Download You have 20 minutes to write a clear and cogent response to the

You have 20 minutes to write a well-organized and cogent response to the following
question:
What would be a neurobiological explanation and appropriate treatment of the following
disorders?
Major Depression
Schizophrenia?
Also discuss how both genetic and environmental factors may contribute to these two
disorders.
Point one: Major depression is explained by too little serotonin in the brain or synapses.
(No point for a wrong neurotransmitter, or just generally saying a neurotransmitter)
Point two: Must mention that drugs have been developed that prevent the reabsoption of
serotonin in the synapses. (Can give a point if they don’t mention reabsorption, but do
say that the medication will keep more serotonin in the brain)
Point three: Schizophrenia is believed to be caused by an over abundance of dopamine in
the brain. (No points for neurotransmitter in general or the wrong neurotransmitter)
Point four: Treatment for schizophrenia involves medications that block dopamine
receptors. (Can give point if they just say medication prevents too much dopamine
pouring into the brain)
Point five: Mention that research (such as family studies) provides evidence that both of
these disorders may be inherited. (They may use statistics to support, but not necessary)
Point six: Explain that environmental factors – such as socio-economic factors, stressful
life events if present along with the genetic predisposition can together create the
disorder.
Depression explained from a neurobiological perspective maintains that too little
serotonin remains in the brain causing a chemical imbalance, which leads to a variety of
depressive symptoms. To treat this condition drugs have been developed that prevent the
reabsorption of serotonin in the synapse. Consequently more serotonin remains in the
brain.
Schizophrenia is believed to be caused by over abundance of dopamine in the brain.
Neurobiological psychologists have treated schizophrenics with a medication that blocks
dopamine receptors. This has reduced significantly the dysfunctional symptoms of
schizophrenia, although these medications can have some undesirable side effects.
Family studies are based on the idea that if genes influence a trait, close relatives should
share that trait more often than distant relatives. There is significant evidence that both
schizophrenia and depression are passed on genetically. It is important to note, however,
that this only creates a pre-disposition to the disease. Environmental factors will also
play a part.
The diasthetic stress model of mental disorders suggests that environmental stresses,
socio-economic factors and life events can be the factors that cause a predisposition to
develop into this disorder. On the other hand, if these stresses are not present that
predisposition may never develop into a mental disorder.
You have 20 minutes to write a well-organized and cogent response to the following
question:
Describe the functions of the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, occipital lobe, and parietal lobe.
Also, briefly discuss the case of Phineas Gage in terms of which areas of his brain were
damaged and the effects of that damage.
Point one: The frontal lobe is responsible for voluntary movement, goal directed
behavior, concentration and appropriate emotional experiences, also coordinates
messages from other lobes. (Should mention goal directed behavior and at least one
other function)
Point two: temporal lobe – is important in visual tasks – such as recognizing faces.
It receives and processes information from the ears, contributes to balance and
equilibrium, and regulates emotion—like anxiety, pleasure, and anger, and motivation.
It also contributes to understanding and comprehending language. (Need to mention at
least two from this list)
Point three: The occipital lobe is responsible for processing visual information. It allows
us to experience shapes, color and motion.
Point four: The parietal lobe – receives sensory information from throughout the body.
Also seems to control spatial abilities.
Point five: area of Phineas brain that was damaged was the frontal lobe. The tamping
rod separated the limbic system from the frontal lobe.
Point six: The effects of the damage to the frontal lobe involved Phineas’ inability to be
an effective leader, to perform complex tasks and regulate emotions appropriately.
(This would be enough for a point)
They may mention he would fly into rages, he was unable to lead his men in the
workplace and his personality had changed considerably, so that his friends said he was
not the same man he was. They might also mention that there was no damage to his
motor (movement) area or memory, indicating that the parts of the brain that controls
these areas were not damaged.
You have 20 minutes to write a well-organized and cogent response to the following
question:
Compare and contrast the functions of the left and right hemispheres of the cerebral
cortex. What role does the corpus callosum play in this functioning? Finally, what were
the reasons for, and the results of, split brain operations?
Point one: The left hemisphere is primarily for language. Damage to the left hemisphere
will often result in severe language programs. The left hemisphere seems to excel at
verbal tasks – spoken or printed words – It is the analytical, logical, rational and
systematic part of the brain. (They must have at least two of these attributes to get a
point)
Point two: The right hemisphere excels at visual and spatial tasks, images, non-verbal
understanding such as music, face recognition and the perception and expression of
emotion. (They must have at least two of these attributes to get a point)
Point three: The corpus callosum is a bundle of nerves that connects the right and left
hemispheres and allows them to communicate and work together.
Point four: Split-brain operations were done by neurosurgeons to relieve seizures in
severely epileptic patients.
Point five: When they did the split-brain operations, they severed the communications
between the two hemispheres. The left hemisphere is receiving information from the right
side of the body and visa versa. Because of the operation, the patients when shown
objects on the right side of their visual field can name the objects and they can pick the
hidden objects out by feeling with their right hand, but when the object is shown in the
left visual field they can pick the objects out by feeling with their left hand, but they can’t
say what the objects are. This is because the left visual field is being interpreted by the
right side of the brain and it doesn’t have language capacity.
(To get the point they must explain the left and right cross over)
Rubric:
Point one: Major depression is explained by too little serotonin in the brain
Point two: to treat this condition drugs have been developed that prevent the reabsorption
of serotonin in the synapse
Point three: Schizophrenia is believed to be caused by over abundance of dopamine in
the brain.
Point four: Treatment for this would involve medications that block dopamine receptors
Point five: There is some evidence that both of these disorders may be inherited. There
may be a gene that is passed on to offspring, but it is just the predisposition that is
inherited, if the environmental factors are not there, then they will not manifest
themselves.
Point six: environmental factors – talk about the diasthetic stress model, socio or
economic factors that may cause stress to set off the genetic predisposition.