Biological Approach

Neurons

Cells in the body that send electrochemical messages to one another, allowing us to respond to stimuli

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messages sent between neurons

Serotonin

Neurotransmitter responsible for regulation of mood

Dopamine

Neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of reward and pleasure

Excitatory Neurotransmitter

Neurotransmitters increasing the likelihood of a signal being passed along to the next neuron

Inhibitory Neurotransmitter

Neurotransmitters making it less likely that a signal will be passed to the next neuron

Agonist

a chemical that amplifies the effect of a neurotransmitter

Antagonist

a chemical that decreases the effect of a neurotransmitter

Synapses

Gaps between neurons

Neural network

a series of interconnected neurons allowing us to perform a behavior

Neuroplasticity

the brain’s ability to alter its structure after changes in your body or the environment

Dendritic branching

when your neutrons form new connections

Neural Pruning

whne the brain eliminates unnecessary neural connections

Cortical remapping

when the brain reorganizes its neural pathways to work better, often due to injury

Parts of neuroplasticity

dendritic branching, neural pruning, cortical remapping

Localization

the idea that different parts of the brain control different functions

fMRI

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, scans that track the flow of oxygenated blood to more active parts of the brain

PET

Positron Emission Tomography, detects an injection of radioactive sugar as active parts of the brain draw on energy

Old Brain

Brain stem & Cerebellum

Brain stem

responsible for involuntary functions like heartbeat and breathing

Cerebellum

responsible for coordinating movement, posture, and balance

Limbic System

Hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus

Hypothalamus

controls hunger, thirst, emotions, body temp, hormones, and sleep

Amygdala

plays a role in the fight or flight response

Hippocampus

highly important in creating and storing memories

Higher thinking

Cerebral Cortex

Cerebral Cortex

The largest part of the brain, responsible for complex thinking and reasoning

Hormones

Chemical messengers released by glands in the bloodstream to affect behavior and body functions

Hormones

Adrenaline, Testosterone, Oxytocin

Adrenaline

Hormone that helps the body respond to stressful, dangerous, or exciting situations

Testosterone

Hormone associated with male development, aggression, and dominance

Oxytocin

Hormone associated with feelings of bonding and trust

Pheromones

Chemicals released into the environment to send messages

DNA

genetic information in our cells that make us who we are

Genes

segments of DNA responsible for specific traits

Epigenetics

the study of how behavior and the environment affects gene expression

Twin studies

comparing the similarities between identical twins and the similarities between fraternal twins

Concordance rate

used to measure the percentage of twins that share a specific trait

Heritability rate

number indicating how much a certain trait is due to genes

Family studies

comparing relatives on a broader scale and across generations

Adoption studies

comparing adopted children to their adopted relatives and their biological relatives

Natural selection

individuals with genes that help them survive in their environment pass those genes to future generations, making those traits even more common

Social competition hypothesis

symptoms of depression are a strategy to avoid conflict and maintain social order

Evolution and mate selection

humans are attracted to physical characteristics that indicate good genes for reproduction

Evolution and jealousy

jealousy helps people ensure they retain their mate and pass on their genes

Evolution and fear/anxiety

fear and anxiety are reactions that protect humans from threats

Evolution and disgust

disgust is a reaction meant to protect us from disease and infection

Social Competition Hypothesis

group ststus improves through direct competition with other groups,k depression is likened to submissive behaviors to prevent injury

strengths of SCH

1.  able to explain the higher prevalence of depression in females than males. Given parental investment is greater for females, they’re more likely to adopt behavioral strategies that put their children first compared to males

2. Evidence from animal research

3. Depressed = more likely to avoid competition

Weaknesses of SCH

1. depression can be alleviated by adapting to a lower postition

2. Does not address cognitive or biochemical origins of depression

3. Reductionist