Matt,
Any standard physiological psychology text (e.g., Carlson's "Physiology of
Behavior") would be a good start. You might also want to try
"Neuropsychopharmacology" by Cooper, Bloom and Ross (it's less intimidating
than it sounds). I would also suggest that you remind the student that high or
low "global" levels of a single neurotransmitter as being responsible for a
corresponding increase or decrease in a single behavior or a limited group of
behaviors is probably a fairly primitive way of conceptualizing the role of
neurotransmitters in behavior. For example, a lot of the function of the
monoamines is to act as neuromodulators (i.e., modulating the effects of other
neurotransmitter systems rather than having a direct effect, per se).
Serotonin has been shown to be involved in some way with behaviors as varied
as ingestive behaviors (including suckling behaviors), affective state,
certain psychopathologies and sleep/wake cycles.
Hope this helps.
Matthew Raney wrote:
> Hey, all,
>
> I had a student ask what the effects of significantly high levels of
> serotonin might be, and wasn't quite sure. Does anyone know, or know of
> some reference where I might learn what the effects would be?
>
> Thanks!
> Matt Raney
>
> ***************************************************************************
> Matthew L. Raney Work #: (919) 962-5082
> Graduate Student, Clinical Psychology
> Davie Hall, CB #3270
> Department of Psychology
> University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
> Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3270
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Steven M. Specht, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology
Psychology Department
Utica College of Syracuse University
1600 Burrstone Rd.
Utica, NY 13502
(315) 792-3171
*** be fruitfly and multiple
