Behaviors Caused by Hypothalamic and Thalamic Lesions :: Neurological Chemistry Chemical Papers

Behaviors Caused by Hypothalamic and Thalamic Lesions In the field of neuropsychology, the area in the brain that includes the hypothalamus, the thalamus, and the subthalamus is referred to as the subcortex diencephalon (Kalat 2004). In the following section, lesions to these specific areas will be discussed. The results of the lesions will be addressed from the perspective of a neuropsychologist. Neuropsychological assessment refers to the objective evaluation of the cognitive, linguistic, perceptual, and psychomotor performances of a person with the aim of relating the status of his/her performances to the structural and functional condition of his/her brain (Steinhauer, Gruzelier, & Zubin 1991). Neuropsychological assessment can be approached from an experimental method in which the researcher has greater control of the variables affecting the situation but, generalization is more difficult and human subjects cannot be used in studies (Finger 1978). A clinical method is also used and, although this method does not experience the benefit of complete control, brain-behavior relationships are much easier to study because human subjects can be used in this method (Finger 1978). Both methods are usually combined to produce the most efficient and helpful information for the patient. The most prominent neuropsychological tests include the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, the Halstead-Reitan battery, and the Wechsler Memory Scale (Steinhauer et. al. 1991). These tests provide the opportunity to analyze the components of performance and then identify probable disabilities that would explain the defective performance (Steinhauer, et. al. 1991). The main issue that will be examined in this section will be behavioral effects of lesions to specific parts of the hypothalamus and the thalamus. The hypothalamus is located near the base of the brain and is ventral to the thalamus (Dimond 1978, Kalat 2004). The hypothalamus is part of the limbic system and is responsible for motivational behaviors including emotion, eating, drinking, sexual activity, anxiety and aggression (Kalat 2004, Dimond 1978, Isaacson 1982, Beaumont 1983). The hypothalamus has widespread connections to the rest of the forebrain and also to the midbrain (Kalat 2004). The hypothalamus contains a number of distinct nuclei including the lateral nucleus which controls the initiation of eating and drinking, the ventromedial nucleus which controls the stopping of eating and drinking, the paraventricular nucleus which limits meal size, the supraoptic nucleus which controls the secretion of vasopressin, the suprachiasmic nucleus which constitutes the biological clock,

Explain Steps in Organizational Changes Process Essay

There are four steps in organizational changes process. The management of change involves determining the needs for changes, determining the obstacles to change, implementing change, and evaluating change. Explaining steps in organizational change process are as follows: First, the organization may determine the needs for changes to make organization more responsive, flexible and competitive. Before the changing, the organization should find the gap between performance objectives and actual performance, and uses some indicators, which like total net profit, sales per employee, and labor costs, to measure the gap in order to decide whether the organization needs to change. Second, the organization need to identify the obstacles, which like resisting changes at organization, division or individual level, Unions resistance, the culture, strategies and structures of the organization, and financial ability, to introduce new policies and practices when the organization need to changes. For example, for the financial ability, HR manager expects to introduce new technology to make the organization more competitive. However, the organization doesn’t have enough subsidies to afford all staffs to learn new skills. Therefore, the organization should identify all potential barriers. Third, the organization should consider which methods to implement in the change to reduce the resistance from managers or employees. The organization can use internal managers or external consultants to carry out the changes. The internal managers have more knowledgeable about people and business operations, but the internal managers often are too narrow to successfully introduce change. Besides, the external consultants are politically neutral and possessing broader and have more knowledgeable viewpoints, but the external consultants do not know the organization and its staff. Therefore, the organization should measure which method is more suitable for the organization. Moreover, the organization should use Top-Down or Bottom-Up approach to implement the changes. The Top-Down approach which managers need to involve in decision and implementation, this approach emphasizes on speed and action. This approach shows the low-level staff just participates in the changes, but top-level managers are made decisions. The Bottom-Up approach which involves considerable discussion and consultation with managers and employees, it emphasizes participation, communication, and the minimizations of uncertainty. This approach makes the staff have more motivations and satisfactions. Therefore, the organization should choose which approach to implement the changes. Last, to measure the effectiveness of changes, the organization use some indicators, like employee productivity, job satisfaction, sales, to compare the before and after situations to analyze and control the outcome. For example, when the organization implemented the change, it can compare the sales this year and last year to evaluate the effectiveness of the change. Therefore, the organization can utilize different indicators to evaluate the effectiveness of the change. The organization should change regularly as the business environment is constantly changing. However, some of reasons why the employees sometimes resistant to change are followings: If I were a HR manager, I would handle this situation with different methods to help the employees. As a HR manager, I would communicate with the employees to reduce the influences of them. Some employees may resist changing because they feel incapable of performing well under the new way of doing things like using high technology, and they do not understanding what is happening or why. Therefore, I would communicate with them to reduce their resistances. As a HR manager, I would participate with the employees to attend some lessons or courses, which are provided by the organization. It is because some of them may feel work overload and loss of face when they faced the change. They may feel that they are physically or mentally unable to handle the change and feel uncomfortable. Thus, I would participate with them to support them to change. As a HR manager, I would organize some channels, which like meetings, memos, E-mails, and social network, to let the employees know why the organization needs to change in order to reduce their resistances and angers. In the channels, I would tell them the high technology only less skills required, the change can carry lower pay rate. So I would organize some channels to reduce their fear of the unknown. As a HR manager, I would negotiate with the organization to provide the counseling for the lay-off employees to lower negative emotions. Some of them may feel that their pay and benefits may be reduced or they may lose their job as the economic downturn. Thus, I would require the organization provide counseling to give them comfort. As a HR manager, I would negotiate with the organization providing rewards when the employees accepted some required. The organization needs to introduce some high technology as an example, if some of them, who accepted the requirement, may have opportunities to increase their pays or promotion. Therefore, I would utilize some rewards to attract them. Therefore, as a HR manager, I am not only monitoring organization’s environment, but also I should communicate with employees.

Axia College Material Appendix E - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 1 Words: 405 Downloads: 7 Date added: 2017/09/17 Category Health Essay Type Argumentative essay Did you like this example? Axia College Material Appendix E Suicide Respond to the following based on the information in the â€Å"Suicide Rates by Age Group† article: 1. What has been the trend in suicide rates over the past few years? Suicide rates have declined in the recent years. 2. What part of the U. S. has the highest suicide rate? The highest suicide rate are in the Western part of the United states. 3. List three risk factors for suicide. Three risk factors for suicide are firearms at the household, people who suffer from depression, individuals who had tried to commit suicide in the past. 4. Many researchers worry that suicide rates for adolescents and older adults continue to increase. What does the research data show about these age groups? The research data for the suicide rates for adolescents and older adults shows that these two age groups are also declining, but there is still a common misheld perception that these two groups have rising suicide rates. . In the U. S. , what demographic has the highest rate of suicide? Older white males are shown to have the highest rate. 6. List four possible reasons for the observed decrease in suicide rates. Four possible reasons for the observed decrease in suicide rates include: The economy, substance abuse is at an all time low, life expectancy have increased, and lower homicidal rates. 7. Recent media reports have suggested that medications may provoke suicidal behavior, particularly in adolescents. As a precautionary step, the FDA issued a public health advisory warning doctors to watch patients closely for worsening depression when medication is first prescribed. What does the data show about the effects of medication and suicide? Studies have shown that while taking psychotropic medication to treat depression, in the first months that adolescents have much higher risk for thinking suicidal as well as attempts. 8. Once a patient begins medication for depression, when is that patient at the highest risk for s uicidal ideation and behavior? Once a patient begins medication for depression, he or she is at the highest risk for suicidal ideation and behavior in their first month of using the drug, especially in the first 9 days. 9. Based on the readings, what is your opinion on the use of medication to help control depression and reduce the risk of suicide? I do not and will not ever trust the pharmaceutical companies or doctors. I believe in homeopathic alternatives for healing. Medication should be use only as a last resort. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Axia College Material Appendix E" essay for you Create order