AP LESSON 2

• One-dimensional


  Looking for a single cause
• Multidimensional


  Looking for a systemic cause
• Genetic contributions

  • Genes
  • Phenotypes
  • Genotypes
  • Endophenotypes
• Genes


  Long molecules of DNA at various locations on chromosomes, within cell nucleus
• 46 chromosomes, 23 pairs, 22 pairs of autosomes, 1 pair sex chromosomes
• XX - female, XY - male


  Dominant and recessive
• Phenotypes


  Observable characteristics
• Genotypes


  Unique genetic makeup
• Endophenotypes


  Genetic mechanisms that ultimately contribute to the underlying problems causing the symptoms and difficulties experienced by people with psychological disorders
• Basic Genetic Epidemiology


  Statistical analysis of family, twin, and adoption studies; if the disorder can be inherited and how much is attributable to genetics
• Advance Genetic Epidemiology


  Studies the factors that influence the disorder
• Gene Finding


  What gene influences the behavior
• Molecular Genetics


  Biological analysis of individual DNA samples; biological processes genes affect to produce symptoms of the disorder
• Family Studies


  Examine behavioral pattern or emotional trait in the context of the family
• Proband


  Family member with the trait singled out for study, the first person in the family to be identified as possibly having genetic disorder and who may receive genetic counseling or testing
• Adoption studies


  Identify adoptees who have a particular behavioral pattern or psychological disorder and attempt to locate first-degree relatives who were raised in different family settings
• Twin Studies


  Usually conducted to identical twins because they share genetic makeup
• Those people who reported more severe stressful life events and had at least one short allele of the 5-HTT gene were at greater risk of developing depression (serotonin-transporter gene)
• Epigenetics


  Factors other than inherited DNA sequence, such as new learning or stress, that alter the phenotypic expression of genes
• Neuroscience


  Study of the nervous system, especially the brain to understand behavior, emotions, and cognitive processes
• Neurotransmitters and their effects

  • Dopamine - Schizophrenia, Parkinson's
  • Acetylcholine - Alzheimer's (Dementia)
  • Norepinephrine - Mania, Depression
  • GABA - Relaxation, Anxiety/OCD
  • Serotonin - Mania, Depression, Anxiety, Eating Disorders
  • Epinephrine - Stress, Sleep Disorders
  • Glutamate - Memory, Psychosis, Neuron Death
  • Endorphin - Eating Disorders
• Agonist


  Effectively increase the activity of the neurotransmitters (excitatory)
• Antagonist


  Decrease or block neurotransmitter (inhibitory)
• Inverse agonists


  Produces effects opposite to those produced by the neurotransmitters
• Reuptake


  Neurotransmitter is released, quickly broken down and brought back to the synaptic cleft
• Neurotransmitter


  Chemical messengers of the body
• Glutamate


  • Most abundant in brain, key role in thinking, learning, memory
• GABA


  • Most common inhibitory neurotransmitter, regulates mood, irritability, sleep, seizures
• Serotonin


  • Regulates mood, sleep patterns, sexuality, appetite, and pain
• Dopamine


  • Body reward system, pleasures, achieving heightened arousal and learning
• Epinephrine


  • Responsible for fight or flight response
• Norepinephrine


  • Alertness, arousal, decision-making, attention, and focus
• Endorphins


  • Natural pain reliever, reduces pain
• Acetylcholine


  • Regulates heart rate, blood pressure and gut motility, role in muscle contraction, memory, motivation, sexual desire, sleep, and learning
• Brain stem


  Lower and more ancient part of the brain; essential for autonomic functioning such as breathing, heartbeat, etc.
• Hindbrain


  Regulates many autonomic activities such as breathing, heartbeat, and digestion; contains medulla, pons, and cerebellum
• Cerebellum


  Controls motor coordination, abnormalities associated with autism
• Midbrain


  Coordinates movement with sensory input and contains parts of reticular activating system (contributes to sleep, arousal and tension)
• Thalamus and hypothalamus


  Involved in regulating behavior, emotions, and hormones
• Parts of the limbic system

  • Hippocampus
  • Cingulate gyrus
  • Septum
  • Amygdala