Bio-psychology: Major Biological Aspects of Health and Disease - Coursework Example

Biological Aspects of health and Disease (Bio-psychology) By TAQ What are the functions of the systems listed below? Using examples, explain how important each system is. Using at least two examples, explain how each system interacts with the other two and how these interactions affect the behavior of an individual. Central nervous system This act as the center where information is received and processed then sent to the peripheral nervous system It consists of the brain which is the center for all body functioning by processing the sensory information received from spinal cord. It also has the spinal cord which contain nerves that transfer information inform of electrons to the brain then interpreted and sent back through it to the other body parts It collects and analyses the information brought from the peripheral nervous system as a result of the reactions from the autonomic nervous system such as reflex actions of the body. When there is high temperature, the information is sent to the hypothalamus which decodes it from the neurotransmitters and instructs the endocrine system to produce hormones which will ensure reduction in the amount of body water loss and increase sweating as a way of cooling the body.as earlier suggested by Elliot Staller in 1954 "the amount of motivated behavior is a direct function of the amount of activity in certain excitatory centers of the hypothalamus" (p6). Autonomic nervous system this regulates and controls the functioning of glands, and all the organs in the body, including the muscle activities It is helpful in the rhythmic activities of the heart since it carries out its role automatically. It also helps to keep the body alert and awake, for instance during the “fight or flight” situations of the body, it enhances breathing rate. This is the key to the functioning of the hypothalamus since it it the trigger of electron transducers to initiate the transfer of information such as sexual lust to the hypothalamus which then decodes and send beck the information to the endocrine system to produce estrogen hormone and other hormones which are involved in the sexual feeling Endocrine system The different glands within the system secretes different hormones which are involved in different biochemical and physiological regulatory roles in the body It basically acts as signal sender to the central nervous system by the hormones it contains which creates varied responses in the body such as sexual feelings, and need for sleep The hypothalamus- pituitary adrenal axis is a well-coordinated relation. Hormones are released by the endocrine system as a result of stimulation or excitation by the autonomic nervous system, Watson & Skinner (1927) they are then transferred through the neural transmitters to the central nervous system via the spinal code then eventually to the brain, where the information is assembled and analyzed on different parts of the brain such as the hypothalamus. Feedback is then processed and sent back to the peripheral nervous system, for instance sleep is induced. TAQ 2 The main areas of brain are the frontal lobe, parietal lobes, temporal lobes, occipital lobes, brain stem and cerebellum. Frontal lobes are the most anterior right of the forehead and detect individual’s consciousness, initiates the response within the environment, and controls individual’s emotional and expressive response (Dziegielewski & Leon, 2001, pp123-167). Parietal lobes is situated at the back and above the head and mainly performs of locating the visual attention and touch perception, controlling of the voluntary movements and manipulations of substances coupled with the integration of diverse senses that mainly permits comprehension of single concept (Kearney & Trull, 2011, pp234-289). Temporal lobes are situated at the side of the head on top of the ears and aids in the hearing activity, memory achievements, visual discernments and classification of the objects. Occipital lobes are the posterior section of the brain found at the back of the head and mainly aids in vision. Brain stem are connected to the spinal cord and mainly perform the function seeing and hearing with the assistance if the heart rate swallowing reflexes, stimulation of the Automatic Nervous System in regard to controlling sweating, digestion, temperature and blood pressure. It also aids in the determination of the level of alertness, sleep and performance of vestibular in regard to sensing of the individual’s balance (Dziegielewski & Leon, 2001, pp123-167). Cerebellum is mainly positioned at the underlying base of the skull and aids in the coordination of the voluntary movement balance and corresponding equilibrium and in the actions of particular memory with an assistance of the reflex motor. Historical evidence is that of the Phineas Gage (1823-1860) who was the victim of a terrible accident in the year 1848. His injuries aided the underlying scientists in comprehending more details concerning the brain and human behavior (Dziegielewski & Leon, 2001, pp123-167). The electroencephalographic abnormality is common in particular psychopathic patients with a history of aggressive behavior that results to the secondary kind of the brain damage (Dziegielewski & Leon, 2001, pp123-167). Considerable correlation of the electroencephalographic abnormalities with particular psychiatric symptoms, which underscores the likelihood that neurological disease of the brain possess behavioral consequences. An abnormal EEG is a hallmark of the neurologic condition. Numerous conditions is normally associated with the cause of the abnormal EEG besides but in case the pattern of the underlying abnormality depicts epilepsy then the abnormal EEG is said to be not having seizure disorder. The existing of the EEG abnormality among the psychopaths and children with serious behavior disorder is above fifty percent. In regard to the schizophrenic patients, the underlying incidence is between twenty four percent to forty percent. This depicts the existence of the neurologic conditions of the prevailing conditions. TAQ 3 Flow Diagram of flight response Underlying circuit or neurons or corresponding nerve cells aids in process of the information among cells through synapse thus resulting to the brain controls of the human behavior and feeling. This prevailing system is mainly based on the electrical and corresponding neurochemical activity is undertaken by the brain (Dziegielewski & Leon, 2001, pp123-167. Chemical neurotransmitters are mainly released by the presynaptic cells into the corresponding synapses which correspondingly permit electrical signal that pass to the other cell. During the stress response, the hypothalamus secretes diverse hormones such as corticotropin-releasing hormone, which stimulate the body’s pituitary gland via the assistance of brain (Kearney & Trull, 2011, pp234-289). Brain stimulates synapses to release neurochemical activity. Stresses then sets off the neutrons within the hypothalamus a section of the brain, which releases hormone called corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH). CRH is subsequently transported to the underlying pituitary gland which is a section of the brain that secretes another kind hormone called adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which then stimulates the underlying adrenal cortex (Dziegielewski & Leon, 2001, pp123-167). Summary of the process of hormone secretion from the hypothalamus during the stress response During the stress response, the hypothalamus secretes diverse hormones such as corticotropin-releasing hormone and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH, which stimulate the body’s pituitary gland (Gallagher, 2002, pp123-234). When an individual body is stressed it normally triggers a hormonal response within the body commonly known hypothalamus-pituitary –adrenal (HPA) axis (Dziegielewski & Leon, 2001, pp123-167). Stresses that can either be physical or psychological normally sets off the neutrons within the hypothalamus a section of the brain, which releases hormone called corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH). CRH is subsequently transported to the underlying pituitary gland which is a section of the brain that secretes another kind hormone called adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which then stimulates the underlying adrenal cortex (Gallagher, 2002, pp123-234). This is the entire overview of the prevailing stress response within the human body in regard to the secretion of the cortisol. In order to maintain the system in balance the underlying negative feedback system is within the play (Dziegielewski & Leon, 2001, pp123-167). This is typically the ways that are relatively higher levels of the cortisol trigger the hypothalamus in the reduction of its output of the CRH that subsequently lowers the underlying levels of the ACTH and corresponding cortisol. Stress response is normally intended for limited duration and the corresponding catabolic and immunosuppressive impacts are homeostatic devoid of the severe outcome. TAQ 4 Effects of drugs on behavior Drugs of abuse normally change the way individuals think, feel and behave since it disrupt the neurotransmission. Neurotransmission is the main process of communication amidst brains cells. An individual’s experience who abuses drug depicts the functional responsibility of specific neurotransmitter which corresponding disrupts the entire activity of the body. Neurotransmitters Every person neuron manufactures possess either one or more neurotransmitters namely the dopamine, serotonin and corresponding acetylcholine. Moreover, every neurotransmitter is related with specific impacts that mainly rely on their distribution among the underlying brain’s diverse functional locations (Gallagher, 2002, pp123-234). Effects of neurotransmitters Neurotransmitter’s effect relies on the stimulations and corresponding dampens activity within the prevailing target neutrons. Opioid drugs mainly the heroin and OxyContin chemically resemble within the brain’s natural opioids adequately in order to engage and stimulate their prevailing specialized receptors. Heroin Heroin normally stimulates numerous receptors than the ones that the brain utilizes within the normal cycle of the endorphin and enkephalin release and corresponding uptake thus resulting to large amplification of the opioid activity. Marijuana and hashish Marijuana and hashish mimic cannabinoid neurotransmitters are significant to the operation of the anndamide. The attachment to the underlying receptors for the acetylcholine aids in the formation and functioning of the neurotransmitter in regard to the cholinergic system (Dziegielewski & Leon, 2001, pp123-167). Long-term effects of drugs on behavior Long term alteration commence as an adjustments in order to compensate for the drug-induced escalations within the neurotransmitter signaling concentrations. Drug tolerance basically develops due to the sending of cells that consequently reduce that quantity of the neurotransmitter as they are produce and release or corresponding receiving cells withdraw receptors of their underlying sensitivity (Gallagher, 2002, pp123-234). The associated alterations recalibrate the brain’s sensitivity to the opioid stimulation downwards to the state where the prevailing organ requires additional stimulation of the drug to function normally devoid of the drug thus making the extraction to occur. Adaptations of the substance exposure elicits within an individual change the prevailing functioning of the neurons that subsequently changes corresponding operation of the neutral circuits that neutrons normally operate (Kearney & Trull, 2011, pp234-289). Chronic substance abuse normally results in the development of complex set of the physiological and corresponding neurological adaptations. TAQ 5 Occupational stress and workplace health have become issues of massive concern in the Western societies. Given the value of work in this society, the amount of time spent at work and the present changes that are mainly affecting the nature of the work appear to be increasing the work stress. Rapidly changing global economy, organizations now operate in cultures of increased speed, efficiency and corresponding competition. Consequently, economic imperatives and the need to retain competitive advantage had resulted in the restructuring and uncertainty. For instance, workplaces are constantly being downsized, small organizations are merging or corresponding being subsumed by larger more competitive organizations, and change is the solely constant (Olson, 2006, pp177-235). These changes to the nature of work coupled with the definitional alterations within the legislation, have paved the way for an alarming rise in regard to the claims that are associated with the chronic stress within the workplace. Stress in Western societies are mainly related to the experience of the traumatic and corresponding life threatening event mainly violence, injury and underlying critical incident. Occupations most at risk of experiencing these kind of events encompasses police and police officers, medical and corresponding paramedical professionals, banking staff and the prevailing community care employees. Stress is the personal experience that is normally caused by pressure or corresponding demands on an individual and effects upon the individual’s capability to cope with perception of that capability. Nevertheless, work-related stress normally occurs when there is a mismatch amidst the job and resources and capabilities of the individuals’ worker to meeting those demands. Subjective and self-reported assessments of stress are mainly valid when objective data (Olson, 2006, pp177-235). The substantive factors within the western societies that cause stress in the profession job include demands, control, relationships, change and the corresponding role. There exist distinct connections amidst work-related stress and a variety of the physical and mental disorders despite the underlying difficulties of proving a direct causal link due to the majority of diseases and syndromes commonly attributed to stress have multiple causes (Gallagher, 2002, pp123-234). Western societies normally have numerous cases of effects of work-related stress on the ill-health operate within the physiological, cognitive, emotional and corresponding behavioral ways. Stress continues to demand attention with the workplaces stress becoming more costly (Plante, 2006, pp 176- 234). Demands normally cause stress in the places of job and it is mainly emanates from the factors related to the intrinsic such as the working conditions. The main working conditions that are emanates from demand and results to stress in profession job in the western societies include noise, temperature, lighting, shift of work, long and unsociable hours and corresponding workload. Controls in regard to the extent of autonomy of an individual in undertaking job, low levels of the jib controls typically linked to the high levels of stress in the profession job in western societies (Olson, 2006, pp177-235). Relationship with the superiors, subordinates and corresponding colleagues contributes to an individual’s stress levels coupled with the low levels of trust and assistance thus escalating stress. Moreover, the conflict, harassment and bullying within the workplace are normally connected to the heightened stress. The way in which the change is normally introduced, administered and communicated to the staff within the western societies greatly impact on the levels of stress since the unnecessary or corresponding badly planned change results in regard to excess pressure on the workers. Stress is also triggered when a person does not possess a clear comprehension of their role in the organization thus resulting to conflict amidst roles or corresponding ambiguity with regards to the underlying position and degree of responsibility over other individuals. Amount of assistance and corresponding job training available coupled with encouragement, sponsorship and resources offered by the colleagues and management (Gallagher, 2002, pp123-234). Effects of the work-related stress in regard to the ill-health in the western societies normally operate in numerous means namely physiological means that mainly entail nervousness, endocrinal and immunological reactions in the body that results to symptoms of the physical and mental illness (Plante, 2006, pp 176- 234). Cognitive means working conditions and underlying situations are normally interpreted by the individual’s stressful and pathogenic. Emotional means are significant incidents and are experienced in the form of debilitating, dangerous and life threatening. Cost associated with the stress in the workplace and corresponding claims for psychological injury is spiraling. Consequently, occupational stress and workplace health have become bigger issues within Western societies. Profession job stress in Western societies is mainly due to the psychological injury and corresponding management strategies that are presently adopted in regard to the response to the occupational stress. Assessment of the potential of injury management practices to work stress. Injury management involves the early maintenance of an injured worker within the workplace and corresponding effective management of the injury. Bibliography Kearney, C. A., & Trull, T. J. (2011). Abnormal psychology and life: a dimensional approach. Belmont, CA, Wadsworth Pub Co. Gallagher, M. (2002). Handbook of Psychology, Volume 3, Biological Psychology Volume 3, Biological Psychology. Hoboken, NJ, John Wiley & Sons. http://public.eblib.com/EBLPublic/PublicView.do?ptiID=151321userid=^u. Dziegielewski, S. F., & Leon, A. M. (2001). Social work practice and psychopharmacology. New York, N.Y., Springer. Olson, R. P. (2006). Mental health systems compared: Great Britain, Norway, Canada, and the United States. Springfield, Ill, Thomas. Plante, T. G. (2006). Mental disorders of the new millennium. Westport, Conn, Praeger. http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=226248. Read More