PSYCH 202 Lecture 8: Biological Psychology I
Biological Psychology I: Genetics, the Nervous System and Neurotransmitter
Processes
Overview of Today’s Lecture
0. Introduction to the role of genetics
1. Structure of the Nervous System
2. Review of elementary Neuronal Structure and Physiology
3. Neurotransmitters and Their Neuronal and Psychological Functions
4. A Few Practical Illustrations/Applications
Some Orienting Concepts on Genetics in Psychology:
0. What is “Genetics”?
0. A) Heredity of specific characteristics:
0. e.g. Mendel’s peas:
Monk that developed “Mendelian genetics”, basis for calculation specific genes showing up in
the next generation based on the previous generation. Hair color, eyes, balding, etc. Often untrue.
Single genes don’t tell the whole story. Very limited when it comes to more complicated traits.
Fig. 3.2
0. B) Processes involved in turning genes on and off:
Genetic switching. Switches operate in complicated ways in response to environmental
conditions. Don’t operate in separation in isolation of environment. Epigenetic- above the
genome. Events that occur that effect genes, but do not change them. Alter genetic switches.
0. C) polygenic effects:
Many genes operating at the same time. Mendelian understandings don’t help in telling us how
genes operate together.
0. Chromosomes:
23 pairs in every cell. DNA.
0. What Genes are:
Segments of DNA
0. What Genes do:
Code for specific proteins. Regulate the expression of protein products. Related to how we think,
dream, create, etc.
0. Gene Expression:
When protein is produced, it’s expressed. Unwrapped from structure and exposed in certain
environment. When exposed coding is allowed.
0.
1.
2. “Epigenetic” modifications of genes and the impact for human health (cancer,
stress-reactivity, etc):
Probability of gene expression is frequently altered. Genes can also be repressed. Tumor
suppressing cells. Suppresses tumors. Can be turned off by an epigenetic modification by the
genome. If methylated, remains unexpressed. Epigenetic modifications turn genes off; silenced.
If tumor cells turned off, bodies efforts to prevent cancer fail. Need a healthy stress response to
be healthy. Healthy stress response genes can also be turned off by environmental consequences.
In studies w/ rats, stress mothers don’t take care of babies as much. Babies that don’t get love
have methylated genes that are related to the expression of glucocorticoid receptors. No healthy
stress response. Remain for anxious and stressed than healthy rats.
Genes Affect Behavior
0. Behavioral Genetics Methods:
Differences between identical (mono) and nonidentical (di)
0. Twin Studies Compare MZ and DZ Twins:
Comparing types, genetic component to psychocathodpy (?)
0. Adoption Studies:
Rule out environment affects, adopted children end up more like bio parents than adopted
parents. Genes override environment.
0. Heritability:
Degree to which underlying genetic in population. Don’t tell us about individuals, just how traits
in a group are expressed. Gene Expression Can Be Modified
0. Manipulating Genes:
Can create physical characteristics.
0. Pick your Mouse (or person?)
0. Alcohol preferences video:
0. Manipulating Environments:
0. “Mother Nurture” article:
Took two groups of mice, calm vs. anxious. Used cross-fostering. Switched mothers. Dip in
alcohol to take smell away. Babies in adulthood were more like “adopted” mother than bio
mother. Anxious become calm, calm become anxious. Environment trumps genetics. Genetic
tendency is not expressed.
Evidence that shows that breast feeding your children increases their IQ vs. bottle feeding
0. “epigenetics” again, stress-reactivity:
If stress response gene is turned off
How Are Neural Messages Integrated into Communication Systems?
0. Three systems are coordinated:
Neuro messages are part of larger, integrated biological systems
0. 1)The Central Nervous System (CNS)
Brain, spinal cord. Influnces and interacts with PNS
0. 2) The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Somatic Nervous system, acts on skeletal muscles.
0.
3) The Endocrine System
Structure of the Nervous System:
The Central Nervous System (CNS) Consists of the Brain and Spinal Cord
The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) connects the CNS to the rest of the body
through subdivisions:
0. 1) The Somatic Nervous System, which acts on skeletal muscles (the muscles
attached to bone)
0. 2) The Autonomic Nervous System, which acts on visceral muscles (e.g., heart,
arteries, gastrointestinal tract) and glands (e.g., salivary, sweat)
In the Somatic Nervous System:
1) Sensory Neurons (Afferent Neurons) transmit somatosensory information from
peripheral sensory organs to CNS; and
Bodily info
2) Motor Neurons (Efferent Neurons) bring motor informational commands from
CNS to the muscles: Take info from brain and brings it to muscles.
SAME: Sensory is afferent, motor is efferent.
Fig. 3.8
In the Autonomic Nervous System:
Document Summary
Biological psychology i: genetics, the nervous system and neurotransmitter. Overview of today"s lecture: introduction to the role of genetics, structure of the nervous system, review of elementary neuronal structure and physiology, neurotransmitters and their neuronal and psychological functions, a few practical illustrations/applications. Some orienting concepts on genetics in psychology: what is genetics , a) heredity of specific characteristics: e. g. mendel"s peas: Monk that developed mendelian genetics , basis for calculation specific genes showing up in the next generation based on the previous generation. Very limited when it comes to more complicated traits. 3. 2: b) processes involved in turning genes on and off: Switches operate in complicated ways in response to environmental conditions. Don"t operate in separation in isolation of environment. Events that occur that effect genes, but do not change them. Mendelian understandings don"t help in telling us how genes operate together: chromosomes: Related to how we think, dream, create, etc: gene expression:
