetics & Behavior • Genetically identical twins reared apart in different families have consistently shown significant similarities in personality, interests, and behaviors. Those reared together are even more similar. • Genetically identical twins reared apart have more in common than fraternal twins reared apart. • Though some researchers feel this may be all due to “chance,” (Besides, how many sets of identical twins reared apart actually exist?) adoption studies strengthen the genetic argument in that adopted children are often NOT similar to their adoptive parents.

35. Nature vs. Nurture • “Nurture works on what nature endows.” • Example: Some people are physiologically more prone to eating disorders, but the environment/culture to which they are exposed can/will enhance their chances or developing an eating disorder. • What implications does knowing one’s genetic make up and “risk” factors have for our future?

36. Behavioral geneticists vs. Evolutionary psychologists • Behavioral geneticists are interested in what makes us unique and in how and why we differ from one another. • Evolutionary psychologists focus on how we are alike as humans, what commonalities we share. • All people in all cultures show favor to sweet and fatty foods because the consumption of these are beneficial to survival of famine. Unfortunately, today famine is not often a risk factor, yet we still are driven to consume fatty foods >> obesity.

37. Mean Genes is a book by Drs. Terry Burnham and Jay Phelan that explores the genetic explanations for our behaviors such as spending habits, eating habits, intimacy, and mating.

38. Environmental Factors • Prenatal environment: prenatal care, placentas, etc. • Enriched environment: “Those with the most toys win!” Without exposure to written or signed language prior to adolescence one will never master it. • Parenting: Has its greatest influence when extreme (abusive, neglectful, etc.) • Peer Influence: The selection of peers makes it powerful. A child is more likely to become a smoker if peers smoke but not if parents smoke. • Parent decisions (like where to live) will influence peer selection.