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Genetics and its effects
Functions and dysfunction of neurotransmitters
Functions and dysfunction of neurotransmitters
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Recommended: Genetics and its effects
Human consciousness is driven by simple electrical pulses and varying measures of specified chemicals. Neuroscience at the micro level of psychological studies precisely how the chemistry of the brain affects a person’s mood or behavior. However, ambiguity is a strong catalyst for creativity. There are many times that one simply cannot comprehend what another person is thinking. Though a person’s actions may be reliant upon previous experiences, a neurological approach is to hypothesize that personal and social behavior is entirely dependent on the careful chemical balance within a patient’s nervous system. A fact well known in the medical world is that many minor social or mental disorders are simply an imbalance of the chemicals found …show more content…
As antibiotics and vaccines were developed to battle certain diseases, fewer patients were kept in the hospital for those illnesses. Thanks to the threat of losing a war, Allied scientists collaborated in all fields to improve their technology. Neurochemistry benefitted greatly from this wildfire development. New processes and tools allowed for the isolation and study of compounds found within the cranial cavity and throughout the body. The mid-twentieth century witnessed the initial studies of two of the most important chemical compounds found in the body: nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). These two compounds assist in energy transfer through cells. Without NAD+ and ATP, human beings could not survive; energy would neither be spread between cells nor introduced to …show more content…
Historically speaking, dopamine was a response to doing something to further one’s survival. For example, dopamine would be released when a hunter-gatherer found a new fruit tree or killed a large animal. In the twenty-first century, his can relate to the excitement one feels when they do something as insignificant as finding a place to park their car or something as difficult as completing a marathon (Breuning, 2012). Some researchers proposed that dopamine receptor gene polymorphisms could have a link to an addiction to cigarettes. They found a link between certain polymorphisms and the rate of addiction to smoking. Nicotine acted as a replacement for dopamine in the participants who possessed the polymorphism, thus furthering their smoking habits (Vandenbergh,
Neuroscientists claim that due to unconscious brain activity, we are “biochemical puppets” (Nahmias). Through experiments conducted by neuroscientists like Itzhak Fried, neural activity is shown to occur before a conscious decision is made. Fried concluded that this was a predetermined occurrence
Volkows, N. D., & Muenke, M. (2012). Human Genetics. The genetics of addiction, Vol 131(6), 773-777. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00439-012-1173-3
Dopamine sends signals to other nerve cells in the brain, which regulates movement, motivation, emotion, and feelings of pleasure.
Curing addiction becomes harder and harder with each puff of a cigarette one takes. When nicotine is consumed, it communicates with the brain and is absorbed into receptor molecules, Doctors for years have undergone hundreds of experimental studies on the human brain to help understand just how these chemicals neurologically affect the brain, and which sectors of the brain are affected. This goal has not yet been accomplished due to the large amounts of receptor cells in the brain. In a study performed at the California Institute of Technology performed by Andrew Tapper, Professor Allan Collins from the University of Colorado, Several colleagues, and Henry A. Lester, the Caltech University Bren Professor of Biology revealed that nicotine affects a small subunit of the brain called alpha four. This subunit of the brain increases levels of pleasure, response, sensitization, and increases tolerance of multiple doses of the drug nicotine.
Wang, G., Smith, L., Volkow, N., Telang, F., Logan, J., Tomasi, D., & ... Fowler, J. (2012). Decreased dopamine activity predicts relapse in methamphetamine abusers. Molecular Psychiatry, 17(9), 918-925. doi:10.1038/mp.2011.86
In class we have frequently discussed the I-function and how it relates to the body and the brain. Is the I-function a separate soul? Is it simply an extension of our DNA and genes? In addition, we have fretted over the I-function and its relationship to our behavior or personality. Where exactly the I-function is, we have also wondered. In this paper I will explore personality, the I-function and their relationship to genes and chemical changes that take place within the body. I will mainly look at how neurotransmitters affect overall happiness in an individual. How these chemicals are regulated by genes and by the environment, will also be questioned. Overall I will look at what makes us who we are. Are we simply programmed for life by our genes or do they even matter at all?
The biological perspective examines how brain processes and other bodily functions regulate behaviour. It emphasizes that the brain and nervous system are central to understanding behaviour, thought, and emotion. It is believed that thoughts and emotions have a physical basis in the brain. Electrical impulses zoom throughout the brain’s cells, releasing chemical substances that enable us to think, feel, and behave. René Descartes (1596–1650) wrote an influential book (De Homine [On Man]) in which he tried to explain how the behaviour of animals, and to some extent the behaviour of humans, could be like t...
Drug addiction is often characterized as being a complex brain disease that causes compulsive, uncontrollable, drug craving, seeking and use without any regards to the consequences they may bring upon themselves, or society. As long as the brain is exposed to these large amounts of dopamine on the reward system, it will inevitably develop a tolerance to the current dopamine levels, which it is receiving, lessening the pleasure the user will experience. In order to satisfy the brains “reward...
Drugs seem to cause surges in dopamine neurotransmitters and other pleasure brain messengers. However, the brain quickly adapts and these circuits desensitize, which allows for withdrawal symptoms to occur (3). Drug addiction works on some of the same neurobiological mechanisms that aid in learning and memories (3). "This new view of dopamine as an aid to learning rather than a pleasure mediator may help explain why many addictive drugs, which unleash massive surges of the neurotransmitter in the brain, can drive continued use without producing pleasure-as when cocaine addicts continue to take hits long after the euphoric effects of the drug have worn off or when smokers smoke after cigarettes become distasteful." (4)
Dopamine is a reward chemical in the brain which rewards us every time we do something positive. Addiction comes from that chemical and can be created from various activities. Someone might enjoy jumping off a cliff, eating food, taking drugs or even play video games. Every time your brain enjoys something, dopamine is release and you start feeling good. The reason drug addiction is more complex, your brain will create more dopamine the more drugs you take. Eventually, your body will fight off the foreign product and dopamine will be created in too high dosage. Your body will become addicted to the dopamine, not the drug as previously thought by doctors.
My love for neuroscience began long before my passion for neuroscience research. My favorite aspect of psychology since my initial encounter in Advanced Placement Psychology in high school is the nervous system and brain function in relation to behavior. It is fascinating how something so small serves such an extremely important and vital role in our body and behavior. The intriguing details of the brain fuel my desire to learn more about its functions. After completing the Biological Basis of Behavior and Neural System Courses at the University of Maryland, my knowledge as well as curiosity for the brain heightened.
The Biological Theory of mental and psychiatric disorders revolves around the brain, and that these disorders are illnesses, or diseases that cause disruptions in the brain to produce the effects of the disorder. This theory says that the brain has specific physical, chemical, or structural problems that cause abnormal behavior. The increase of technological and pharmaceutical advancements, intervention has taken the course of chemical treatment of disorders. Biological theory focuses on the brains function and dysfunction, known as neuroanatomy, neurochemistry, and genetics. Psychiatrists focus on the role of neurotransmitters and how they affect human behavior, which leads to a very loose definition of a cure, psychiatric medications. These medications correct the dysfunctions in the brain by changing the amount of neurotransmitters. However, these medications lack in efficacy in diseases like schizophrenia, where the medication only suppresses the symptoms and not the disorder itself. (Schwartz and Corcoran, 64-88).
One scientist, Damasio, provided an explanation how emotions can be felt in humans biologically. Damasio suggested, “Various brain structures map both the organism and external objects to create what he calls a second order representation. This mapping of the organism and the object most likely occurs in the thalamus and cingulate cortices. A sense of self in the act of knowing is created, and the individual knows “to whom this is happening.” The “seer” and the “seen,” the “thought” and the “thinker” are one in the same.” By mapping the brain scientists can have a better understandi...
Facts are defined as a true knowledge component. Disagreement, however, would be the lack of consensus or correspondence. If experts in a discipline are exposed to the same true facts, then how and why does disagreement occur? By relying on the areas of knowledge of natural sciences and psychology, the answer to that question will be examined. These two cases give different perspective to that controversy considering that disagreement in natural sciences is negatively viewed as a fallacy since facts in this areas are thought to be either right or wrong and contradictions could lead to a loss of faith in science. In contrast, to disagreements in psychology are viewed as different valid interpretations giving us a better insight on a specific
Humans are environmentally and genetically predisposed to developing a motivated addictive behavior. Addiction is a brain disease and a behavior. All behaviors are choices. Choices that adolescences make at a young age directly affect the outcomes of their futures. Many factors contribute to an adolescence becoming an addict or exhibiting a drug seeking behavior. Nearly all drugs of abuse increase dopamine release. Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter in drug abuse and addiction. Dopamine plays a role in reward motivated behaviors, motor control and important hormones. It’s known as the “feel good hormone” which is why people abuse drugs that increase the release of dopamine. Since life is unpredictable, our brains have evolved the ability to remodel themselves in response to our experiences. The more we practice an activity the more neurons developed in order to fine-tune that activity causing addictive behaviors to be detrimental.