BIOPSYCHOLOGY 8e John P.J. Pinel
Neuroscience The scientific study of the nervous system May prove to be the brain s ultimate challenge: Does the brain have the capacity to understand something as complex as itself?
The Purpose of This Chapter Neuroscience comprises several related disciplines. The primary purpose of this chapter is to introduce you to one of them: Biopsychology
Defining Biopsychology What is biopsychology? Biopsychology is the scientific study of the biology of behaviour.
History of Biopsychology Became a major discipline in the 20th century assisted by: The Organization of behavior D.O. Hebb (1949) Hebb was key in biopsychology s development into a major neuroscientific discipline Proposed that psychological phenomena can be produced by brain activity Psychological functions are not too complex to be derived from physiological activities
Donald O. Hebb Canadian from Nova Scotia. http://www.psych.ualberta.ca/gcpws/hebb/hebb.html
Disciplines of Neuroscience That Are Relevant to Biopsychology Functions and activities of the nervous system Neurophysiology Effects of drugs on neural activity Neuroanatomy Neuroscience Neurochemistry Structure of the nervous system Chemical bases of neural activity Neuropathology Nervous system disorders Interactions between the nervous system and the endocrine system
What Types of Research Characterize the Biopsychological Approach?
Biopsychological Research Three dimensions along which biopsychological research varies: SUBJECTS METHODS TYPES OF RESEARCH Human Nonhuman Experiments Nonexperiments Pure Applied
Advantages of Human and Nonhuman Subjects HUMAN SUBJECTS They can follow instructions. They can report their subjective experiences. They are often cheaper to work with. They have a human brain. NONHUMAN SUBJECTS Simpler brains make it more likely that brainbehaviour interactions will be revealed. Insights arise from the comparative approach making comparisons with other species. There are fewer ethical restrictions.
Pure and Applied Research Pure Applied Research: Research: Many research Intended to Conducted for the purpose of projects havebring about some direct elements of both acquiring knowledge approaches.benefit to humankind
What Are the Divisions of Biopsychology?
Six Major Divisions of Biopsychology Physiological psychology Psychophysiology Cognitive neuroscience Psychopharmacology Neuropsychology Comparative psychology
Physiological Psychology Division that studies the neural mechanisms of behaviour Uses direct manipulation of the brain in controlled experiments (e.g. surgical and electrical methods of brain manipulation) Subjects usually laboratory animals Strong focus on pure research
Psychopharmacology Similar to physiological psychology Focuses on the manipulation of neural activity and behaviour with drugs Substantial portion of research is applied
Neuropsychology Studies the psychological effects of brain damage in human patients Cannot be studied in humans by experimentation; focuses on case studies and quasiexperimental studies Has focused on cerebral cortex, since it is most likely to be damaged by accident or surgery Most applied of the biopsychological subdisciplines
Psychophysiology Studies the relation between physiological activity and psychological processes in human subjects. Typically uses noninvasive procedures (e.g. electroencephalogram, measures of eye movement) Adapted from Iacono & Koenig, 1983.
Cognitive Neuroscience Newest division of biopsychology Focuses on the neural bases of cognition Often employs human subjects Key methods are functional brain imaging techniques
Comparative Psychology Deals with biology of behaviour Compares different species to understand evolution, genetics, and adaptiveness of behaviour Uses laboratory and/or ethological research Areas of research that often employ comparative analysis: Evolutionary psychology Behavioural genetics
Critical Thinking about Biopsychological Claims
Critical Thinking The ability to evaluate scientific claims by identifying potential omissions or weaknesses in the evidence
Case Study! Subject: Egas Moniz Developed the prefrontal lobotomy, cutting connections between the prefrontal lobes and the rest of the brain to treat mental illness Analysis: Adoption for human therapy based largely on study of a single chimpanzee (Becky) Inadequate postoperative evaluation of human patients Procedure can produce undesirable side effects: amorality, lack of foresight, emotional unresponsiveness, epilepsy, urinary incontinence
The Prefrontal Lobotomy The leucotome was inserted six times into the patient s brain with the cutting wire retracted. After each insertion, the cutting wire was extruded and the leucotome rotated to cut out a core of tissue.