Physiological Psychology - Assignment Example

Physiological Psychology Physiological Psychology Sam awakens from his sleep by a frightening dream, where his car goes out of control down a mountain road. While psychological exploration suggests that the dream was associated with an emotional sense of powerlessness, a neurophysiologic evaluation of his brain during his dream state would probably reveal what neurophysiological and neurochemical changes were occurring in different parts of the brain? Response: In the study of Physiological Psychology, frightening dream is associated with neurophysiological and neurochemical changes occurring in the brain of a human being. Amen, one of the psychologists, suggested neurophysiological and neurochemical changes occur when one is controlling his or her posture and movements while sleeping. This change comes as a result of mammalian sleep entailing synchronized sleep with high amplitude, and accompanied by the low frequency waves availed in the electroencephalogram. From the study of rapid eye movements termed as REM, absence of tonic muscle is evidence and specifically this happens when one is having a deep sleep associated with dreams. According to Amen, neurophysiological and neurochemical changes result from the postural atonia effect that comes when an inhibitory system is twisted, hence, inhibiting spinal moteneurons termed as postsynaptic of tonic activation (Amen, 1998). Rapid contractions of limbs enable one to experience somatic afferent volleys with motoneurons effects and ascending spinal pathways as in the case of Sam and this leads to musculaturation and synchronization of rapid eye movements, when one is dreaming. In the study of Amen, we found that continuous streaming of extralabyrinthine impulses is transformed into rhythmic changes within the vestibular membrane, which accounts to regular occurrence of cholinergically that is induced in the burst of rapid eye movements. The study of this impulse shows that cholinergic reticular neurons of a human being fire asynchronously, hence, triggering the bulb-spinal inhibitory system, which is the part of the ventricular system within the body of the a human being. From the observation of Amen studies, we realize that this is the condition Sam was undergoing when he was awakened from his sleep through a frightening dream. Emotional scenes of lack of power within the brain experienced by Sam were bi-products and characteristics of neurophysiological and neurochemical changes, as seen from the articulation of Amen writings. When Sam realizes that his car was out of control, his brain was in a condition of making a decision of what to do next as the next alternative. Nervousness is one of the effects that each and everyone experiences, especially when an accident is about to occur. The mind of a human being has five figurative senses, a sense of feeling being one of them. Sam was in this situation and had to take the next step to protect his life. When nervousness takes its course, it causes the muscles and brain of human being strains, hence, affecting the whole body operational system. The dream of powerless emotional feeling is articulated in such scenario Sam had, since being a bi-product of an accident happening in a dream. Sam in his dream is undergoing eye rapid movement termed as REM. This is an examination of the neurophysiological consequences, entailing the acute circulation of oxygen and chronic decompression stress which is associated with exposure to hyperbaric oxygen evolving from the effect of neurophysiological and neurochemical. In a dream entailing a car accident, absence of tonic muscle is evident and this has the influence of neurophysiological and neurochemical changes revolving and accompanied in the dream that Sam is experiencing. 2. Karen has been worried about ongoing financial problems, relationship problems, and periodically suffers from frequent headaches, colds and flues. How would biological activity in the Hypothalamus, the Pituitary Gland, the Thymus Gland, the Adrenal Gland and the Autonomic Nervous System change in relation to the chronic stress affecting Karen’s health? Response The body of a human being is composed of a group of glands that in turns forms endocrine system, a system that maintains a stable internal environment. Endocrine system produces hormones that are useful in the chemical regulation available within the body tissues as well as glands. The endocrine system is composed of different glands including the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, adrenal gland, pancreas, ovaries, and testes, the thymus gland, pineal gland, and kidneys. The endocrine system as mentioned earlier produces hormones, which are used for chemical regulation. These hormones do not pass through ducts or tubes of the body system, thus, they are secreted directly into the body’s environment through a diffusion process as well as through the bloodstream. Moreover, the adrenal gland is considered as an essential facet of the stress - response organ within the body of a human being. The adrenal gland is an organ found in both hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic-adrenomeduallary system that forms the whole structure of Endocrine system. When one experiences a stressful moment, his or her adrenal weight is increased thus, leading to the growth of cellular hyperplasia or hypertrophy. Stress in the body of a human being is mainly brought by the effect of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis and the sympatho-adrenomedullary axis, which serves as primary organist responsible for maintenance of homeostasis during stressful moments. Thus, when the essence of anxiety and depression occurs, one experiences the effect of stress within his or her body. From the findings of Carlison, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis found in the hypophysiotropic neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus, secretes and releases hormones known as corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and vasopressin into the vessels of median eminence. The work of these hormones is to provide anterior pituitary into the systemic exchange, hence, promoting drenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) into the passage. Carlison studied the movement of this gland and came up with a solution and the cause of stress that a human being experiences during this time. Through his studies we found that chronic stress that is induced in the brain of a human being due to acute of oxygen and alterations of the environment, inhibits depressions due to anxiety of human being (Carlson, 2008). Everyone in this universe complains about stress as one experienced by Karen. Stress comes as a result of adrenal gland enlargement, shrinkage of the thymus gland, and ulceration of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract within the body endocrine system. Karen is undergoing relationship stress moments and financial problems that have exhibited stress. As termed by Carlison, Her adrenal weight is on an increase level, thus, leading to the growth of cellular hyperplasia or hypertrophy, one of the effects of anxiety and depression. Frequent headaches, colds and flues characterize endocrine hailing since the system is affected in advance and due to the secretion of hormones, the body has to experience changes as signs of healing. The body of a human being exhibits a sense of feeling and out of changes within the body normal system operation, the automatic nervous system is triggered acting as the realtor. Karen’s body has to experience all these changes as a response, hence, affecting her body condition. The health of a human being depends on the normal system functioning and the surrounding environment and if changes occur, it affects the whole processes too. 3. Sometimes James seems very energetic, enthusiastically engages in work activities, talks loudly at social functions, yet at other times can be angry and verbally abusive toward others, and then at other times, James seems extremely lethargic, withdrawn, sleeps in his room all day, and says he is very discouraged about life. What are the possible differences in James’s physiology if his behavioural fluctuations were due to neurochemical activity of his Limbic System and his Frontal Cortex versus the possibility that they could be due to an imbalance of Thyroid Gland secretions? Response: The body of a human being at sometimes may experience insomnia as well as brain syndromes, causing a stressful moment to anyone. Carlson, one of the psychologists, believes that the impairment of vasoconstrictor that alternates variety of circumstances within the body system, leads to stress, shock and inflammation, one of the serotonin disorders. The effect of stress impairment and the availability of serotonin effect restrain the production of mitochondrial energy in the body system. Thus, this effect increases the shock and stress of a human being in that schizophrenia accumulates within the system, one of the stress carriers. The effect of schizophrenia, as well as depression, leads to defectiveness during sleeping moment. This is due to the increase in the body’s energy level, hence, improving the quality of sleep one is having. This is an operation that usually experienced by many people suffering from limbic system problems. This is an effect that articulates the brightness of human brains, hence, affecting normal functioning. James is suffering physiological from stressful moment which is articulated by the secretions of his glands. We learn from his behaviours that when he is very energetic and enthusiastic, his body is at ease and able to manage the level of his stress. As per Askew study, we found that stressful moment comes as a result of adrenal gland enlargement, shrinkage of the thymus gland, and ulceration of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract within the body endocrine system. It is from this fact that consideration of James’s condition is regarded as a short term providential that undergoes changes with the environment (Askew, 1995). The imbalance of Thyroid Gland secretions is what causes James to feel extremely lethargic, withdrawn, sleeps in his room all day, and says he is very discouraged about life. This is brought by the essence of endocrine affections leading to abnormal operation. The neurochemical activity of his Limbic System and Frontal Cortex versus is as a result of stress that comes from changes of somatic afferent volleys with motoneurons effects and ascending spinal pathways, thus, leading to musculaturation and synchronization of rapid eye movements effect. James undergoes all these changes but they vary accordingly depending on his mood and condition. 4. Sandy has been taking Antipsychotic medications for her delusional thinking and irrational behaviour, but she has started to suffer from motor tremors. What neurotransmitters and what parts of the brain are most likely involved in her Schizophrenic symptoms? Response: Schizophrenia is one of psychosis disease typified by a marked thought disturbance within the body system, as well as apparent sensorium (Amen, 1998). These neurotransmitters schizophrenia includes Glutamate, serotonin, and dopamine as the main parts of the disease. Serotonin is an endogenous hallucinogen, thus, its increases operational level within the brain causing schizophrenia. However, the study of schizophrenia shows that a Glutamate exhibits excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, and hypofunction of GABAergic interference NMDA (N-Methyl D-Aspartic acid) receptors, and this due to low glycine levels in the brain, which indeed causes disinhibition of neuronal function, thus, schizophrenia occurs Sandys brain is experiencing schizophrenia effects, which is accompanied by the hippocampus, temporal lobes and the frontal lobes, the main carriers of schizophrenia disorder. According to administration of anti-psychotics, neurochemical changes block dopamine receptors located in the mesocortical and mesolimbic of the body systems leads to dopamine production and metabolism process largely unaffected, hence, the activation of adenyl cyclase caused by dopamine is inhibited. Adenyl cyclase is an enzyme whose activation causes increased intracellular levels of cAMP (adenosine monophosphate), thus, if it is inhibited, the levels of intracellular cAMP increase. The cAMP influences most of the intracellular neuronal activity. Most of the antipsychotic drugs are D2-receptor antagonists. Some neuroleptics, such as clozapine, are inverse agonist at serotonin2A receptors located on neurons that release dopamine in the limbic system, striatum and frontal cortex. Amphakines protect GABAergic neurons form neurotoxic insults, partly by mobilizing BDNF (Brain-derived neurotropic factor). This causes the level of BDNF to increase in the brain. This is what is affecting Sandy at large. 5. What brain activity, behavioural features and psychological disorders would Dr. Daniel Amen probably find if he were to conduct SPECT scan evaluations of “Kim, who has dysfunctional activity in the Deep Limbic System, Andy, who demonstrates over activity in the Cingulate Gyrus, Pam, who shows reduced activity in the Prefrontal Cortex, and Jill, who has abnormal activity in the Basal Ganglia? Response: As for Kim who has dysfunctional activity in the deep limbic system, Dr. Daniel Amen would find the following behavioural features and psychological disorders if he conducted a SPECT scan. There would be decreased cerebral blood flow to the limb system, prefrontal cortices and the paralimbic system. Also, increased levels of activity will be observed in the left temporal lobes. This decreased cerebral blood flow causes decreased brain activity in the prefrontal cortices and the limbic and paralimbic systems, which consequently causes diminished attention or attention deficit, and symptoms of depression such as impaired emotional and cognitive responses. The following will be observed in Andy who has over activity in the cingulate gyrus. Increased blood flow to the circumventricular organs and the cingulate cortex located on the medial aspects of the cerebral hemispheres. This signifies increased level of activity in the cingulate cortex, which causes ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), emotional instability, irritability, increased awareness, anterograde amnesia and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The following will be observed in Pam who has reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex. Decreased blood flow to the anterior portions of the cerebral cortices will be observed. This indicates hypoactivity in the prefrontal cortex. The hyperactivity causes depression, akinesia, schizophrenia, ADHD, impaired cognitive functions, bipolar disorder and incoordination of movements. The following will be observed in Jill who has over activity in the basal ganglia. Increased blood flow to the internal capsule, corpus callosum, putamen, caudate nucleus, Globus pallidus located inferior to the cortical mantle, substantia nigra and the subthalamic nucleus; would be observed. This increase in blood flow indicates that the level of activity and metabolism in the following systems are increased: nigrostriatal dopaminergic, GABAergic and intrastriatal system. This causes hyperkinetic conditions such as arthritis, ballism and chorea. This leads to uncoordinated involuntary movements, which affect balance, walking gait and posture. References Amen, D.G. (1998). Change Your Brain Change Your Life. New York, NY: Three Rivers Press. Askew E. (1995). Environmental and physical stress and nutrient requirements. USA: Oxford University Publishers. Carlson, N. (2008). Foundations of Physiological Psychology, 7th edition. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.  Read More