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