Experimental Psychopathology Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary goal when studying transdiagnostic mechanisms of psychopathology?

The primary goal is to explore and understand the underlying mechanisms behind psychopathology, rather than providing absolute knowledge.

How does the DSM primarily describe anxiety disorders?

The DSM describes anxiety disorders by focusing on observable phenomena such as a person's fearful behaviors.

What distinguishes an endophenotype from a phenotype in psychopathology?

An endophenotype is an intermediate phenotype that provides insight into the underlying mechanisms, while a phenotype refers to observable characteristics.

What role does the serotonin transporter gene polymorphism play in the context of psychopathology?

It influences an individual's sensitivity to environmental effects, making them more vulnerable to developing symptoms after traumatic events. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to consider both genotype and environmental factors in understanding psychopathology?

It is important because they interact and influence each other, affecting the expression of psychopathological symptoms. Signup and view all the answers

What does the research focus on in the field of Experimental Psychopathology?

Research in Experimental Psychopathology focuses on understanding intermediate phenotypes rather than just observable behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of psychopathology, what is a significant takeaway regarding the levels of investigation?

It is crucial to investigate psychopathology at various levels, including genotype, environmental interaction, and observable behaviors. Signup and view all the answers

How can genetic expression change according to environmental influences?

Genetic expression can change due to environmental changes, which implies that the environment can affect how genes function. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a disposition from a mood in terms of embodiment?

A disposition has a relatively low embodiment and is present even when sleeping, whereas a mood has a stronger embodiment and can be linked to specific events. Signup and view all the answers

How do emotions differ from stress in terms of duration?

Emotions typically last from seconds to minutes, while stress can last for days. Signup and view all the answers

What significant contribution did Charles Darwin make to affective science?

Charles Darwin studied effective responses in different organisms, comparing emotional expressions in animals like cats and dogs. Signup and view all the answers

Can memories trigger emotions, and how does this compare to direct events?

Yes, memories can trigger emotions, often being less intense than the initial emotion but sometimes even stronger. Signup and view all the answers

What role do specific events play in the experience of emotions?

Specific events strongly trigger emotions, making them more event-focused than moods or dispositions. Signup and view all the answers

How has the popularity of affective science compared to cognitive science over the decades?

Affective science has been significantly less popular than cognitive science, especially until the recent increase in interest towards affective studies. Signup and view all the answers

Why was affective science considered difficult to study in the past?

It was considered difficult because emotional responses are subjective, hard to objectify, and perceived as fuzzy compared to more concrete topics like cognition. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between stress and emotions regarding their physiological responses?

Both stress and emotions are strongly embodied, but emotions tend to be shorter-lived and more directly tied to immediate physiological responses. Signup and view all the answers

How can mental events, such as recalling a memory, be classified within emotional responses?

Mental events, like recalling memories, count as events that can trigger emotions, similar to direct stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

What trends have recently emerged regarding the study of affective science?

There has been a significant increase in interest and attention towards affective science in recent years. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the embodiment levels of dispositions, moods, stress, and emotions.

Dispositions have low embodiment, moods have moderate embodiment, and both stress and emotions have strong embodiment. Signup and view all the answers

In what context was affective science mentioned during the instructor's academic experience?

It was briefly covered in a chapter on affective science within a cognitive neuroscience course. Signup and view all the answers

What is one reason the course aims to challenge perceptions about affective science?

The course aims to demonstrate that, although challenging, affective science is no more difficult to study than topics such as attention. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant difference between emotions and other mental states like moods?

Emotions are more strongly linked to specific events, making them more discrete and immediate compared to the broader, more diffuse nature of moods. Signup and view all the answers

What tool did the instructor use to examine the usage of terms like cognitive and affective science?

The instructor used the Google Ngram Viewer to plot the historical usage of terms related to affective and cognitive science. Signup and view all the answers

Besides clinical psychology, why is understanding affective science important?

Understanding affective science can enhance knowledge about emotional responses and improve psychological research methodologies. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by 'heterogeneity' in the context of mental disorders?

Heterogeneity refers to the presence of different phenotypes or subgroups within a single diagnosis of mental disorders. Signup and view all the answers

How can insufficient understanding of mental disorders impact treatment efficacy?

A lack of understanding can lead to ineffective treatments, as therapies may not target the specific underlying processes of each disorder. Signup and view all the answers

Why might mental disorders be difficult to distinguish from each other?

Mental disorders can share many similarities, making it challenging to identify unique characteristics for accurate diagnosis. Signup and view all the answers

What role do subjective and physiological behaviors play in understanding mental disorders?

Both subjective experiences and physiological responses are important, as they provide insights into the complexities of mental disorders. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of mental health therapy, what is the significance of volunteer patient groups?

Therapy often focuses on volunteer groups, potentially overlooking other patient populations that may not fit this criteria. Signup and view all the answers

What challenge arises when trying to measure the severity of mental illnesses?

The challenge is that measurements often rely on subjective reports from patients rather than objective assessments. Signup and view all the answers

How do fundamental aspects of mental disorders complicate treatment development?

Many fundamental aspects are not well understood or measurable, making it difficult to develop targeted treatments. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key factor that contributes to the inefficacy of treatments for mental disorders?

A significant factor is the overlap and similarities between different mental disorders, which complicates accurate diagnosis and treatment. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between cortisol and testosterone levels during stress?

Cortisol and testosterone inhibit each other, and during stress, high cortisol levels can lead to decreased testosterone production. Signup and view all the answers

What does the triple imbalance theory link together?

The triple imbalance theory links cortisol, testosterone, and genetic information of serotonin to aggression. Signup and view all the answers

What does being an S-carrier of the serotonergic transporter gene imply about environmental sensitivity?

S-carriers may be more sensitive to environmental changes, performing better in favorable settings and worse when exposed to trauma. Signup and view all the answers

How does the testosterone-cortisol (T-CT) ratio affect emotional evaluation in the amygdala?

A high T-CT ratio indicates high testosterone and low cortisol, which promotes a stronger fight response in emotional evaluations. Signup and view all the answers

What was the objective of comparing S-carriers to non-S-carriers in the study?

The objective was to observe differences in brain mechanisms while performing the same task under fMRI scanning. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the amygdala significant in the context of aggression and hormonal balance?

The amygdala plays a crucial role in emotional evaluation, particularly in assessing threats and determining responses like aggression. Signup and view all the answers

What did the findings reveal about brain activity differences between S-carriers and non-S-carriers?

S-carriers recruited less prefrontal cortex activity and showed less downregulation of the amygdala during the task. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does administering testosterone have on cortisol stress responses?

Administering testosterone can decrease cortisol stress responses. Signup and view all the answers

What hormones are involved in the HPA and HPG axis interaction?

The HPA axis primarily involves cortisol, while the HPG axis involves sex hormones like testosterone. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it misleading to generalize the findings of the study to individual cases?

The results are based on group-level research and do not account for individual differences in response to trauma or genetic factors. Signup and view all the answers

How might the brain activity patterns of S-carriers affect their risk in challenging environments?

S-carriers may be at risk because their reduced connectivity patterns could limit their ability to manage overwhelming emotions. Signup and view all the answers

How does stress affect reproductive functions according to the discussed hormonal systems?

High stress, indicated by elevated cortisol, can suppress reproductive functions and lower testosterone levels. Signup and view all the answers

What role does the prefrontal cortex play in the context of the study's findings?

The prefrontal cortex is involved in managing executive functions, and its reduced activity in S-carriers indicates less effective emotional regulation. Signup and view all the answers

What does high testosterone and low cortisol indicate in terms of behavior?

High testosterone and low cortisol suggest a stronger approach and fight tendency in behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term ‘negative connectivity’ refer to in the context of this study?

Negative connectivity refers to the crosstalk between different brain areas, like an inverse relationship in activity levels, particularly between the prefrontal cortex and amygdala. Signup and view all the answers

What might be a potential implication of the research findings for understanding mental health?

The findings suggest a need for individualized approaches in assessing and treating mental health issues related to genetic predispositions and environmental stressors. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

WEEK 1 - Introduction to Affective Science and Psychopathology

Effective science has a history, with early studies by Charles Darwin comparing emotional responses in different organisms.
Cognitive science boomed in the 1970s, but effective science was less popular, possibly due to the perceived difficulty in studying subjective emotional responses.
Effective processes involve evaluating a situation as salient for survival and well-being, triggering an evolutionary adaptive response.
Affect is a broader term, meaning to be influenced or attacked, and encompassing emotional experience.
Effective processes have behavioral and physiological components, including motor expression, facial postures, and physiological responses.
Affective science is gaining increased attention and is important for clinical psychology.
Effective processes are characterized by a situation, attention, appraisal, and response.

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Description

This quiz explores key concepts in experimental psychopathology, including the roles of genetics, environmental influences, and the distinctions between different psychological constructs. Test your understanding of transdiagnostic mechanisms, the DSM's description of anxiety disorders, and the significant contributions of influential figures like Charles Darwin to affective science.