Physiology of Behavior

Physiology of Behavior essay assignment

Physiology of Behavior essay assignment

Expected word-count for substantive responses for numbers 1-4is between 50-100 words. Provide references.:

1 In the brain, most excitatory communication in synapses occurs by way of glutamate and most inhibitory communication occurs by way of gamma-aminobutyric acid. In general terms, describe what the other neurotransmitters do. Discuss at least 4 neurotransmitters and discuss the role in controlling human behavior. Use examples.

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2 Neurotransmitters are chemical messenger that travels from neuron to neuron. There are many different types of neurotransmitters, but some of the major ones are dopamine, acetylcholine, glutamate and epinephrine. Dopamine produces both excitatory and inhibitory post synaptic potentials, depending on the post synaptic receptor. Dopamine is one of the more interesting neurotransmitters because it has been implicated in several important functions, including movement, attention, learning, and the reinforcing effects of drugs that people tend to abuse. (Carlson, 2013). Acetylochine (ACh) is a primary neurotransmitter, it is a chemical that works in the body and brain.

When released, it is responsible for the movements of muscles. According to the reading, it can be found in the ganglia and at the target of organs of the parasympathetic branch of the ANS. Glutamate or glutamic acid, is a chemical that nerve cells use to signals to other cells. It is most abundant in the vertebrate nervous system. Last is epinephrine, which is also known as adrenaline. It is a neurotransmitter as well as a hormone. It is produced by certain neurons and adrenal glands. It will cause a rise in the flow of blood to the heart and muscles. We often see this used in the fight or flight response.

Carlson, N. R. (2013). Physiology of behavior. (11th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

3The release of neurotransmitters other than glutamate and GABA tends to activate or inhibit entire circuits of neurons that are involved in particular brain functions”, (Carlson, N.R., 2013). Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter that controls all muscular movements when released. Acetycholine play an important role in REM sleep, in which control eye movement during the phase of dreaming. Dopamine is another neurotransmitter that control movement, attention, learning, and reinforce the effects of drugs that people abuse (Carlson, N.R., 2013). Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter that once release can affect organs in the body that involves hormones, memory, and involuntary functions. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in regulating the mood and pain. Once release it can have an effect on eating, sleeping, and arousal.

Reference: Carlson, N.R. (2013). Physiology of behavior. (11th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

4Neurotransmitters are chemical messenger that travels from neuron to neuron. There are many different types of neurotransmitters, but some of the major ones are dopamine, acetylcholine, glutamate and epinephrine. Dopamine produces both excitatory and inhibitory post synaptic potentials, depending on the post synaptic receptor. Dopamine is one of the more interesting neurotransmitters because it has been implicated in several important functions, including movement, attention, learning, and the reinforcing effects of drugs that people tend to abuse. (Carlson, 2013). Acetylochine (ACh) is a primary neurotransmitter, it is a chemical that works in the body and brain. When released, it is responsible for the movements of muscles. According to the reading, it can be found in the ganglia and at the target of organs of the parasympathetic branch of the ANS. Glutamate or glutamic acid, is a chemical that nerve cells use to signals to other cells. It is most abundant in the vertebrate nervous system. Last is epinephrine, which is also known as adrenaline. It is a neurotransmitter as well as a hormone. It is produced by certain neurons and adrenal glands. It will cause a rise in the flow of blood to the heart and muscles. We often see this used in the fight or flight response.

Carlson, N. R. (2013). Physiology of behavior. (11th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

5After reviewing the NIMH Brain Basics (2015) tutorial at the following link (https://www.nimh.nih.gov/brainbasics/index.html), discuss what interested you most about the video. Explain one aspect of the brain that you did not know prior to watching the tutorial.

6 This video was a great walk through and I enjoyed learning how the brain works and even changes. The part that interested me the most was The Working Brain and how neurons make it work. Another thing I found interesting was the normal mood functioning. If the brain fails to release enough of serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate it could lead to problems in the brain with memory loss, mental disorders, etc (NIMH, 2015). Many disorders can be misdiagnosed because they have similar symptoms, I didn’t realize that mental disorders have some of similar symptoms to a stroke, etc.

Reference: NIMH (2015). Brain Basics. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/brainbasics/index.html.

7After reviewing the NIHM videohttps://youtu.be/u3EA1A-W34U, share your thoughts to enrich the discussion. Discuss a classic nature versus nurture debate in psychology: Do you feel that depression is caused by a neurotransmitter imbalance or that behavior causes the neurotransmitter imbalance? Use specific examples to explain your answer. How might nature (genetics, heredity, biology) and nurture (upbringing, environment) play a role in mental health conditions like depression? Provide statistics on depression as you discuss and provide APA reference.

8 “During 2013-2016, 8.1% of Americans aged 20 and over had depression in a two-week span. Women were more likely to have depression than men”, (Center’s for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018). Depression can really happen both ways, neurotransmitter imbalance and behavior can cause the imbalance. Certain medications can cause depression, making neurotransmitters to become imbalance. Also, individual’s environment and surroundings can affect behavior causing depression. Certain situations can trigger depression such as financial problems or relationship problems. Uncontrollable situations can cause stress in which will cause neurotransmitters to become imbalance, resulting in the individual suffering from depression.

Reference: Center’s for Disease Control and Preventions (2018). CDC 24/7: Saving Lives, Protecting People

9Depression can come from various reasons as you have stated but I also thing that at times conditions such as genetics, heredity, biology can have a big influence in someone facing it sooner than someone who is struggling financially or emotionally. They both can fall into a stage of depression but if they have any additional factors it can affect them more than others. It is a good thing for us individuals to know what type of medications might not help us out but worsen our situation as being medicated and in depression does not seem like a good combination to have to deal and fight with as emotions.