Biological Flashcards
(9 cards)
Evolutionary influences
- Humans behaviour has developed over millions of years to meet the demands of the environment.
- Darwins theory on states desirable genes are more likely to survive and passed on.
- which implies we form romantic relationships with people with traits that enhance successful offspring.
- Buss: Males likely attracted to younger females as it’s a sign of fertility, and females likely attracted to stronger males as it’s a sign of resourcefulness.
- Decisions are made via our evolutionary drives rather than free will decisions.
Localisation of Brain function
- Human brain is divided into different areas, different areas are responsible for different functions.
- The outer region of the brain is the cerebral cortex and it is divided into 4 lobes;
Frontal lobe controls thinking and personality
Parietal lobe controls sensory awareness
Temporal controls hearing
Occipital controls vision - Phineas Gage: endured sever damage to frontal lobe during accident. Phineas’ vision and hearing was not changed but his way of thought was changed severely.
- If a specific area is damaged a specific behaviour may be altered.
Neurotransmitters
- Neurons are excitable cells that communicate via a synapse through send in chemical messengers called neurotransmitters.
- Neurotransmitters control specific behaviours;
Serotonin controls mood
Dopamine controls reward
Oxytocin controls love levels. - Schneiderman: oxytocin levels were higher in new lovers than single people. Those with the highest levels remained together 6 months later.
- Specific behaviours are controlled by specific neurotransmitters and differing levels determine differing behaviours.
Assumptions applied to relationships
Evolutionary influences
- Darwins theory on states desirable genes are more likely to survive and passed on.
- Most desirable genes have increased chance of surviving and being passed down.
- Males and females tend to be attracted to those who traits that’ll enhance the chance of successful offspring.
- Buss research found Males tend to go for younger females as it is a sign of fertility, and Females tend to go for stronger males as it is a sign of resourcefulness.
- When people pick a mate they select based on traits that prioritise successful offspring.
Neurotransmitters
- Schneiderman oxytocin levels higher in newly couples than single, and those with highest levels remain together 6 months later.
- Higher oxytocin levels can imply the formation and duration of a relationship.
Appropriateness
N - Assumed to be biological. ‘LoBF’, specific areas control specific behaviours. e.g. frontal lobes thought to control mood regulation.
A - Assumed to be dysfunction in a biological system. ‘LoBF’, a dysfunction in frontal lobes causes bi-polar disorder.
A - The aim of therapy is to modify frontal lobes to reduce symptoms.
N - Psychosurgery is an invasive surgical procedure that corrects the brain via cutting or stimulating the area.
- Transorbital lobotomy, where after given anaesthetic you insert ice pick like instrument at top of eye socket to destroy fibres connecting frontal lobe to rest of brain.
L - Appropriate as it stands firm on LoBF idea of biological approach.
Psychosurgery - Early procedures
- brain involved in impulse control and mood regulation
- relieve distressing thoughts by cutting connection between frontal lobe and rest of brain
Prefrontal leucotomy
- Egas Moniz 1930s
- drill small hole in side of head
- insert ice pick like instrument, later redesigned into a wire ‘leucotome’
- destroy nerve fibres
Transorbital lobotomy
- Walter Freeman 1940s / 1950s
- give patient anaesthetic
- insert ice pick like instrument at top of eye socket
- destroy connections in frontal lobe
Psychosurgery - Modern procedure
- developed more sophisticated procedures over time to treat mental illnesses e.g. OCD, depression and eating disorders
- MRI scans used to pinpoint exact locations, to sever precise connections
Bilateral cingulotomy
- cingulate = monitors external stimuli and selects appropriate emotional response
- Scans show people with OCD have increased activity in cingulate
- reduce activity in cingulate behaviours
- heat up fine wire electrode and burn tissue away, or use gamma knife to focus radiation to target.
DBS
- stimulate instead of destroy
- connect electrodes to battery pack stored in collar bone.
- Stimulates Area 25 in brain, which controls emotions and mood
- Treat disorders like OCD and Eating disorders
Evaluation of Psychosurgery -
Ethics / Effectiveness
Informed consent 🔴
- early procedures done in mental asylums and prisons
- not valid consent as arguably not in the right state of mind
Irreversible damage 🔴
- effects cannot be reversed
- early procedures led to significant changes to patients cognitive capabilities such as memory loss
- as a result of early methods some people turned zombie like
- modern methods have reduced risk of severe damage to brain
- but procedures like DBS still can risk of long term side effects like seizures
Success 🟢
- cingulotomy 56%
- capsulotomy 67%
- Last resort for whom all other treatments failed and has helped people relieve their distressing thoughts
Treats cause 🟢
- cause is addressed by psychosurgery, rather than reducing symptoms
- if the cause is malfunctioning lobes, then by altering them it is removing the cause
- disorder should not return after treatment
Evaluation of biological approach
INURDS
Scientific 🟢
- standardised procedure and produces quantitative data. Scientific in experiment, manipulates IV, measures DV, controls CV and EV
- For example an experiment where IV - Serotonin and DV - depression, and other variables like age sex are controlled as well as quantitative data measured on serotonin levels.
- Standardise procedure easy to replicate ensuring reliability, Quantitative data is objective leading to internal validity, control of CVs and EVs allow cause + effect.
Useful 🟢
- Applied to create therapy like psychosurgery that can treat disorders.
- Capsulotomy to treat OCD has success rate of 67%. Last resort if other treatments fail.
- Benefits individual and society
Reducationalist 🔴
