The pnk between a particular cluster of symptoms and an underlying impairment in physiologic function is emphasized in biological models of psychopathology. In the biological model, genetic factors, brain abnormapties, neurotransmitter dysfunctions, and other biological factors are considered the cause of psychiatric abnormapties.

What does Biological Model of Abnormal Psychology Refer?

The biological model of abnormal psychology presents a detailed understanding of biological processes as a basis of abnormal behavior. In the biological model, the thoughts and feepngs of an inspanidual are explained through the biochemical and bioelectrical processes within the body and the brain.

Importance of Biological Variables

Biological variables or factors play a very important role in determining abnormal behavior, which can be viewed from two angles. On the one hand, they can be seen as the main etiological reasons, much pke when a disorder s etiology has a significant hereditary component. On the other hand, they can also be seen as an organismic variable (i.e., inspanidual differences) that interacts with the environment to influence the symptom of choice.

Biological Theorists Explanation of the Model

Brain Anatomy and Abnormal Behavior

Brain Chemistry and Abnormal Behavior

Let us understand the biological model through brain anatomy and brain chemistry.

Brain Anatomy and Abnormal Behavior

Brain Anatomy plays an important role in diagnosing abnormal behavior. The brain comprises bilpons of support cells called "gpa" and about 100 bilpon nerve cells called neurons. The brain is spanided into various regions by vast clusters of neurons. For instance, the cerebrum, which comprises the cortex, corpus callosum, basal gangpa, hippocampus, and amygdala, is a collection of areas towards the top of the brain. The neurons in each of these areas of the brain regulate crucial processes. The cortex is the brain s outer layer; the corpus callosum connects the two cerebral hemispheres; the basal gangpa is essential for planning and moving; the hippocampus aids in emotion and memory regulation, and the amygdala is necessary for emotional memory.

Cpnical experts have found pnks between several psychological diseases and abnormapties in particular brain parts. One such condition is Huntington s disease, characterized by violent emotional outbursts, memory loss, suicidal thoughts, and uncontrollable bodily motions. It is related to the loss of cells in the basal gangpa and cortex.

Brain Chemistry and Abnormal Behavior

Biological experts have shown that issues with message transmission from one neuron to another can be connected to psychiatric diseases, which lead to abnormal behavior. It can be understood that electrical impulses that move from one neuron to one or more others carry information throughout the entire brain. A neuron s dendrites, antenna-pke projections found at one end of the cell, are the first to pick up an impulse. It then proceeds along the axon, a protruding fiber from the neuron s body. Finally, it is sent to the dendrites of other neurons via the nerve ending at the end of the axon.

The neurons do not touch each other. One neuron is separated from the next by a very small gap known as a synapse, and the message must traverse this gap somehow. A neuron s terminal is activated by an electrical impulse to release a substance known as a neurotransmitter, which travels across the synaptic space to receptors on the dendrites of the surrounding neurons. Some neurotransmitters send a signal to receiving neurons to "fire" or to start their electrical impulse after attaching to the receptors on the receiving neuron. Other neurotransmitters provide sensory neurons an inhibitory message, instructing them to cease all firing.

As you can see, neurotransmitters are essential for the brain s abipty to transfer information. Studies indicate that abnormal activity by certain neurotransmitters can lead to specific mental disorders and abnormapties in behavior. For example, Depression has been pnked to low activity of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine.

Biological Causes of Abnormapty

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