Four Major Themes of Biopsychology

Thinking Creatively about Biopsychology

- Base thinking on the evidence presented. – But also “think outside the box.”

Clinical Implications

– Study of diseased or damaged brains leads to new knowledge. – New knowledge leads to new treatments.

The Evolutionary Perspective

trying to understand biological phenomena by comparing them in different species

May use a comparative approach

Neuroplasticity

The brain is plastic, not static

What is Biopsychology?

1949 book, *The Organization of Behavior*, was important in the development of biopsychology

D. O. Hebb’s

proposed that psychological phenomena, such as perceptions, emotions, thoughts, and memories, might be produced by brain activity

helped disprove the idea that psychological functions are too complex to arise from physiological activities

Other Disciplines of Neuroscience are:

Neuroanatomy

Neurochemistry

Neuroendocrinology

Neuropathology

Neuropharmacology

Neurophysiology

What Types of Research Characterize the Biopsychological Approach? (Biopsychological Research)

Advantages of Humans (research)

Advantages of Nonhuman Subjects are:

“Experiments”

Comparative Approach

a different group of subjects is tested under each condition

to test the same group of subjects under each condition

What you manipulate

What you count

affects the dependent variable but is not controlled for.

Two common types of nonexperimental studies are:

Quasiexperiments

-Real world, confounded variables –Used when controlled experiments are impossible –Self-selected subjects –Key Problem-Can’t control confounds

true or false question: -QUASIEXPERIMENTAL STUDIES are NOT true experiments because potential confounded variables have not been controlled?

Case Studies

–Used when conditions are rare, such as Jimmie G. –Single-subject design –Usually more in-depth than other approaches, but may not be generalizable –Often a source of a testable hypothesis

Pure research

–Used for cause and effect relationships –Between subjects design- Different groups –Within subjects design –Independent variables- What you manipulate –Dependent variables- What you count –Confounded variables- affects the dependent variable but is not controlled for.

-Curiosity of the researcher –Conducted for the purpose of acquiring knowledge –Focus on basic concepts

Applied Research

-Use basic research to answer specific problems –Intended to bring about some direct benefit to humankind

true or false question: *research projects have no elements of both “Pure and Applied Research”

-Neuroanatomy -Neurochemistry -Neuroendocrinology -Neuropathology -Neuropharmacology -Neurophysiology

Major Divisions of Biopsychology

–Physiological psychology –Psychopharmacology –Neuropsychology –Psychophysiology –Cognitive neuroscience –Comparative psychology

Physiological Psychology

•Neural mechanisms of behavior •Controlled experiments with direct manipulation of the brain •Mostly lab animals •Focus on pure research

Psychopharmacology

•Manipulation of nervous system pharmacologically •Focuses on drug effects on behavior •Drug effects change neural activity •Conduct both pure and applied questions

Neuropsychology

•Focuses on behavioral effects of brain damage •Uses case studies and quasiexperimental designs •Applied research

Psychophysiology

•Relation between physiological activity and psychological processes •Uses noninvasive recordings from humans – Muscle tension – Eye movement – Pupil dilation – Electrical conductance of the skin – Example: Visual tracking is abnormal in schizophrenics

•Uses noninvasive recordings from humans – Muscle tension – Eye movement – Pupil dilation – Electrical conductance of the skin – Example: Visual tracking is abnormal in schizophrenics

Focus: Neural basis of cognitive processes – Learning/memory – Attention – Perceptual processes

Cognitive Neuroscience

•Newest division •Focus: Neural basis of cognitive processes •Use noninvasive, functional brain imaging is the major method •Often collaborative between varied scientists

The red and yellow areas indicate _______ in the _______ at the _______ of the brain

Comparative Psychology

Focuses on the biology of behavior

ethological studies

•Focuses on the biology of behavior •Comparing different species to understand genetics, & adaptiveness of behavior •Features comparative and functional approaches •Features laboratory and ethological studies- study of animals in their normal environment

How Do Biopsychologists Work Together?

Converging Operations

_Using Multiple approaches to address a single question –Each compensates for the shortcomings of others

What is an example of “Converging Operations?”

is a condition characterized by severe memory loss & most commonly seen in alcoholics

Korsakoff’s syndrome

Yes or No question: *does Alcohol accelerates the development of brain damage in thiamine-deficient rats?

Scientific Inference

-empirical method that Biopsychologists use to study the unobservable -Scientists measure what they can observe and use these measures as a basis for inferring what they can’t observe -Scientists look at the effects of processes

what is an example of “Scientific Inference?”

What are the “Biopsychological Claims” specifically their cases?

-Delgado claimed that a charging bull can be tamed by means of stimulation of its caudate nucleus. -Suggested it might cure psychopaths

____ claimed that a charging bull can be tamed by means of stimulation of its ______

- Adoption for human therapy based largely on study of a single chimpanzee - Following reports of success, lobotomy freely used in human

______ wins Nobel Prize for prefrontal lobotomy

true or false question: Case 2:Prefrontal Lobotomy; with adequate postoperative evaluation of human patients, often by the physician who prescribed the surgery.

Yes or No question: Case 2: Prefrontal Lobotomy; Undesirable side effects

Regions Affected by Prefrontal Lobotomy are?

The prefrontal lobotomy procedure developed by ____&____

______ for performing prefrontal lobotomy

empirical method that Biopsychologists use to study the unobservable

Scientists look at the effects of processes