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Examining the Biological Side of Psychology

Examining the Biological Side of Psychology

Biology is an important part in a psychology course. Psychobiology is the area of psychology that focuses on the biological foundations of behavior and mental processes. The affects of drug addictions, behavioral disorders, sleep disturbances, memory, alterations in conscious awareness, and pain are all examples of the necessity of psychobiology during the biology chapters.

Neurotransmitters are chemicals released by the synaptic vesicles that travel across the synaptic space and affect adjacent neurons. Major neurotransmitters can affect everything from movement to schizophrenia to memory. Acteylcholine affects arousal, attention, memory, motivation, and movement. But too much of this neurotransmitter can cause spasms and tremors while too little may cause paralysis and torpor. Dopamine, an inhibitor, inhibits a wide range of behavior and emotions including pleasure. It is also implicated in schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease. Another inhibitor, serotonin, reduces virtually all activities. It is important for sleep onset, mood, and eating behavior. Norepinephrine affects arousal, wakefulness, learning, memory, and mood. Endorphins are an extremely important neurotransmitter. They inhibit the transmission of pain messages, or in other words, endorphins are the body’s natural painkiller.

Drug abuse can alter every aspect of that person’s life. Substance abuse is defined as a pattern of drug use that diminishes the ability to fulfill responsibilities at home or at work or school, that results in repeated use of a drug in dangerous situations, or that leads to legal difficulties related to drug use.

Depressants, such as alcohol, barbiturates, and opium derived substances, slow down behavior or cognitive processes. The social costs of alcohol abuse are high. Alcohol is involved in more than two – thirds of all fatal automobile accidents, two – thirds of all murders, two – thirds of all spouse beatings, and more than half of all cases of violent child abuse. Barbiturates, or “downers” as they are commonly called, are strikingly similar to alcohol. Both cause slurred speech, loss of inhibition, increases in aggression, and poor motor coordination. The opiates include drugs such as heroin and morphine. These drugs produce feelings of euphoria, well – being, and relaxation with severe withdraw symptoms after becoming addicted. The withdraw symptoms consist of prolonged periods of sleep lasting up to 12 hours, severe cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea, along with convulsive shaking and...

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