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BIOSPYCHOLOGY
= The study of biological bases of behaviour and mental processes
Known as Psychological psychology & Behavioural neuroscience
Part of a larger field of neuroscience
Understands animal behaviour as direct result of body events
NEUROPSYCHOLOGY:
= The study of relationship between brain and behaviour
Aims to understand brain function by investigating brain damage
Cross between neurology and psychology
Correlates structure and function of mind with anatomy and psychology
of the brain
ROLES OF NEUROPSYCHOLOGISTS:
Diagnosis of neurological disease
Identifying areas of damage
o Can predict what type of behaviour an individual will exhibit
Differentiation of normal ageing- Are they ageing normally?
Hospital & rehab settings
Academia
o Teaching & Research
Private practice & medico-legal setting
o Car accident- are these people okay to work?
CAUSES OF BRAIN INJURY
Vascular
o Strokes
o Problems with motor movement
Tumors
o Takes up space in the skull that the brain can no longer utilize
Degenerative disease
o Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease
o Parkinson’s disease effects the motor movement- shakes
, Infectious disease
o HIV/AIDS leading to dementia
o Lead to subcortical damage
Trauma
o A violent assault on the brain
o Can lead to epilepsy
o Car or weapon usually causes trauma
o Concussion can cause brain trauma
o Can result in vascular problems
Epilepsy
o Bursts of electrical activity
o Transient loss of consciousness
PHINEAS CAGE
Railway worker (US 1800s)
Steel rod shot through his head
Showed quick recovery
No obvious cognitive changes
Complete personality change
o Reliable worker unreliable drunk
o Respectful rude & obnoxious
o Normal aggressive
Shows how important the FRONTAL LOBE is in developing personality
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
The brain is the core of the nervous system
Nervous system Peripheral Autonomic (Involuntary)
Parasympathetic (SLOWS body down, activates AFTER stress) //
Sympathetic (activates FIGHT OR FLIGHT)
Nervous system Peripheral Somatic (voluntary)
Exams and bills are stressful but we can’t run away from it, therefore fight
or flight can’t be used efficiently
, STRESS: (sympathetic- fight or flight)
o Pupils dilate (more light to see)
o Don’t produce saliva
o Production of tears
o Heart beats faster
o Bladder can release
RELIEF: (parasympathetic)
o Pupils constrict
o Produce saliva
o Contraction of bladder
o Constricts bronchi
o Slow heartbeat
o Stimulates digestion
DAMAGE TO THE CNS
No longer thought to be permanent
Neuroplasticity
o The ability to constantly change structure & function of cells in
response to experience or trauma
GLANDS & HORMONES
Endocrine Glands:
Pituitary gland
o Brain, growth hormone, influences & other glands
Pineal gland
o Base of cerebrum
o Secretes melatonin (sleep)
Thyroid gland
o Neck
o Regulates metabolism
Pancreas
o Controls blood sugar levels
, Gonads
o Ovaries/testes
o Regulates sexual development/behavioural reproduction
STRESS
Stress is anything requiring adaptation
o Psychological
o Cognitive
o Behavioural
GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME
3 stages in body’s response to a stressor
o Alarm (mobilization of body in reaction to the stressor)
o Resistance (rarely get sick in this phase)
o Exhaustion
STRESS & IMMUNE SYSTEM
Stress triggers similar responses to infection
Immune system
o Cells/organs/chemicals responding to attacks from disease
infections/injuries
o Affected by stress – AIDS etc
Psychoneuroimmunology
o The study of the effect of the mind on health and resistance to
disease.
HIV/AIDS
Stress adds to the rapid progression
AIDS caused by HIV which attacks the immune system
o Stress is linked to a more rapid progression of HIV
Stress affects immune system
o Depression adds to diseases
o HIV
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