Biopsychology: Fundamentals and Contemporary Issues

 


What did you personally learn about the process of gene expression? Provide an example of how a neuron’s pattern of gene expression can be influenced by something in the local cellular environment (i.e., the inside fluid constituents of the cell), and how that fluid environment of the neuron may be impacted by the broader local environment the person is actively behaving in?

After reading the Textbook and Content resources for this week, consider the phenomenological case that you also read from Oliver Sacks and reflect upon the following two points:

Did you find the case of Dr. P compelling and meaningful? What neurobiological system do you think is involved in this case example? What was a probable cause of the neurobiological dysfunction or abnormality? How did Dr. Sacks provide care or treatment?

Do a little online research to see if you can find a research article or case study on a similar disorder to that of Dr. P and then share that information here. Specifically address the research methodology used in your chosen source. How did the researchers collect their data? How did this align with their research goals? Be sure to provide bibliographical information about our source (i.e., please cite your source in an APA style format: Authors, Year, Title, Source Name, and Pages-if any).


After reading the Textbook and Content resources for this week, also consider the phenomenological case that you also read from Oliver Sacks’ book before responding to the following questions:

What are two functions of mirror neurons that you became aware of this week? How does their location in the cortex and connectivity to other brain areas relate to those two functions?
For this Discussion Topic be sure to cite at least one reference to support your arguments. Your reference can pertain to any publication you care to find and delve into.

What was the name of the loss Christina experienced in the case of The Disembodied Lady? What was the actual loss associated with within her body? How did Oliver Sacks help with her recovery? How would you describe the experience and outcome of her recovery?


Examining and Solving Health Disparities in the United States : Emerging Research and Opportunities (

Vulnerable Populations in the United States (3rd ed: 2021): 
How are public health issues addressed?

you may use the same two current public health issues you used for the previous assignment, or you may choose two different ones. In this write up explain at least two different ways each public health issue can or is being addressed. Can/could/should these public health issues be addressed differently for different vulnerable populations of clients? Please explain why or why not. This written assignment will utilize your required readings while also required you to do outside research. Feel free to use peer reviewed articles from the SUNY library, or other trusted websites (.gov or .org) to harvest information from. This written assignment should be in APA formatting with APA citations and be 3 pages in length.  
 

Sample Answer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part 1: Gene Expression and Neuronal Environment

 

 

Personal Learning on Gene Expression

 

The most profound thing I learned about the process of gene expression is that it is fundamentally a dynamic, responsive mechanism, not a static blueprint. The inherited DNA sequence is a recipe book, but the epigenome (the set of chemical tags and structures surrounding the DNA) acts as a flexible set of instructions that dictates when and how much of a particular recipe is actually prepared. This means the environment—from maternal care in infancy to complex learning in adulthood—continuously fine-tunes the output of the genome.

Influence of Local Cellular Environment

 

A neuron’s pattern of gene expression is directly influenced by the concentration of calcium ions (Ca2+) in its local cellular environment (the cytoplasm).

Local Cellular Mechanism: When a neuron receives sufficient excitatory input, its voltage-gated channels open, causing a rapid influx of extracellular Ca2+ into the cell. This surge in Ca2+ acts as a second messenger. It binds to and activates various proteins, such as Ca2+/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases (CaMKs). Once activated, these kinases phosphorylate (chemically modify) specific transcription factors within the cytoplasm. The modified transcription factors then move into the nucleus and bind to the promoter regions of target genes, immediately changing their rate of expression.

Gene Expression Impact: A classic target is the gene for Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). A high Ca2+ influx activates transcription factors that turn the BDNF gene on. BDNF is critical for synaptic plasticity, growth, and survival.

 

Impact of Broader Environment (Active Behavior)

 

The broader environment and a person's active behavior directly impact the Ca2+ fluid environment inside the neuron:

Active Behavior: When a person actively engages in a novel or challenging activity (e.g., intensive language learning, practicing a musical instrument, spatial navigation in a new city).

Increased Firing: This behavior requires the sustained, high-frequency firing of specific neuronal circuits associated with that skill or memory.