Explain the neurobiological basis of depression. Describe the role of specific neurotransmitters implicated in mood disorders
What will be an ideal response?
In family studies, when you look at the prevalence of a given disorder in the first-degree relatives of an individual known to have the disorder (the proband), despite wide variability, the rate in relatives of probands with mood disorders is consistently about two to three times greater than in relatives of controls who don't have mood disorders. The best evidence that genes have something to do with mood disorders comes from twin studies. If a genetic contribution exists, the disorder should be present in identical twins to a much greater extent than in fraternal twins. An identical twin is two to three times more likely to present with a mood disorder than a fraternal twin if the first twin has a mood disorder.
Research implicates low levels of serotonin in the causes of mood disorders, but only in relation to other neurotransmitters, including norepinephrine and dopamine. The apparent primary function of serotonin is to regulate our emotional reactions. For example, we are more impulsive, and our moods swing more widely, when our levels of serotonin are low. This may be because one of the functions of serotonin is to regulate systems involving norepinephrine and dopamine. According to the "permissive" hypothesis, when serotonin levels are low, other neurotransmitters are "permitted" to range more widely, become dysregulated, and contribute to mood irregularities, including depression. A drop in norepinephrine would be one of the consequences. Current thinking is that the balance of the various neurotransmitters and their interaction with systems of self-regulation are more important than the absolute level of any one neurotransmitter.
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What is the criterion for the extinction of Sniffy’s bar pressing?
a. No bar presses for at least 5 minutes b. No more than 2 bar presses during a 5-minute interval c. No more than 5 bar presses during a 10-minute interval d. No more than 10 bar presses during a 10-minute interval
A good example of a _______ interview question is "Your resume says that you worked for the AMFAM Club, what is that?"
a. skill level determining b. past focused c. future focused d. clarifying
Huang is considering whether to take a cholesterol-reducing medicine that has been recommended by his physician, so he inquires about its effectiveness and safety
His physician explains that the government agency that oversee medications—the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—has approved the medication after dozens of scientific studies had been conducted on their usefulness and safety. Which aspect of critical thinking does this best represent? a. Huang is examining the nature and source of the evidence. b. Huang is simply curious. c. Huang is not considering alternative viewpoints. d. Huang is avoiding overly emotional thinking.
Who is most associated with psychosocial theory?
A. Erikson B. Bandura C. Watson D. Freud