chapter 4 body, brain, and health

Biopsychosociocultural model of health

Incorporates biological and psychological factors with social and cultural factors

left hemisphere functions

• sequential processing

• analytical thought

• logic

• language

• science and health

right hemisphere functions

• simultaneous processing

• holistic thought

• intuition

• creativity

• art and music

Puberty

The processes of biological change that result in an attaining sexual maturity and becoming capable of producing a baby

hyporesponsive

Teens need more stimulation to achieve the same level of satisfaction.

hyper responsive

adolescent brain has greater need for reward, which leads to more reward-seeking behaviors.

Neurocognitive maintenance

Regular upkeep of the brain (How?)

Neurocognitive reserve

Stockpile of neural resources that we save up over our lifetime

Compensation

Our ability to enlist the help of other neural resources when we are faced with a challenging task that our brain might not otherwise be able to manage

Health disparity

Exists when there is a difference in health status or health outcome that is associated with social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage

Culturally competent care

Care that is attuned to a patient’s diversity and the cultural factors that might affect health and health care

Neurogenesis

Process of generating new neurons

Hippocampus

Part of the brain involved in learning and memory

Adolescent growth spurt

• Triggered by an increase in the level of growth hormones circulating through the body during adolescence

• Girls’ peak rate of growth for height is 12 years, and for weight, it is 12.5 years.

• Boys’ peak rate of growth for height is 13.4 years, and for weight, it is 13.9 years.

iIncrease in rates of diabetes

High levels of sugar in the blood leading to various health problems

testosterone

male sex hormone that is made in the testicles

estrogen

ovaries make most estrogen hormones

Synaptogenesis

• Growth of synapses, during childhood

• synaptogenesis refers to the formation of synapses, e.g., the development of taste buds on the tongue

Synaptic pruning

Removal of unnecessary synapses

Developing brain has plasticity

Responsive to the individual’s experiences and can develop in a variety of ways (healthy and unhealthy)

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

Symptoms as bloating, moodiness, breast tenderness, and headaches

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PDD)

Symptoms severe enough to interfere with person’s ability to perform daily activities

Menopause

Ending of a woman’s menstrual periods in midlife

andropause

• syndrome associated with a decrease in sexual satisfaction or a decline in a feeling of general well-being with low levels of testosterone in older man.

  • Slowly decreasing levels of testosterone

  • Low libido

  • Fatigue and lack of energy

  • Erection problems

  • Memory problems

  • Loss of pubic hair

Osteoporosis

• Disease in which a serious loss of minerals leaves the bones fragile and easily fractured

• One-third of elderly adults who fracture a hip die within 1 year.

Osteoarthritis

Results from gradual deterioration of the cartilage that cushions the bones from rubbing against one another