chapters 1& 2 biopsychology as a...

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Chapters 1& 2Biopsychology as a Neuroscience


What Is Biopsychology? “The scientific study of the biology of

behavior” Also called psychobiology,

behavioral biology, behavioralneuroscience

Psychology: the scientific study ofbehavior

`


Biopsychology and OtherDisciplines of Neuroscience Knowledge from other disciplines of

neuroscience is applied to the study ofbehavior

Each discipline studies a differentaspect of the nervous system thatinforms our understanding of whatproduces and controls behavior


Other Disciplines ofNeuroscience Neuroanatomy

Structure of the nervous system Neurochemistry

Chemical bases of neural activity Neuroendocrinology

Interactions between the nervous systemand the endocrine system


Other Disciplines ofNeuroscience (continued)

Neuropathology Nervous system disorders

Neuropharmacology Effects of drugs on neural activity

Neurophysiology Functions and activities of the nervous

system


Biopsychological Research:Three Major Dimensions Human and nonhuman

subjects Experiments and

nonexperiments Pure and applied research


Human and NonhumanSubjects While some questions about behavior

can only be addressed using humansubjects, much can be learned fromstudying the brains of other species

Species differences are morequantitative than qualitative


Human and NonhumanSubjects (continued)

Why use nonhumans? Simpler brains makes it more likely that brain-behavior

interactions will be revealed Comparative approach – gain insight by making

comparisons with other species Fewer ethical restrictions than with humans

Why use humans? They can follow instructions They can report their introspections They’re cheaper


Experiments andNonexperiments Experiments involve the manipulation of

variables In nonexperiments, the researcher does

not control the variables of interest Quasiexperimental studies Case studies


Pure and Applied Research Pure research – conducted for the

purpose of acquiring knowledge Applied research – intended to bring

about some direct benefit to humankind Some research projects may have

elements of both


Divisions of Biopsychology Six major divisions

Physiological psychology Psychopharmacology Neuropsychology Psychophysiology Cognitive neuroscience Comparative psychology

Each has a different approach, but there ismuch overlap


` There is a tendency to think in simple

dichotomies when explaining behavior: Is it physiological or psychological? Is it inherited or is it learned?

Both questions are common, yetmisguided

From Dichotomies toRelations and Interactions


Cartesian dualism: Descartes arguedthat the universe consists of twoelements Physical matter Human mind (soul, self, or spirit)

Cartesian dualism views the mind andbrain as separate entities

Is It Physiological orPsychological?


Is It Inherited or Is It Learned? The “nature-nurture” issue Watson, father of behaviorism, believed

that all behavior was the product oflearning (nurture)

Ethology, the study of animal behaviorin the wild, focused on instinctivebehaviors, emphasizing nature


Problem 1: Brain damage

has an impact on psycho-logical functioning—OliverSacks’s case study of aman with asomatognosia

Deficiency in awareness ofparts of one’s own body

Due to damage to the rightparietal lobe

Problems of Traditional Dicho-tomies: Mind-Brain Dualism


Problem 2: Chimps show psycho-logical (i.e., “human”) abilities—Gallup’s research on chimp self-awareness Chimps spontaneously groom themselves

in mirror Chimps examine and touch red mark on

their own face seen in mirror

Problems of Traditional Dichotomies: Mind-Brain Dualism


Many factors have an impact on behavior otherthan genetics (nature) or learning (nurture)

“Nurture” now encompasses learning andenvironment

While it is generally accepted that behavior is aproduct of nature and nurture, many still ask howmuch is determined by each, but genetic andexperiential factors do not merely combine in anadditive fashion

Problems of TraditionalDichotomies: Nature-or-Nurture

chapters 1& 2 biopsychology as a...

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