Another assumption is that certain regions of the brain determine certain behaviors. The cerebral cortex has been found to affect our thinking and the prefrontal cortex is associated with mood and emotions. It has been supported by PET scans and MRI scans which have been used to objectively measure the changes in neuronal activity of the brain before and after psychosurgery. 1b) Describe Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome (8 marks) Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) explains the body’s ability to cope with a particular stressor. ‘Stress’ refers to the psychological and physiological responses which occur when we perceive a threat and don’t have the resources to cope with it.
Research into Kluver-Bucy syndrome supports these findings as humans with the syndrome, as a result of temporal lobe damage, become passive. This is attributed to damage to the amygdala. However, contradictory research from Wong et al (1997) suggests that reduced amygdala size leads to reduced activity in violent criminals. Ashford (1980) suggests that stimulation of the amygdala leads to intermittent explosive aggressiveness, as people with temporal lobe epilepsy become very aggressive. The prefrontal cortex is also part of the complex system of structures involved in aggression.
15. Briefly describe the role of the autonomic nervous system in human physiology. What are the two divisions of this system? The autonomic nervous system regulates the function of organs that have involuntary responses. The two divisions of the autonomic nervous system are the parasympathetic (rest and digest) and the sympathetic (fight or flight) nervous system.
Language impairment can be influenced by brain damage (Toates, 2010). This, Gall cited in Toates, (2010), was able to conclude from his studies of normal individuals and those whose behaviour deviated from the norm. He argued that different parts of the outer regions of the brain serve different roles or functions (localisation). These he related back to the control of cognitive processes, characteristics and behaviour. Additionally he identified that different regions of the brain interact or work together to enable a process.
In terms of biochemistry, chemical imbalances in the brain may be involved in certain mental illnesses. Neurotransmitters, for example, play a very important part in behaviour – one theory links depression to low levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and noradrenaline. However, the relationship between neurotransmitters and depression is very complex and therefore, more research is needed to discover the exact link between this and the disorder. People suffering from depression, also often have high levels of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is sometimes referred to as a ‘stress hormone’ because it is produced in times of stress.
Selye was convinced that reactions to stressful situations: a. were general and nonspecific b. differed, depending on the type of stressor that was present c. were stronger when people had other physical illnesses d. differed, depending on the personality characteristics of the individual __A__ 3. The physiological reaction to an environmental threat, in which the autonomic nervous system energizes the body and hormones are released by the endocrine system, is called: a. a fight-or-flight response b. a resistance response c. a generalized anxiety response d. reaction formation ___D_ 4. In the general activation syndrome (GAS), described by Selye, the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system first becomes activated during: a. the resistance phase b. the stage of exhaustion c. recovery from the stress d. the alarm reaction __C__ 5. Quinn was driving his car on an icy road when the back end started to skid out of control. His car crossed the centerline, and he could see the headlights of rapidly approaching oncoming traffic.
Psychologists working from the biological perspective argue that we can inherit a predisposition to anxiety disorders (Morris & Maisto, 2010). In addition, research has shown that there are several parts of the brain that are involved with fear and anxiety, which reinforces the biological connection to anxiety disorders. Many psychologists theorize that anxiety is the result of excessive activation of the brain mechanism responsible for the fight-or-flight response (2011). Fight-or-flight is our brains way of determining the level of danger in a situation. When we are confronted with danger, like the smell of smoke, or a car coming toward us on the street two brain circuits become active and relay information about the danger.
Hormones and Behaviors Ronnie Gordon BEH/225 8/21/2015 George Green Hormones and Behaviors The Endocrine system is how the human body communicates feelings and emotions. Along with the endocrine system, the nervous system works to assist the lungs with breathing. Both the endocrine system and the nervous system work together to make the heart to pump as well as assist the brain in making decisions. The endocrine system works by using hormones or chemical responses to affect the physiological activity inside a person’s body. Hormones cause cells to activate and once activated, the cells must have a receptor spot for the hormone.
When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing where that neuron will generate a neural impulse. b) What is an agonist?
The SNS also regulates the sympathetic adrenal medullary system (SAM). It causes signals to travel to a gland in the kidneys called the adrenal gland which plays a vital role in the body’s response to stress. This leads to the activation of the adrenal medulla which is located in the adrenal glands. This stimulates the release of the hormone adrenaline