A discussion of depression from a chemical and physiological point was presented. The areas or personality that depression affects,the major features of depression, the major feelings of a depressed individual,and the main affect being anhedonia. The causes of depression and the physiological brain changes which are seen in chronic depression.

Discussed the brain physiology of anxiety, the causes, the different types and physical factors.

Differentiate between mood disorders and specific emotions or feelings. Mood being an emotional state, less intense and without a specific emotion. Elevated, depressed, and bipolar disorder were listed as mood types.The possible causative agents of each was briefly discussed,as being a positive or negative mood. The connection of negative leading to mood problems in social relationships, depression, anxiety, aggression, and physiological stress was discussed. This will lead into the anatomy and physiology of the brain which is involved with these psychological affects, and the drugs used to treat them.

A discussion of what constituted the psychological definition and meaning of "mood" started the class. How mood was an emotional state in contrast to an emotion, feeling, or affect. How a mood can be changed by an unexpected event, from the happiness of seeing an old friend to the anger of discovering betrayal by that friend. The class diverted to emotional health due to mood changes, and for the remainder of the class, a discussion of growth hormone (somatatropin) , genetic and environmental affects on bone and connective tissue growth, and the effects of overproduction of HGH in adult life.

The definition of narcotics as pain modulating chemicals which cause insensibility and bind to opioid receptors started the class. The effects of narcotics was listed: analgesia, sedation, euphoria, cough suppression was listed, with a brief explanation of each.The pharmacology and physiology of pain management was discussed, by first recognizing the pathway by which pain is transmitted. Acute and chronic pain nerve fibers are different, acute being fast and chronic much slower. The production of endorphins as the signal passes into the brain stem modifies the pain, and the binding of opioids to the same receptors allows for greater pain relief. The perception of pain by the brain was stressed, as well as the pathway.

The derivation of endorphins from endogenous morphine was discussed. The primary locations of endorphin production were listed along with the main functions of these neurotransmitters. That is to inhibit the communication of pain signals and to produce a feeling of euphoria. Euphoria was looked up and the definition written down. Endorphins are naturally produced and bind to specific mu receptors, and inhibit the release of GABA.
GABA affects the concentration of Dopamine by inhibiting it. Since Dopamine release is associated with "pleasure", inhibition of GABA will increase dopamine and increase euphoric feeling. The main factors which will cause an increase of endorphin production are; exercise, laughter, eating, music, chocolate, and meditation.

Prior to the study of endorphins, opiates receptors, the physiology of pain needed to be discussed.
What is pain? This question led to pain as a sensation, caused by activation of sensory neurons. These neurons possess a high firing threshold, requiring a stimulus sufficient enough to generate pain, rather than just touch or pressure. A discussion of the three common classifications of pain followed; acute pain, chronic non-malignant, and chronic malignant. The parameters of each type were listed and then the differences between acute and chronic were discussed. The feeling of helplessness compared to the feeling of hopelessness was discussed as a psychological and physical manifestation of the level of pain threshold.

Selected sections of the ACT practice problems were reviewed and Vlad's incorrect answers evaluated with methods of how to avoid some simple errors discussed...

Continuing with review in the science section of the ACT... Stressing how best to answer the questions, even if the material is not known. How to eliminate extraneous facts in the questions, which have no effect on the answer.

We answered questions from the science section of the ACT exam. This review was to aid Vlad in increasing his point grade on the exam.