Biological Basis Of Mental Health And Well Being

Front 1

Polysomnography (PSG)

Back 1

Measurement of sleep which involves monitoring many body functions including:
- Brain (EEG)
- Eye movements (EOG)
- Muscle activity (EMG)
- Heart rhythm (ECG)
- Respiration

Front 2

Electromyography (EMG)

Back 2

- Measures activity of muscles
- Involved in measuring sleep

Front 3

Electroencephalography (EEG)

Back 3

- Measures brain activity
- Involved in measuring sleep

Front 4

Electro-oculography (EOG)

Back 4

- Measures eye movements
- Involved in measuring sleep

Front 5

Electrocardiography (ECG)

Back 5

- Measures heart rhythm
- Involved in measuring sleep

Front 6

Stage 1 Sleep

Back 6

- Brief transitional phase of sleep
- Similar brain activity to wakefulness
- 2-5% of sleep

Front 7

Stage 2 Sleep

Back 7

- Light sleep
- Involves specific patterns of brain activity: 'K-complex' and 'Sleep Spindle'
- 45-55% of sleep

Front 8

Stage 3 Sleep

Back 8

- Transitional phase from light sleep to very deep sleep
- Characterised by slow brain waves
- 3-8% of sleep

Front 9

Stage 4 Sleep

Back 9

- Deep sleep
- Characterised by slow brain waves
- 10-15% of sleep

Front 10

REM Sleep

Back 10

- Brain activation
- Muscle atonia (paralysis)
- Dreaming
- Increased heart rate & respiration
- 20-25% of sleep

Front 11

Sleep Regulation

Back 11

- 2-Process Model:
- Process S = Sleep pressure (increases over the day)
- Process C = Circadian rhythm (regulates daily physiological rhythm, i.e. release of hormones such as melatonin)

Front 12

Functions of Sleep

Back 12

- Brain most effected by sleep deprivation
- Strengthening of memories
- Rest and repair

Front 13

Actigraphy

Back 13

- Non-invasive method of monitoring human rest/activity cycles
- Devise used detects movements
- Overestimates sleep duration
- Underestimates time taken to fall asleep

Front 14

Parasomnia

Back 14

- Sleep disorders that involve abnormal and unnatural movements, behaviors, emotions, perceptions, and dreams

Front 15

Insomnia Disorder

Back 15

- Difficulties initiating and maintaining sleep
- More than 3 nights a week for 3 months
- Results in daytime disfunction
- 10-12% of population

Front 16

Hebb's Rule

Back 16

- "Cells that fire together, wire together"
- Explains "associative learning"
- Simultaneous activation of cells leads to pronounced increases in synaptic strength between those cells

Front 17

Long-term Potentiation

Back 17

- Long-lasting enhancement in signal transmission between two neurons that results from stimulating them synchronously
- Involved in synaptic plasticity
- Involved in learning and memory

Front 18

Basal Ganglia

Back 18

- Part of brain involved in operant conditioning
- As learned behaviours become automatic and routine they are 'transferred' to this part of the brain

Front 19

Ventral Tegmental Area

Back 19

- Neural circuit involved in reinforcement
- Located in mid-brain at top of brain stem
- Synthesises dopamine then sends it to nucleus accumbens

Front 20

Medial Forebrain Bundle

Back 20

- Neural circuit involved in reinforcement
- Activation causes sensation of pleasure
- Activation results in repetition of behaviour and strengthens associated pathways in brain

Front 21

Candidate Gene

Back 21

- Approach to conducting genetic association studies
- Focuses on associations between genetic variation within pre-specified genes and phenotypes or disease states

Front 22

Hindbrain

Back 22

- Contains brain regions necessary for life
E.g. Medulla Oblongata (respiration, heart beat)
Pons and Cerebellum (movement, posture)
Reticular Formation (sleep, pain)

Front 23

Midbrain

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- Part of brainstem
- Connects brainstem to forebrain
- Involved in sensory and motor functions

Front 24

Forebrain

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- Contains key structures that regulate mood and behaviour
E.g. Thalamus (relay station for sensory information)
Hypothalamus (controls release of some hormones)

Front 25

Limbic System

Back 25

- Group of structures in brain
- Involved in emotions and memories
- Includes the hippocampus, amygdala etc.

Front 26

Amygdala

Back 26

- Collects information from senses and helps generate emotional response
- Higher activity in depressed people when viewing sad face (and in anxious people when viewing fearful face)

Front 27

Frontal Lobe

Back 27

- Coordinates complex processes including speech, motor coordination and behaviour planning
- Damage leads to: impulsiveness, low motivation, inability to plan
- Different structure in depression and schizophrenia

Front 28

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor

Back 28

- Drug used to enhance mood for severe depression
- Stops monoamine oxidase enzymes from breaking down certain neurotransmitters (e.g. serotonin, dopamine)
- Damages liver and intestines so only used as last alternative

Front 29

Benzodiazepines

Back 29

- Drugs used to treat anxiety
- Enhances the actions of GABA (inhibitory neurotransmitter)
- Sedation
- Withdrawal effects

Front 30

Treatment of Schizophrenia

Back 30

- Based on theory that patient is hypersensitive to dopamine due to increased dopamine receptors
- Chlorpromazine has sedative effect and Parkinson like symptoms

Front 31

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Back 31

- Used in cases of treatment-resistant depression (where risk of suicide)
- Discharge of electric current through brain to induce controlled epileptic convulsion

Front 32

Sympathetic Nervous System

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- Activated when experiencing stress (fight or flight)
- Increased heart rate, dilated pupils, inhibits salivation and digestion
- Adrenaline released

Front 33

Parasympathetic Nervous System

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- Suppressed when experiencing stress
- Decreased heart rate, constricts pupils, stimulates salivation and digestion

Front 34

Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal System (Axis)

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- Complex set of direct influences and feedback interactions involved in 'stress reaction'
- Results in release of cortisol

Front 35

Cortisol

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- Glucocorticoid hormone (steroid) released during stress reaction
- Raises levels of glucose, suppresses immune system, enhances metabolism

Front 36

General Adaptation Syndrome

Back 36

- 1st Stage: Alarm = SNS response (fight or flight)
- 2nd Stage: Resistance = body tries to adapt, arousal lessens, increased vulnerability to health problems
- 3rd Stage: Exhaustion = weakened immune system, depleted energy, health problems

Front 37

Cognitive Appraisal

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- Stress depends on personal interpretation of a situation
- Primary Appraisal: 'Am I in trouble or benefiting?'
- Secondary Appraisal: 'What, if anything, can be done?'

Front 38

Stress Related Health Problems

Back 38

- Ulcers
- Headaches
- IBS
- Asthma
- Heart problems

Front 39

Modifiers of Effects of Stress

Back 39

- Social Support
- Predictability
- Personal Control
- Coping strategies
- Personality

Front 40

Cytokine

Back 40

- Proteins that influence activity of other cells
- Involved in immune response

Front 41

Glucocorticoid's Effect on Immune System

Back 41

- Shrinks thymus gland (stops creation of new lymphocytes)
- Inhibits release of messengers (interleukin's)

Front 42

Gate Control Theory of Pain

Back 42

- Large Fibres stimulate inhibitory neuron = no pain
- Small Fibres inactivate inhibitory neuron = pain
- Descending pathways from brain can inhibit pain