Psychology I – 6 th per Tues, Apr 17 Did you know?? “2000-Arvid Carlsson, Paul Greengard and Eric Kandel share the Nobel Prize for their discoveries concerning signal transduction in the nervous system… Signal transduction occurs when a message from one nerve cell is transmitted to another through a chemical transmitter. It takes place at special points of contact, called synapses. Each nerve cell can have thousands of such contacts with other nerve cells. Carlsson, Greengard, and Kandel's research focuses on one type of signal transduction between nerve cells, known as slow synaptic transmission. Their discoveries have contributed to a greater understanding of the normal function of the brain as well as how disturbances in this signal transduction can give rise to neurologic and psychiatric diseases.” Please get out: Your textbook A writing implement Your notes for Ch 3, Sec 1 & 2 (The Secret Life of the Brain: The History of the Brain)

Today’s Agenda 1.Mood Disorders a.Depression 2.Ch 3, Sec 1 Neurotransmitters-finish To prepare for Class on Thurs, Apr 19 Read Ch 3, Sec 3 Take notes in your own style or use the notes on inetteacher

Chapter 3 BIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR The Big Idea: The nervous system, the brain, the endocrine system, and heredity shape human thoughts and behaviors. Essential Question: What are the major functions of the central nervous system? Objective: Identify and describe the functions of the nervous system.

Neurotransmitters: The Body’s Chemical Messengers Where are neurotransmitters stored? The firing of a neuron could be compared to what? What are four different types of neurotransmitters? What happens when acetylcholine amounts decline?

Neurotransmitters Acetylcholine- involved in the control of muscles; it is used by the spinal cord’s motor neurons and stimulates skeletal muscles. Involved in memory and learning When acetylcholine decreases, memory formation is impaired Too little associated with Alzheimer’s disease Dopamine- Involved in motor behavior Deficiency in dopamine levels plays some kind of in Parkinson’s Excess of dopamine might contribute to schizophrenia

Neurotransmitters Noradrenaline- Prepares the body for action To little of this may be a factor in depression Serotonin- Plays a role in regulating the mood Regulates pain Is in control of eating, arousal, and sleep To little of this may be a factor in depression

Types of Mood Disorders Mood disorders are characterized by mood changes that are inappropriate for the situation to which they are responding. Most people have mood changes that reflect the normal ups and downs of life, but mood changes that are inappropriate to a situation can signal a mood disorder. Some people are prone to depression because they suffered a real or imagined loss of a loved object or person in childhood Some believe that learned helplessness makes people prone to depression Others believe that some people are prone to depression because of their habitual style of explaining life events Three types: depression, bipolar disorder, and postpartum depression

Types of Mood Disorders: Major Depression The DSM-IV contains a list of symptoms to help diagnose The five or more of the symptoms are present for most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks: Feeling sad, empty, "blue" or in the dumps Losing interest/pleasure in your normal activities Significant weight loss or gain (change in 5% in a month) Sleep disturbances (too much/too little) Feeling physically restless or slowed down Fatigue or loss of energy Feeling worthless/Excessive guilt Inability to concentrate or make decisions Suicidal thoughts/plans/attempts

Explaining Mood Disorders Psychological Views The psychoanalytic view of depression connects the past to the present. Some people are prone to depression because they suffered a real or imagined loss of a loved object or person in childhood Learning theorists: “learned helplessness” makes people prone. Cognitive theorists: habitual style of explaining life events. Attribution theory: people assign different types of explanations to events, which affect self-esteem and self-efficacy. Beck suggests that people who are depressed have a negative view of themselves, their experiences, and their future.

Explaining Mood Disorders Biological Views Mood disorders occur more often in the close relatives of affected individuals than they do in the general population. Two neurotransmitters in the brain—serotonin and noradrenaline—may partly explain the connection between genes and mood.

Explaining Mood Disorders Biological and Psychological Factors A combination of factors is most likely at work.

Treatment of Mood Disorders Therapy AND/OR Medications: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) Selective Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors(SNRIs) Noradrenergic and Specific Serotonin Antidepressants (NaSSAs) Older tricyclic antidepressants (not going into detail on this one) Dopaminergic Monamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) (not going into detail on this one)

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) Popular SSRIs: Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, Paxil, Lexapro, Luvox Used to treat anxiety, mood, stress, and panic disorders How they work: SSRIs inhibit the reuptake of serotonin to the presynaptic neuron thereby increasing the amount of serotonin in the synapse, hence allowing more time for the serotonin to bind to the postsynaptic neuron and cause that neuron to fire Most Common Side Effects: vertigo, dizziness, insommnia, anorexia, anxiety, vomiting, and sexual dysfunction Introducted in the mid-1980’s (Carlson, & Freudenrich)

Selective Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors(SNRIs) Popular SNRIs: Effexor, Cymbalta, Pristiq Used to treat: depression, anxiety, social anxiety disorder, panic attacks How they work: Block the reuptake of norepinephrine and serotonin by binding to the presynaptic neuron the transporters of these neurotransmitters Most Common Side Effects: dry mouth, nausea, dizziness, sleepiness, insomnia, increased blood pressure, constipation, sexual dysfunction, excessive sweating, increased heart rate, difficulty urinating, heart palpitation, tremors, headache, changes in appetite, agitation or anxiety, abnormal vision, muscle weakness Introduced in the mid-1990s (Freudenrich & Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs ))

Noradrenergic and Specific Serotonin Antidepressants (NaSSAs) Popular NaSSAs: Remeron, Desyrel, Serzone, Bolvidion Used to treat: depression How they work: NaSSAs block negative feedback effects on serotonin and norepinephrine secretion by the presynaptic neuron. This increases the number of these neurotransmitters in the synpatic cleft. NaSSAs also block some serotonin receptors on the postsynaptic neuron, which increases serotonin neurotransmisson. Most common side effects: Dry mouth, drowsiness, weight gain, increased appetite Some Introduced in the mid-1980s, others more recently (Freudenrich)

Dopaminergic:Wellbutrin Used to treat: Depression SAD Stop smoking Wellbutrin inhibits the reuptake of Norepinephrine and Dopamine &

How should depression be treated?

Works Cited Carlson, Neil R. (1999). Foundations of Physiological Psychology, 4 th ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon. Freudenrich, Ph.D., Craig. "How Antidepressants Work" 20 September HowStuffWorks.com. 15 April Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs). (2012). Retrived from: 15 April The Secret Life of the Brain: History of the Brain. (2001). Retrieved from: n=50 16 April n=50