Lecture notes (10-14) Biological Psychology (PSGY1003)

Bio psych (10-14)
L10: Genetics
Introduction
What is genetic research?
Mendel
Findings
Mendelian inheritance
From DNA to genes
DNA
Chromosomes
Genomes
Genes
Why understand genes?
Beyond Mendel
Sex-chromosome disorders
X-linked
Sporadic mutations
Polygenetic traits
Genetic basis vs. environment
Genetic Research Methods
Genomic studies
Targeted mutations
Genetic engineering
Recent developments
Glossary
L11: Ethics
Animals in Biological Research
History
General principles
Animal subjects
Historical benefits
Medical advancements
Psychological advancements
Transplants
Humans in Biological Research
History
General principles
Ethical hurdles
Ethics in biological research




Bio psych (10-14) 1

, Learning from the Past
The Neubauer Twin experiments
Contemporary gynaecology
The Los Alamos Plutonium experiments
Tuskegee Syphilis experiment
HeLa Cells
L12: Evolution
Comparative Studies and Common Ancestry
Why study non-human animals?
Animals models
Comparative studies
Evolution by natural selection
Common ancestry
Extinction events
Hominids
Darwinian Theory and natural Selection
Galapagos Islands
Mechanisms of natural selection
Functionalism
Natural selection in action
Human Evolution
Early mammals
Timescale
Existing relatives
Brain evolution
Evoluation of large brains
Evolution of cognitive domains
Glossary
Summary
L13: Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Symptoms
Neurology symptoms
Other physical symptoms
Causes
Heritability
Heritability and environment
Environmental factors
Treatments and pharmacology
Dopamine hypothesis
Why do dopamine agonists induce positive symptoms?
Other neural networks



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, Non-medication treatments
Affective Disorders
Main types
Bipolar Disorder
Unipolar Disorder
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Causes
Heritability
Treatments and pharmacology
Monoamine hypothesis
Non-medication treatments
L14: Cognitive Neuropsychology and Language
Cognitive Neuropsychology
Overview
Assumptions
Types of brain damage
History
Localisation of function
Crania Americana
Phrenology
Recovery
Localisation in modern day
Language
Mapping the brain
Brodmann’s areas
Does Brodmann’s map fit into psychological functions?
Neuropsychology and language
Broca’s areas
Wernicke’s area
Wernicke’s model of language processing




L10: Genetics

Introduction
What is genetic research?
Newer field of research

Study of heredity (how traits are passed on in generations)



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, Heredity also includes studying the biochemical mechanisms which
underpin it



☁️ Language clarity:

Of note; within genetics, biological organisms are frequently referred
to with regards to their genotype (their underlying biological makeup)
and phenotype (their observable traits).



Mendel
Gregor Mendel (1822-1884)

Credited as the first geneticist

Austrian monk and botanist

Bred/ crossbred peas

Findings




Noted dominant and recessive traits

Dominant traits expressed in an organisms phenotype

Recessive traits exoressed in absence of overshadowing dominant trait

Mendelian inheritance
Most phenotype traits depend on genes from parents

Receive an allele of each gene from each (aka. a ‘version’ of a trait)

Mendelian inheritance relies on two fundamental laws

Segregation - traits either dominant or recessive




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