Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Health and StressHealth and Stress

What exactly is What exactly is Substance Abuse?Substance Abuse?

1.1. How would you describe it? In other How would you describe it? In other words, how is abuse different from words, how is abuse different from use?use?

2.2. Psychologist (DSM-IV) definitionPsychologist (DSM-IV) definition

How do we use animals How do we use animals to study S.A.?to study S.A.?

1.1. We look for We look for self-administrationself-administration in in animalsanimals

2.2. Self-stimulation of the brain is one Self-stimulation of the brain is one research paradigm used for research paradigm used for studying SAstudying SA

3.3. Researchers have found the Researchers have found the nucleus accumbens is a key nucleus accumbens is a key structurestructure

Biological Biological ReinforcementReinforcement

1.1. Why is the nucleus accumbens Why is the nucleus accumbens important?important?

2.2. Dopamine is a very ‘reinforcing’ Dopamine is a very ‘reinforcing’ neurotransmitterneurotransmitter

What does this make you think about What does this make you think about treatment?treatment?

StimulantsStimulants

1.1. This class of substances produce This class of substances produce mental and physical excitement, mental and physical excitement, decreased fatigue, increased motor decreased fatigue, increased motor activity, alertness and positive activity, alertness and positive mood mood

2.2. Different stimulants manipulate DA Different stimulants manipulate DA activity in different waysactivity in different ways

NicotineNicotine1.1. This is the highly addictive This is the highly addictive

substance found in ‘cancer sticks.’substance found in ‘cancer sticks.’

2.2. Nicotine stimulates Acetylcholine Nicotine stimulates Acetylcholine receptors on Dopamine neurons in receptors on Dopamine neurons in the nucleus accumbensthe nucleus accumbens

OpiatesOpiates1.1. These are depressant drugs that act These are depressant drugs that act

by stimulating the endorphin by stimulating the endorphin receptorsreceptors

2.2. They act to decrease They act to decrease responsiveness to painresponsiveness to pain

MarijuanaMarijuana1.1. The active component in marijuana The active component in marijuana

is THCis THC It stimulates cannabinoid receptors in It stimulates cannabinoid receptors in

the CNSthe CNS

2.2. It does have medical use, is not It does have medical use, is not physically addictive, but does physically addictive, but does increase the risk of memory increase the risk of memory problems, Parkinson’s disease, and problems, Parkinson’s disease, and lung cancerlung cancer

HallucinogensHallucinogens1.1. These drugs distort our perceptual These drugs distort our perceptual

abilitiesabilities Cause visual, tactile, and auditory Cause visual, tactile, and auditory

hallucinationshallucinations

2.2. LSD and other hallucinogens are LSD and other hallucinogens are potent serotonin agonistspotent serotonin agonists

3.3. They are not physically addictiveThey are not physically addictive

AlcoholAlcohol1.1. Alcoholism is continued use of Alcoholism is continued use of

alcohol despite medical or social alcohol despite medical or social consequencesconsequences

2.2. Alcohol effects GABA, glutamate, Alcohol effects GABA, glutamate, dopamine and serotonindopamine and serotonin

3.3. It also decreases the ability of Na+ It also decreases the ability of Na+ to move across the membraneto move across the membrane

Important Factors in Important Factors in Alcohol AbuseAlcohol Abuse GeneticsGenetics

1.1. There are actually two types of There are actually two types of Alcoholism – Types I and II Alcoholism – Types I and II

2.2. Type II is worse – stronger genetic Type II is worse – stronger genetic component, earlier onset, associated component, earlier onset, associated with criminalitywith criminality

NotNot as sensitive to alcohol as sensitive to alcohol Abnormal sense of ‘relief’Abnormal sense of ‘relief’ Brain differencesBrain differences

The Knot that is The Knot that is EmotionEmotion

1.1. Is there a difference between Is there a difference between emotions and feelings?emotions and feelings?

2.2. Can unconscious people have Can unconscious people have feelings/emotions? feelings/emotions?

Emotions and ArousalEmotions and Arousal1.1. With every emotion we experience With every emotion we experience

an activation of the autonomic an activation of the autonomic nervous systemnervous system

Anyone remember what this means?Anyone remember what this means?

Theories of EmotionTheories of Emotion

1.1. James-LangeJames-Lange

2.2. Cannon-BardCannon-Bard

Is Autonomic Is Autonomic Activation Enough?Activation Enough?

1.1. Is every autonomic arousal interpreted Is every autonomic arousal interpreted as emotion? Is that all emotions are?as emotion? Is that all emotions are?

2.2. Extreme activation is interpreted (often Extreme activation is interpreted (often inappropriately) as emotion – panic inappropriately) as emotion – panic disorderdisorder

Facial ExpressionsFacial Expressions

1.1. Can adopting a certain facial Can adopting a certain facial expression change the way you expression change the way you feel?feel?

2.2. Research says…Research says…

3.3. This is a route to empathyThis is a route to empathy

Brain Areas Important Brain Areas Important to Emotionto Emotion

1.1. Specific areas are important for Specific areas are important for recognizing other emotionsrecognizing other emotions

Insular cortex & disgustInsular cortex & disgust

2.2. Hemispheric differencesHemispheric differences

3.3. Limbic systemLimbic system AmygdalaAmygdala

Anger and AggressionAnger and Aggression1.1. GeneticsGenetics

2.2. EnvironmentEnvironment

3.3. HormonesHormones

4.4. Brain dysfunction/damageBrain dysfunction/damage

5.5. Neurotransmitter activityNeurotransmitter activity

What is Stress?What is Stress?1.1. Stress is a physiological and Stress is a physiological and

behavior response to a threat behavior response to a threat (stressor)(stressor)

2.2. Can Stress ever be a good thing?Can Stress ever be a good thing?

The History of StressThe History of Stress1.1. Stress has been of interest to Stress has been of interest to

philosophers since the early Greeksphilosophers since the early Greeks

2.2. Walter CannonWalter Cannon He called this physiological reaction the He called this physiological reaction the

fight or flight responsefight or flight response

3.3. Hans SelyeHans Selye General Adaptation Syndrome has 3 phases: General Adaptation Syndrome has 3 phases:

1) alarm reaction, 2) resistance, 3) 1) alarm reaction, 2) resistance, 3) exhaustionexhaustion

Stressful Life EventsStressful Life Events1.1. CatastrophesCatastrophes

2.2. Significant life changesSignificant life changes

3.3. Daily hasslesDaily hassles

Physiology of Fight or Physiology of Fight or FlightFlight Stress causes a host of Stress causes a host of physiological changes in the body:physiological changes in the body:

1.1. Autonomic activationAutonomic activation

2.2. Activation of the Hypothalamic-Activation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axisPituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis

CortisolCortisol

Effects of Long-term Effects of Long-term StressStress Exposure to long periods or extreme, Exposure to long periods or extreme, uncontrolled stress can have serious uncontrolled stress can have serious consequences on your healthconsequences on your health

1.1. Development of gastrointestinal ulcersDevelopment of gastrointestinal ulcers

2.2. Heart disease and heart attackHeart disease and heart attack

3.3. DeathDeath

Stress and the Immune Stress and the Immune SystemSystem

1.1. PsychoneuroimmunologyPsychoneuroimmunology

2.2. Stress can have two basic effects Stress can have two basic effects on the immune systemon the immune system

Diseases and StressDiseases and Stress1.1. Autoimmune diseases like lupus Autoimmune diseases like lupus

and arthritis can be made worse and arthritis can be made worse (cause flare-ups) by stress(cause flare-ups) by stress

2.2. Stress can speed up the progression Stress can speed up the progression of the HIV virus to full-blown AIDS of the HIV virus to full-blown AIDS illnessillness

3.3. Cancerous growths are fueled by Cancerous growths are fueled by stressstress

You are more likely to develop cancer You are more likely to develop cancer following a traumatic life eventfollowing a traumatic life event