Chapter One Introducing Biological Psychology
Jan 12, 2016
Chapter One
Introducing Biological Psychology
CHAPTER 1INTRODUCING BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Biological Psychology as an Interdisciplinary Field
• Biological psychology – “the branch of psychology that studies the
biological foundation of behavior, emotions, and mental processes” – (Pickett, 2000)
• Draws on techniques and theories from psychology, biology, physiology, biochemistry, the neurosciences, and related fields
Historical Highlights in Biological Psychology
• Ancient people’s view of the nervous system– Trepanation– Egyptian medical papyrus – Ancient Greeks: Hippocrates, Aristotle, Herophilus, Galen
• 1500-1800– Descartes: Mind-body dualism– Van Leeuwenhoek– Galvani– Bell and Magendie
Figure 1.1 Prehistoric Brain Surgery
Figure 1.2 The Reflex According to Descartes
Figure 1.5 Phrenology Bust
Historical Highlights in Biological Psychology
• Phrenology– Gall and Spurzheim– Structure of a person’s skull could be correlated with his or
her individual personality characteristics and abilities
• Historical names– Paul Broca– Carl Wernicke– Phineas Gage
Phineas Gage
Research Methods in Biological Psychology
• Histology– The study of microscopic structures and tissues– Provides means for observing structure, organization, and
connections of individual cells– Microtome machine and specialized stains
• Autopsy– Examination of the body after death– Correlational method that must be interpreted carefully
and precisely
Figure 1.6 Horseradish Peroxidase Provides a Method for Identifying Neural Pathways
Research Methods in Biological Psychology
• Imaging– Can watch living brain as it behaves– Types of imaging technologies
• Computerized Tomography (CT)• Positron Emission Tomography (PET)• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
– Functional MRI (fMRI)
Figure 1.7 CT Scans
Figure 1.8 PET Scans Show Patterns of Brain Activation
Figure 1.10 fMRI Tracks Cerebral Blood Flow
Research Methods in Biological Psychology
• Recording– Record electrical and magnetic output from the brain – Electroencephalogram (EEG)– Evoked potentials– Magnetoencephalography (MEG)– Single-cell recordings
Figure 1.11 Hans Berger and the First EEG Recording
Figure 1.12 Evoked Potentials
Figure 1.13 Magnetoencephalography (MEG)
Research Methods in Biological Psychology
• Brain Stimulation– Artificially stimulating areas of the brain with electricity or
magnetism and watching for resulting behavior– Can be applied during neurosurgery– Transcranial magnetic stimulation– Most stimulation research has been conducted with
laboratory animals
• Lesion– Injury to neural tissue
• Naturally occurring• Deliberately produced
Figure 1.14 Recording Electrodes Surgically Implanted in a Rat’s Brain
Figure 1.17 Lesion
Research Methods in Biological Psychology
• Biochemical Methods– Use of chemical stimulation and microdialysis
• Genetic Methods– Twin studies– Adoption studies– Studies of genetically-modified animals
• Stem Cells– Undifferentiated cells that can divide and differentiate into
other types of cells
Research Ethics
• Mechanisms for protection of human participants and animal research subjects– Federal government and the Common Rule– University review and institutional review boards– Publication process and review
Research Ethics
• Human Participant Guidelines– Coercion of research participants is unacceptable– Benefits to participants should not be “excessive or
inappropriate”– Participants must be informed that they can leave without
penalty at any time– Participants must be told enough about the experiment to
make an informed decision about participating– Participants must receive contact information in case they
have questions – Participants must be assured their data will be confidential
Research Ethics
• Animal Subjects Guidelines– Necessity of research– Basic care and housing– Experimental procedures should cause as little pain and
distress as possible
• Emerging Issues in Research Ethics– Ethics of research on the internet– Ethics of stem cell research