Abnormal Psychology

Phase 1: Introduction
Source: Barlow, Durand & Hofmann (2018), Comer & Comer (2017), DSM-V, DSM-V-TR
o Dendrites – receive messages from other o Cerebral Cortex – provides us with our
nerve cells distinctly human qualities, allowing us to look to
o Axon – transmit impulses to other neurons the future and plan, to reason, and to create
o Synapses – connections to other neurons ▪
Left Hemisphere – responsible for verbal
o Action Potentials – electric impulses where and other cognitive processes
▪ Right Hemisphere – perceiving the world
information is transmitted
o Terminal button – end of axon around us and creating images
o Synaptic Cleft – space between terminal button ▪ Lobes: Frontal, Parietal, Occipital, Temporal
▪ Prefrontal Cortex – area responsible for
of one neuron and the dendrite of another higher cognitive functions
o Neurotransmitters – biochemicals that are
released from the axon of one neuron and transmit ▪ HPA Axis – Hypothalamus, Pituitary Gland,
Adrenal Cortex
the impulse to the dendrite receptors of another
neuron Peripheral Nervous System
▪ o Somatic Nervous System – controls the
Excitatory – increase the likelihood that the
connecting neuron will fire muscles
▪ Inhibitory – decrease the likelihood that the o Autonomic Nervous System – regulate
connecting neurons will fire cardiovascular system and endocrine system
o Glial Cells – modulate neurotransmitter activity ▪
Sympathetic – fight or flight responses
▪ Parasympathetic – calms the sympathetic
Brain nervous system; rest and digest functions
o Brain Stem – lower and more ancient part of
the brain; essential for autonomic functioning o Endocrine System – glands produce hormones
such as breathing, heartbeat, etc. that is released to the blood streams
▪ ▪
Hindbrain – contains the medulla, pons, and Pituitary – master gland
▪ Thyroid – controls metabolism and growth
cerebellum; regulates many autonomic (thyroxine)
activities such as breathing, heartbeat, and
digestion ▪ Parathyroid – controls
Adrenal – controls the levelsblood
metabolism, of calcium
▪ Cerebellum – controls motor coordination ▪
abnormalities associated with autism pressure, sex development, stress
▪ Midbrain – coordinates movements with
(epinephrine)
sensory input and contains parts of reticular ▪ Pineal
Pancreas – releases melatonin
– creates insulin
▪ Testes – makes sperm and release
activating system (contributes to sleep,
▪ testosterone
arousal and tension)
▪ Thalamus and Hypothalamus – involves in Ovaries – releases estrogen, progesterone,
and testosterone
▪
regulating behavior, emotions, and
hormones
o Limbic System – located around the edge of the Neurotransmitters
center of the brain o Agonist – effectively increase the activity of the
▪
Hippocampus, Cingulate Gyrus, Septum, and neurotransmitters
o
Amygdala Antagonist – decrease or block
▪ Regulate o neurotransmitter
emotional experiences and
expressions and, to some extent, our ability Inverse Agonists – produces effects opposite to
to learn and to control impulses those produced by the neurotransmitters
▪ Also involved with the basic drives of sex, o Reuptake – neurotransmitter is released,
aggression, hunger and thirst
quickly broken down and brought back to the
o Basal Ganglia – base of the forebrain, includes synaptic cleft
caudate nucleus o Glutamate – excitatory neurotransmitters that
▪ turns on many different neurons leading to
Damage involved changing our posture or
twitching or shaking action
▪
High levels is linked to Parkinson’s,
Alzheimer’s, and Huntington’s