Biological and neural psychologies both have a common goal: to discover the biological reasoning for mental disorders. These areas in psychology are extremely important. In order to medicate and hope for a cure for certain mental deficiencies, scientists must first research these deficiencies. Scientists must fully understand the chemical and biological reasoning behind the disorder if they hope to reverse the damage done to the brain.
Medication for mental disorders has only become available through the research done by biological and neural psychologists. Research must be done not only on global levels, but also within each individual patient. "Mental health professionals use psychological testing, interviews, questionnaires, and patient history to determine first, if a change in the neurotransmitter system is present, then second, what neurotransmitters are involved" (Carver, J., 2006). Medication can only be administered to a patient after this individual research has been conducted.
Regulating behavior is an important aspect in the treatment of people with mental disorders. This can be done with the use of excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials, receptors, and synaptic transmission. Stimulation of the presynaptic cell causes a change in the resting potential. This is called postsynaptic potential. Excitatory postsynaptic potential occurs when the stimulation causes the current in the cell to be more positive than it already is, while inhibitory postsynaptic potential occurs when the stimulation causes the current in the cell to be more negative that it already is (Wickens, A., 2005).
The axon hillock is located inside of the neuron and is between the axon and the cellular body. Here, there are nerve impulses. These nerve impulses cause electrical movement inside the synapses. This movement is called synaptic transmission (neurotransmission). Synaptic transmission enables communication between neurons in the brain. "All experiences, such as thoughts and feelings, and all actions, are the results of neurons generating nerve impulses" (Wickens, A., 2005). The portion of the cell that connects with transmitters or molecules is called the receptor. The receptor causes psychological changes.
There are several primary neurotransmitters that influence brain function and behavior. Noradrenalin (also known as norepinephrine), serotonin, gamma-amino butyric acid, glutamate, acetylcholine, and dopamine make up these primary neurotransmitters. Noradrenalin “is both a hormone and a neurotransmitter. As a hormone, secreted by the adrenal gland, it works alongside epinephrine / adrenaline to give the body sudden energy in times of stress, known as the ‘fight or flight’ response. As a neurotransmitter, it passes nerve impulses from one neuron to the next” Purse (2010, para. 1).
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that influences several functions in the brain. It creates intense feelings of happiness in humans and is “a chemical substance, a neurotransmitter, found in the brain that regulates movement, balance and walking” UK HealthCare (2007, Dopamine, para. 30). Dopamine influences behavior and thought processes. Dopamine helps to influence feelings of motivation, reward, sleep, and mood regulation (Wickens, A., 2005). Like Dopamine, Serotonin is responsible for mood regulation and sleep. The factor that makes Serotonin different from Dopamine is that Serotonin also helps to regulate body temperature and sexual drive. This small factor makes Serotonin distinctly important to the human body.
Gamma amino butyric acid (also known as GABA), “acts at inhibitory synapses in the brain by binding to specific trans-membrane receptors in the plasma membrane of both pre and post synaptic neurons” (Sahley, B., 2002). Like Dopamine and Serotonin, Gamma amino butyric acid regulates sleep. What makes it unique is that it also regulates anxiety. Glutamate is “the most common neurotransmitter in the brain” (National Institutes of Health/National institute on Drug Abuse, n.d.). Glutamate helps to regulate cognitive functions. Acetylcholine “is a very effective deliverer of sodium ions, which stimulate muscle contractions and excites nerves. An increase in acetylcholine causes a decreased heart rate and increased production of saliva, as well as readying the muscles for work “(ISCID Encyclopedia of Science and Philosophy, 2008).
In order to understand mental disorders, scientists must first understand what causes these disorders. Neurotransmitters play a large role in the formation of these disorders. If scientists can understand these neurotransmitters, there is a better chance they can understand the disorders. Neurotransmitters are chemicals within the body that enable communication between cells. If there is a problem with a neurotransmitter, this communication is slowed, skewed, or cut off completely. This is how mental illnesses are formed.
Luckily, there are medications that can change the way neurotransmitters work. Neurotransmitters can be made to function in a different way to make up for other neurotransmitters that have malfunctioned. "The discovery of synaptic chemical transmission by Loewi provides one of the pivotal points in the history of biological science-not least because it raised the possibility of modifying brain function (and behavior) by the use of drugs that affect neurotransmitters" (Wickens, A., 2005 p. 14). Antidepressants, for instance, can increase the level of extracellular neurotransmitter serotonin. The Antidepressants prevent the reuptake into the pre-synaptic cell, which increases the level of serotonin available to bind the cell to the postsynaptic receptor (Wickens, A., 2005 p. 14). Changing the way that chemicals interact in the brain helps to reduce or eliminate the effects of several mental illnesses.
"Neurotransmitters control every emotion and thought, memory and learning; they carry the signals between the nerve cells or neurons in the brain. Psychiatric drugs can interfere with just about every step in work of neurotransmitters" (Sahley, B., 2002). Psychiatric drugs can be used in both positive and negative ways. If a psychiatric drug is used when a neurotransmitter problem does not exist, the function of the brain is altered in a negative way and long term effects may be present.
If there is a malfunction with a neurotransmitter, however, psychiatric drugs may assist in therapeutic treatment of the disorder. "When Serotonin is low, we experience problems with concentration and attention. We become scatterbrained and poorly organized" (Carver, J., 2006). Inability to concentrate can make people behave in ways that they normally would not behave. This is seen in students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Students are unable to concentrate on their school work and very often their grades are effective. This can cause some students to behave inappropriately because they cannot concentrate on school work and need some other outlet. Having low levels of serotonin can be stressful, and that stress can cause depression symptoms and indigestion.
Depression itself can also be caused by low levels of serotonin. "Treatment for depression, as might be expected, involves increasing levels of Serotonin in the brain. Since the mid-eighties, medications have been available to simply target and increase Serotonin" (Carver, J., 2006). Medications such as Sertraline HCI can be used to treat mental disorders such as depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, bipolar disorder, manic depression, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and panic disorder (Revolution Health, 2010). Sertraline (Zoloft) raises levels of Serotonin in order to regulate the patient’s mood and behavior.
The knowledge of biological psychology has been a wonderful achievement in the history of psychological research. Without this research, psychologists would not have medication to treat people who have mental disorders. The combination of neural and biological psychologies has made great strides in understanding the chemical and biological reasons that mental illnesses occur. In order to achieve a cure or even a treatment, research in these areas must continue.
References:
Acetylcholine. (2008). ISCID Encyclopedia of Science and Philosophy. Retrieved from
Carver, J., (2006). Medication Treatment of the Chemical Imbalance. Retrieved from
Carver, J., (2006). Serotonin: From Bliss to Despair. Retrieved from
National Institutes of Health/National institute on Drug Abuse. (n.d.). The brain:
understnding neurobiology. Retrieved from
Purse, M. (2010). Norepinephrine. About.com. Retrieved from
Revolution Health. (2010). Drugs & treatments. Retrieved from
Sahley, B., (2002). Understanding Chemical Imbalances. Retrieved on February 17, 2008 from
UK HealthCare. (2007). D glossary. Retrieved from
Wickens, A. (2005). Foundations of Biopsychology, Second Edition. Prentice-Hall.
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