3MB Psychiatry: Neurobiology of Mood
This flashcard set explains the brain’s appetitive (approach) and aversive (defensive) mood systems, describing how they drive behaviour toward reward or avoidance of threat, and identifies the key neurotransmitters associated with each—dopamine for approach and serotonin for avoidance.
What is the function appetitive/approach mood systems in the brain?
Behave in a way to seek pleasurable factors/things that will benefit us
Key Terms
What is the function appetitive/approach mood systems in the brain?
Behave in a way to seek pleasurable factors/things that will benefit us
What is the function of aversive/defensive mood systems in the brain?
Behave in a way to avoid adversity and threats to our survival
Which chemical is generally associated with appetitive/approach behaviour?
Dopamine
Which chemical is generally associated with aversive/defensive behaviour?
Serotonin
There is an increase in aversive behaviour in mania/hypomania. True/False?
False
Increase in aversive behaviour in depression; increase in appetitive behaviour in man...
Cortisol is low in depressed people. True/False?
False
Cortisol typically elevated
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
What is the function appetitive/approach mood systems in the brain? | Behave in a way to seek pleasurable factors/things that will benefit us |
What is the function of aversive/defensive mood systems in the brain? | Behave in a way to avoid adversity and threats to our survival |
Which chemical is generally associated with appetitive/approach behaviour? | Dopamine |
Which chemical is generally associated with aversive/defensive behaviour? | Serotonin |
There is an increase in aversive behaviour in mania/hypomania. True/False? | False Increase in aversive behaviour in depression; increase in appetitive behaviour in mania |
| False Cortisol typically elevated |
List the key regions of the brain implicated in mood disorders | Orbital + ventromedial prefrontal cortex Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex Hippocampus Amygdala Anterior cingulate cortex |
What is the effect of major depression on hippocampal volume? | Decrease in hippocampal volume |