Disorders of the Nervous System
Disorders of the Nervous System
THE brain is the "organ" of the mind. Most scientists believe that all of the phenomena of behavior and the mind have a basis in the activities of the nervous system. If this is so, then the same must hold true for all of psychopathology. But this leads to a puzzle.
Why is the study of diseases of
the nervous system ("'organic syndromes")* only a small part of abnormal
psychology? What does it mean that some disorders are "functional," that
is, not organic? Modern medicine recognizes this organic-functional distinction
in the establishment of two separate disciplines: neurology and psychiatry.
If the domain of neurologists is diseases of the nervous system, what
is left for psychiatrists or psychologists?
There must be different senses in which we make the claim that there is a
neural basis for all behaviors and mental events. In practice, a case of abnormal
behavior falls in the domain of neurology (and hence, would be
classified as an organic syndrome) to the extent it can be explained by known
pathology in the structure or function of the nervous system. Otherwise, it
falls into the domain of psychiatry or psychology (as a functional syndrome).
The organic-functional distinction is like the distinction between hardware
and software in computers. Hardware (corresponding to the structure
and function of the nervous system) refers to the fixed, factory-produced
components and wiring of the computer. Software is information (programs)
fed into the system. The performance of the computer is the result of
the interaction of software and hardware. The software is physically real,
resides in some electrical form in the hardware, and yet is quite distinct from
the hardware. The software can be modified from the outside by loading a
new program, whereas modification or repair of the hardware requires dealing
directly with the components inside the computer. The people who design,
improve, or "debug" software, that is, computer programmers, do not
usually design or repair hardware.
Roughly, those who deal with software are
the psychologists or psychiatrists, and those
who deal with the hardware are the neurologists.
In this paper, we will begin by explaining why neurology is important in
understanding psychopathology. We will then explore the different ways in
which disorders of the nervous system may be reflected in mind and behavior,
and we will illustrate how basic principles of nervous system function
help us to understand psychopathology, We will briefly discuss the varieties
and causes of diseases of the nervous system, and we will demonstrate how
neurologists diagnose abnormality. We will consider language, movement,
and memory disorders in light of the organic-functional distinction and the
basic principles of function of the nervous system. Then, after a brief discussion
of the treatment of diseases of the nervous system, we will return to
the organic-functional distinction, discussing the relations among nervous
system function, individual experience, and culture in the understanding of
psychopathology.
* The term "organic" actually refers to pathology in some organ system as a cause for disease. Though most organic bases for psychopathology occur in the nervous system, some occur in the endocrine system (e.g., over- or under-activity of the thyroid gland).
For the Treatment I recommend click this link:
http://theliberatormethod.com
THE brain is the "organ" of the mind. Most scientists believe that all of the phenomena of behavior and the mind have a basis in the activities of the nervous system. If this is so, then the same must hold true for all of psychopathology. But this leads to a puzzle.
Why is the study of diseases of
the nervous system ("'organic syndromes")* only a small part of abnormal
psychology? What does it mean that some disorders are "functional," that
is, not organic? Modern medicine recognizes this organic-functional distinction
in the establishment of two separate disciplines: neurology and psychiatry.
If the domain of neurologists is diseases of the nervous system, what
is left for psychiatrists or psychologists?
There must be different senses in which we make the claim that there is a
neural basis for all behaviors and mental events. In practice, a case of abnormal
behavior falls in the domain of neurology (and hence, would be
classified as an organic syndrome) to the extent it can be explained by known
pathology in the structure or function of the nervous system. Otherwise, it
falls into the domain of psychiatry or psychology (as a functional syndrome).
The organic-functional distinction is like the distinction between hardware
and software in computers. Hardware (corresponding to the structure
and function of the nervous system) refers to the fixed, factory-produced
components and wiring of the computer. Software is information (programs)
fed into the system. The performance of the computer is the result of
the interaction of software and hardware. The software is physically real,
resides in some electrical form in the hardware, and yet is quite distinct from
the hardware. The software can be modified from the outside by loading a
new program, whereas modification or repair of the hardware requires dealing
directly with the components inside the computer. The people who design,
improve, or "debug" software, that is, computer programmers, do not
usually design or repair hardware.
Roughly, those who deal with software are
the psychologists or psychiatrists, and those
who deal with the hardware are the neurologists.
In this paper, we will begin by explaining why neurology is important in
understanding psychopathology. We will then explore the different ways in
which disorders of the nervous system may be reflected in mind and behavior,
and we will illustrate how basic principles of nervous system function
help us to understand psychopathology, We will briefly discuss the varieties
and causes of diseases of the nervous system, and we will demonstrate how
neurologists diagnose abnormality. We will consider language, movement,
and memory disorders in light of the organic-functional distinction and the
basic principles of function of the nervous system. Then, after a brief discussion
of the treatment of diseases of the nervous system, we will return to
the organic-functional distinction, discussing the relations among nervous
system function, individual experience, and culture in the understanding of
psychopathology.
* The term "organic" actually refers to pathology in some organ system as a cause for disease. Though most organic bases for psychopathology occur in the nervous system, some occur in the endocrine system (e.g., over- or under-activity of the thyroid gland).
For the Treatment I recommend click this link:
http://theliberatormethod.com