General Psychology Biopsychology

Palahang H, Ph.D.The Department of Psychiatry

The University of Medical Science

Biological Psychology: Core Concepts

• At the individual level, Genetic Codes play a role in the unique individual characteristics

• Genotype—unique genetic code inherited by the individual from biological parents

Biological Psychology: Core Concepts

• Phenotype—expression of the genotype in physical and psychological characteristics– Impacted by biological and environmental

forces• Biological forces: disease, toxins, injury• Environmental forces: access to health care,

access to stimulation from the environment

The Individual: Chromosomes, Genes, and Inherited DNA

• Why are some people shorter than others?

• Why are some children born with Down’s syndrome?

The Individual: Chromosomes, Genes, and Inherited DNA

Chromosomes— the structure that carries the genetic material (DNA) 23 pairs— half contributed by the biological mother

and half by the biological father

• Chromosomes are made up of genes—with specific DNA codes. – Each gene is responsible for some characteristic of

the organism

The Individual: Chromosomes, Genes, and Inherited DNA

• One pair of chromosomes determines our biological sex– The biological mother contributes the X– The biological father contributes either

another X or a Y chromosome.• XX= female (more female fetuses survive than

males)• XY=male

The Individual: Chromosomes, Genes, and Inherited DNA

• Relationship between genotype and characteristics and behaviors is complex;– Inheriting a genotype linked to some

psychopathology does not mean individuals will experience that pathology (e.g. schizophrenia).

– Impact of the pathology is frequently minimized by alterations in the environment (e.g. corrective lenses).

The Central Nervous System

The Human Brain

Brain Structures and Functions

• Brain stem– First to evolve– Life-sustaining systems: breathing, pulse rate– Similar to brains of reptiles

• Cerebellum– Coordination of “automatic” movements

(walking, dancing)– Processing other temporal stimuli (e.g. music)

Brain Structures and Functions

Limbic system– Emotion, memories, desires– Functions to help us remember highly emotional

experiences– Contains the hypothalamus—control center for many

functions

• Cerebral cortex– Last to evolve– Linked to higher mental processes– Different areas or “lobes” control different functions

Cerebral Cortex: Higher Mental Functions

Frontal Lobe

• “Executive functions”—Planning, controlling, recognize future outcomes from current actions etc.,

• Broca’s area of the frontal lobe—production of complex language

• Motor functions—controls voluntary muscle groups• Alcohol likely decreases the functioning of this part of the

brain related to impulse control (Amen, 1999)

Parietal Lobe

• Receives input from senses• Distributes sensory information to other

parts of the brain• Supports selective attention to particular

sensory information• With parietal lobe damage, attention may

be disrupted (Vecera & Flevaris, 2004)

Occipital Lobe

Visual information—color, brightness, motion, etc., Specialized areas for human face recognition

Temporal Lobe

• Left temporal lobe (Werneke’s area) language comprehension, naming, etc.

• Auditory sense is processed

Peripheral Nervous System

• Somatic Nervous System—links with senses and voluntary muscles

– Sensory Nervous System—brings information FROM the senses to the central nervous system

– Motor Nervous System—carries information from the central nervous system TO the muscles for action

Peripheral Nervous System

• Autonomic Nervous System—links internal glands and organs– Sympathetic Division—arouses our systems when the need

arises (e.g. anxiety producing stimulus, sexual arousal)

– Parasympathetic Division—inhibits our systems or reduces the arousal