Introduction to Biopsychology [PSB 4002]

1. Introduction to Biopsychology[PSB 4002] Professor Robert Lickliter DM 260 / 305-348-3441 licklite@fiu.edu website: dpblab.fiu.edu

2. Midterm # 4Tuesday Dec. 04 / 12 noonchapters 21, 22, and 2lecture through Thursday, Nov. 29sample study questions and slides available by Tuesday, Nov. 27 at course website / dpblab.fiu.edu

3. broken brains

4. Psychiatric Disease • The general characteristics of psychiatric (mental) disease: • perceptual awareness and orientation • symbolic conceptual functioning • emotional responses • executive control

5. Psychiatric Disease • A given syndrome or disorder is not: • “just a matter of biochemistry” or • “just a matter of neuroanatomy”, or • “just a matter of genetics”, or • “just a matter of individual history” • It is always some combination of these varied factors. Thus, no two patients will be alike and no two successful treatments will be alike.

6. Risk and Protective Factors • Individuals vary in their exposure to certain environments and the biological systems they inherit. • Mediators and moderators: influence the onset and maintenance of psychiatric and developmental disorders.

7. Risk Factors • Examples of Risk Factors are: • Chronic sexual/physical abuse • Lack of family structure • Low SES • Biological risk factors (e.g. genetic, neurological, hormonal)

8. Protective Factors • In addition to risk factors, protective factors help to explain differential onsets outcomes in psychopathology. • Examples are: • High intelligence • Adaptability • Maintenance of physical health • Diet

9. Multifinality Shared Experience or Trait

10. Equifinality Shared Outcome

11. Psychiatric Disease • The example of schizophrenia: • Type I. psychotic episodes, delusions, hallucinations, disordered and paranoid thoughts • Type II. Loss of emotional response (flat affect), abnormal postures, lack of spontaneous speech

12. Schizophrenia • Characterized by core symptoms: • Hallucinations (physical manifestations and/or “hearing voices”). Can be pleasant or unpleasant. • Delusions • Actions that are controlled by outside influence • “Je suis Napoleon!”

13. Epidemiology of Schizophrenia • Onset is variable, but most common onset is in the 20’s and 30’s. • Some evidence for early life development risk factors. • A “spectrum” disorder • Thought to involve abnormalities in: • Hippocampus • Cortex (loss of grey matter) • Dopamine imbalance

14. “Paris Syndrome”

16. Treatment • Some success with antidopaminergic medications, but not without consequence. • As of now, there is no “cure” for chronic schizophrenia, however episodic manifestations may come and go based on environmental context. • Animal models of the disorder have proven elusive.

17. Developmental Disorders • Atypical development of brain/body systems leads to developmental disorders such as: • Fetal alcohol syndrome • Physical and cognitive impairments (a spectrum disorder). • Down Syndrome • Low IQ (around 50), high susceptibility to heart disease, thyroid disorders, and some forms of cancer. • Autism • Inability to recognize other’s emotions and intentions, low language production, high degree of emotional reactivity, self-stimulation, and repetitive behaviors (a spectrum disorder).

18. Midterm # 4Tuesday Dec. 04 / 12 noonchapters 21, 22, and 2lecture through Thursday, Nov. 29sample study questions and slides available by Tuesday, Nov. 27 at course website / dpblab.fiu.edu