Psychology 261Psychology 261Physiological PsychologyPhysiological Psychology

Welcome to the course!Welcome to the course!

How does PSYCH 261 fit into the How does PSYCH 261 fit into the psychology curriculum?psychology curriculum?

We expect some basic knowledge from PSYCH We expect some basic knowledge from PSYCH 101101

We DO NOT expect any particular background We DO NOT expect any particular background in the life sciences, but inevitably such in the life sciences, but inevitably such background will help you if you have it.background will help you if you have it.

This course serves as prerequisite for: PSYCH This course serves as prerequisite for: PSYCH 306 (perception), PSYCH 307 (human 306 (perception), PSYCH 307 (human neuropsychology), PSYCH 399 (Research in neuropsychology), PSYCH 399 (Research in behavioural neuroscience), PSYCH 461 behavioural neuroscience), PSYCH 461 (Honours seminar in behavioural neuroscience).(Honours seminar in behavioural neuroscience).

Who is teaching the course?Who is teaching the course?

Colin Ellard (phone ext. 6852, email Colin Ellard (phone ext. 6852, email cellard@watarts.uwaterloo.cacellard@watarts.uwaterloo.ca).). More about me than you care to know.More about me than you care to know. What I can do for youWhat I can do for you

Lectures, questions, evaluationLectures, questions, evaluation What I can’t do for youWhat I can’t do for you

Read the textbook or make this really easyRead the textbook or make this really easy

Who else is teaching the course?Who else is teaching the course?

The teaching assistantsThe teaching assistants Gillian Munro (Gillian Munro (gesmunro@watarts.uwaterloo.cagesmunro@watarts.uwaterloo.ca, PAS , PAS

4219)4219) Chris Striemer (Chris Striemer (clstreim@watarts.uwaterloo.caclstreim@watarts.uwaterloo.ca, PAS , PAS

4227)4227)

What the teaching assistants can do for youWhat the teaching assistants can do for you Tutorials and office hoursTutorials and office hours

What the teaching assistants cannot do for youWhat the teaching assistants cannot do for you Tell you what questions are on the tests (they won’t Tell you what questions are on the tests (they won’t

know) or give you extra marks.know) or give you extra marks.

What is the textbook?What is the textbook?

Biological psychology (Rosenzweig, Breedlove & Biological psychology (Rosenzweig, Breedlove & Leiman) 3Leiman) 3rdrd edition. edition. Used copies MAY be available but check editionUsed copies MAY be available but check edition One copy will be on reserve in PorterOne copy will be on reserve in Porter The bookstore doesn’t have enough copies for all of The bookstore doesn’t have enough copies for all of

you (but they will get more if they sell out).you (but they will get more if they sell out). Don’t ignore the CD – it’s got some good stuff on it.Don’t ignore the CD – it’s got some good stuff on it. Check out the website (Check out the website (www.biopsychology.comwww.biopsychology.com) for ) for

great summaries of breaking neuroscience newsgreat summaries of breaking neuroscience news

How do I get an ‘A’?How do I get an ‘A’?

All evaluation is by multiple-choice (I don’t like it, but All evaluation is by multiple-choice (I don’t like it, but that’s life).that’s life).The midterm is on October 16The midterm is on October 16thth and is worth 40%. and is worth 40%.The exam is in the exam period and is worth 60%The exam is in the exam period and is worth 60%Official documentation is required for a rewriteOfficial documentation is required for a rewriteI will bring example questions to class as often as I can.I will bring example questions to class as often as I can.In the past, few people who have failed to attend class In the past, few people who have failed to attend class regularly and kept up with the reading have succeeded in regularly and kept up with the reading have succeeded in the course.the course.Try not to get behind.Try not to get behind.Ask for help when a problem arises and NOT on the day Ask for help when a problem arises and NOT on the day before the midterm.before the midterm.

The organization of the courseThe organization of the course

My lectures will follow the syllabus, which is My lectures will follow the syllabus, which is organized in terms of textbook chapters. But my organized in terms of textbook chapters. But my lectures will not necessarily cover everything in lectures will not necessarily cover everything in the textbook.the textbook.I will publish coursenotes on the course website I will publish coursenotes on the course website in time for you to print off and bring to class if in time for you to print off and bring to class if you wish: you wish: http://watarts.uwaterloo.ca/~cellard/teaching/http://watarts.uwaterloo.ca/~cellard/teaching/ PSYC261/p261index.htmlPSYC261/p261index.htmlIt’s a huge class – but try not to be intimidated It’s a huge class – but try not to be intimidated about asking questions. Ask on email and I will about asking questions. Ask on email and I will answer in class.answer in class.

Three simple requests regarding Three simple requests regarding etiquetteetiquette

Please do your best to arrive on time (and Please do your best to arrive on time (and I’ll do the same).I’ll do the same).

Please don’t carry out loud, distracting Please don’t carry out loud, distracting conversations in class. conversations in class.

I will always finish class on or before the I will always finish class on or before the stroke of 2:20 pm. Please don’t start stroke of 2:20 pm. Please don’t start packing up until I’ve finished speaking.packing up until I’ve finished speaking.

What a great bunch of topics we What a great bunch of topics we have to cover!have to cover!

Basic neuroscience stuff – brain cells, Basic neuroscience stuff – brain cells, neuroanatomy, how brain cells neuroanatomy, how brain cells communicatecommunicate

How we know the external world (the How we know the external world (the senses)senses)

How we engage that world (movement)How we engage that world (movement)

Sex, sleep and feeling.Sex, sleep and feeling.

Questions?Questions?

Psychology 261Psychology 261

Biological psychology: Biological psychology: Scope and OutlookScope and Outlook

Lecture synopsisLecture synopsis

What is biopsychology?What is biopsychology?

The three main experimental approachesThe three main experimental approaches

Examples of modern biopsychological Examples of modern biopsychological researchresearch

What’s in a name?What’s in a name?

Biological psychology or biopsychologyBiological psychology or biopsychology

Physiological psychologyPhysiological psychology

PsychobiologyPsychobiology

Behavioural NeuroscienceBehavioural Neuroscience

What are we?What are we?

As neuroscientists, we’re the behaviour As neuroscientists, we’re the behaviour people.people.

As psychologists, we’re the brain people.As psychologists, we’re the brain people.

What is physiological What is physiological psychology?psychology?

The study of the relationship between The study of the relationship between brain and behaviourbrain and behaviour study of behaviourstudy of behaviour comparative/evolutionary approachescomparative/evolutionary approaches developmental approachesdevelopmental approaches mechanismmechanism applicationapplication

The study of behaviourThe study of behaviour

structural descriptions of behaviourstructural descriptions of behaviour here’s where we say exactly what is happening here’s where we say exactly what is happening

(“the gentleman put his left leg over the melon….”)(“the gentleman put his left leg over the melon….”)

functional descriptions of behaviourfunctional descriptions of behaviour this goes beyond direct observation -- makes this goes beyond direct observation -- makes

some inferences about what is being some inferences about what is being done done (“foraging behaviour”)(“foraging behaviour”)

need to be careful with these-- know where your need to be careful with these-- know where your inferences come frominferences come from

Comparative and Evolutionary Comparative and Evolutionary approachesapproaches

continuity of behaviourcontinuity of behaviour nature is conservative -- expect to see the nature is conservative -- expect to see the

same things re-usedsame things re-usedeg. The nerve impulseeg. The nerve impulse

species-specificity of behaviourspecies-specificity of behaviour nature can be adventurous -- new things can nature can be adventurous -- new things can

appear to suit the needs of a speciesappear to suit the needs of a specieseg. The evolution of languageeg. The evolution of language

We are all alike and we are all We are all alike and we are all differentdifferent

Developmental approachesDevelopmental approaches

individuals change over the lifespan individuals change over the lifespan (ontogeny)(ontogeny) TeenagersTeenagers

RT to identify emotion in pictures like these begins to increase after age 11 and until about age 20. Also, emotion is more often mis-identified

Developmental Approaches (cont)Developmental Approaches (cont)

Teens show more activation in amygdalaTeens show more activation in amygdala

Adults show more activation on frontal Adults show more activation on frontal cortex.cortex.

This is your brain on fear (if you’re a teenager)

This is your brain on fear (if you’re an adult

MechanismMechanism

the real engine of biopsychologythe real engine of biopsychology how does the organization and activity of how does the organization and activity of

neurons neurons explainexplain behaviour? behaviour? It’s surprisingly rare to be able to give a very It’s surprisingly rare to be able to give a very

complete explanation of anything in complete explanation of anything in neuroscienceneuroscience

Brain-behaviour relationsBrain-behaviour relations

Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus (1700 BC)Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus (1700 BC) Describes a number of cases of head injuriesDescribes a number of cases of head injuries First mention of crossed relationship between First mention of crossed relationship between

brain and bodybrain and body First mention of aphasia (loss of speech due First mention of aphasia (loss of speech due

to damage to left temporal lobe).to damage to left temporal lobe).

Gall and phrenologyGall and phrenology

Early origins of localization of functionEarly origins of localization of function

Basic idea was that the brain is divided into different areas for different functions (not so silly) and that one could ‘read’ individual brain differences from bumps on the head (somewhat sillier).

fMRI and localizationfMRI and localization

The underlying assumptionsThe underlying assumptions

That the brain has something to do with our That the brain has something to do with our behaviourbehaviour A stronger form of this statement that most A stronger form of this statement that most

physiological psychologists would agree with is to say physiological psychologists would agree with is to say that the mind that the mind isis the workings of the brain (This is the workings of the brain (This is identity theory, a form of monism).identity theory, a form of monism).

That different parts of the brain do different That different parts of the brain do different thingsthings Often, this is as far as our analysis has taken us.Often, this is as far as our analysis has taken us.

Response specificity in the visual Response specificity in the visual systemsystem

Gaze direction cells in neocortexGaze direction cells in neocortex

Cells in the brain of a monkey respond to the direction in which another monkey is looking

ApplicationApplication

research can be applied to human research can be applied to human problemsproblems There are many great examples (recovery of There are many great examples (recovery of

function, addiction, early diagnosis of function, addiction, early diagnosis of diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease).diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease).

Transplants and implants, recoveryTransplants and implants, recovery

There is some evidence that procedures like this can help with Parkinson’s disease and perhaps other afflictions

Birdsong and brain growthBirdsong and brain growth

Fernando Nottebohm

Cross section of zebra finch brain showing song production (blue) and song learning (red) pathways.

The three main experimental The three main experimental approachesapproaches

somatic interventionsomatic intervention

behavioural interventionbehavioural intervention

correlationcorrelation

Somatic interventionSomatic intervention

we mess with the brain to affect behaviourwe mess with the brain to affect behaviour introduce a chemicalintroduce a chemical make a lesionmake a lesion stimulate a pathwaystimulate a pathway

Behavioural interventionBehavioural intervention

we mess with behaviour to affect the brainwe mess with behaviour to affect the brain enriched environmentsenriched environments imaging, EEGimaging, EEG

CorrelationCorrelation

we mess with mathematics to look at the we mess with mathematics to look at the relationship between two variablesrelationship between two variables these methods rely on individual differencesthese methods rely on individual differences

are bigger brains better?are bigger brains better?

Is schizophrenia correlated with any interesting Is schizophrenia correlated with any interesting structural variation in brains?structural variation in brains?

Three main approaches to Three main approaches to studying the physiology of studying the physiology of

behaviourbehaviour

SummarySummary

Physiological psychology is at the interface of Physiological psychology is at the interface of psychology and neurosciencepsychology and neurosciencePhysiological psychology is multifaceted, and Physiological psychology is multifaceted, and includes evolutionary, developmental, applied includes evolutionary, developmental, applied and mechanistic elementsand mechanistic elementsThe three main experimental approaches involve The three main experimental approaches involve somatic or behavioural intervention, or somatic or behavioural intervention, or correlation.correlation.We’re really just getting started – there’s much We’re really just getting started – there’s much to be done.to be done.

For next time….For next time….

You should read through Chapter 1 (I’ll You should read through Chapter 1 (I’ll bring some questions for you!).bring some questions for you!).

Start reading Chapter 2 (neuroanatomy). Start reading Chapter 2 (neuroanatomy). You will want to read this chapter several You will want to read this chapter several times before the midterm. There’s much times before the midterm. There’s much to learn here.to learn here.