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Chapter One

Introducing Biological Psychology

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Biological Psychology as an Interdisciplinary Field

Includes the study of psychology, biology, physiology, biochemistry, the neural sciences and related fields.

Biological Psychology: the study of relationships between the nervous system and behavior, which can be circular.

Example: high testosterone may produce aggression (biology

affects behavior), but watching your favorite sports team lose may

reduce testosterone levels (behavior affects biology).

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Highlights in the Biological Psychology Timeline

Prehistoric (7000 yrs

ago): Trepanation

Courtesy San Diego Museum of Man

http://www.smith.edu/hsc/museum/ancient_inventions/images/hsc06a2.jpg

http://j-walkblog.com/old/images/trepanation.jpg

http://www.brain-surgery.com/bsicknif.gif

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Highlights in the Biological Psychology Timeline

Egyptians (5000 yrs

ago): Brain discarded

during mummification,

Courtesy San Diego Museum of Man but… modern-sounding descriptions of structure and the effects of brain injury.

http://www.civilization.ca/civil/egypt/images/reli15a.jpg

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Greek Thinkers (4th century BC):

Where is our intellect? Hippocrates: brain Aristotle: heart Herophilus: ventricles

Galen (130-200 C.E.) made many accurate anatomical

observations, but continued the misunderstanding of the role of the ventricles.

http://www.obfocus.com/images/csf.gif

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Zeitgeist of 17th to 19th century

Mechanism: the universe viewed as an enormous

machine all natural processes are mechanical

(ie, they have parts that work together in a predictable manner)

Therefore, natural processes can be measured and explained logically

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René Descartes (1596-1650)

Continued the notion that fluids produced movement.

Withdrawal Reflex Nerves sense heat or pain

and opened “pores” in the brain.

Pores release animal spirits which flow through hollow tubes in the body.

Reservoirs in the muscles would fill with these spirits, causing the foot to pull away from the fire.

http://www.nyu.edu/pages/linguistics/courses/v610051/gelmanr/

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The mind-body question:

Dualism: The belief that the body is physical but

the mind (or soul) is not.

Monism: The belief that the mind is the product of

activity in the nervous system.

René Descartes (1596-1650)

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The mind-body problem: Pre-Descartes

mind influences body, but not vice versa; the puppeteer and puppet

Descartes: a mutual interaction Mind and body both influence each other Pineal gland

The site of the mind-body interaction

René Descartes (1596-1650)

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The Brain Sciences Advanced Quickly (1500-1800)

Electricity established as the mode of communication used by the nervous system

Galvani’s Lab

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Early 1800s: Sensory and

motor information travels in separate pathways

i.e., info is only sent in one direction

The Brain Sciences Continue to Sound More Modern

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Johannes Muller (1801-1858) Doctrine of specific nerve energies

stimulation specific nerve sensation

Importance: Supported the idea that different areas of the

brain have different functions Localization of functions

The Brain Sciences Continue to Sound More Modern

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The Brain Sciences Continue to Sound More Modern

Phrenology (popular from 1820 to 1850) the correlation of bumps on the skull

with personal traits, was misguided in most respects,

but was modern in its acceptance that functions may be localized in the brain.

http://mcvey.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/phrenology.jpg

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The Neuron Doctrine

Nervous system comprised a vast array of independent, separate nerve cells.

Santiago Ramón y Cajal (1852-1934)

Proposed Neuron Doctrine (Nobel prize)

From Santiago Ramon y Cajal, Histologie du systeme nerveux de l’homme et des vertebres. Paris: A.

Maloine, 1909–1911

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The Brain Sciences Continue to Sound More Modern

Nervous system acted as a hierarchy. Simpler processing

is carried out by lower levels.

Sophisticated processing is carried out by the cortex.

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Important Concepts(that we take for granted today)

1. The nervous system (esp. brain) controls behavior

2. Monistic, mechanistic outlook

3. The nervous system communicates with electricity

4. Sensory and motor information travels in separate pathways

1. (and that each pathway is responsible for only a certain type of perception or action)

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Important Concepts(that we take for granted today)

5. Nervous system is divided into independent, separate nerve cells

6. Functions may be localized in the brain.

7. Nervous system acts as a hierarchy

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Diverse Research Methods Are Used in Biological Psychology

Histology

Autopsy

Imaging

Recording

Stimulation

Lesion

Pharmacological methods

Genetic methods

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Histology: The Study of Microscopic Structures and Tissues

Tissue to be viewed must be: fixed by freezing or formalin. sliced thinly by a microtome.

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Histology: The Study of Microscopic Structures and Tissues

Stains are applied to highlight structures of interest: single cells (Golgi). cell bodies (Nissl). pathways (i.e., axons) (horseradish

peroxidase). antibodies (proteins found in a

particular cell).

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http://www.siumed.edu/%7Edking2/ssb/neuron.htm

Golgi Stain

Nissl Stain

Histology ExamplesMyelin Stain

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Autopsy Example: Simon LeVay and INAH-3

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Brain Imaging Example - Brain Structure

Computerized Tomography (CT) use x-ray technology to view brain structure

© Ribotsky/Custom Medical Stock Photo

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Brain Imaging Example - Brain Activity

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Measures brain activity based on the

utilization of radioactive glucose or oxygen.

Courtesy Dept. of Energy Office of Public Affairs

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Recording- Massed Activity

Electroencephalogram (EEG) Scalp electrodes provide information about the electrical activity of large populations of neurons.

Used to study states of consciousness and seizures.

Copyright © 2004 Allyn and Bacon

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Recording Techniques - Single Unit Activity

Recording electrodes Records activity from

a single cell

http://inc2.ucsd.edu/~leelab/___Projects/Bioinformatics/neuron.jpg

Copyright © 2004 Allyn and Bacon

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Stimulation

The goal of stimulation is to discover the function of an area.

Stimulation can be applied: during neurosurgery. through surgically implanted electrodes.

http://www.jefferson.edu/neurosurgery/images/MinimalWOrking.JPG

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Examples of Stimulation Research

Delgado uses electrical stimulation to control his fighting bull.

“Ratbots” respond to stimulation by changing direction.

From Jose Delgado

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Lesions

The results of lesions can be used to determine the function of an area.

Lesions may be: naturally occurring artificially produced

heating the tips of surgically implanted electrodes

chemicals that kill cell bodies. temporarily produced by cooling an area of

the brain.

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Pharmacological Methods

Drugs: Administered to subject,

behavior/brain activity monitored

Microdialysis: Chemical samples are removed

through micropipettes. Identify chemicals present in a

very small area.

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Genetic Methods

Twin Studies Monozygotic (identical) vs. dizygotic

(fraternal) twins Concordance rates

Genetically Modified Animals Knockout genes

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Human Ethical Guidelines

No coercion

Informed consent

No harm

Confidentiality

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Non-Human Animal Ethical Guidelines

Clear purpose and necessity

Excellent housing, food and health care

Minimal pain and suffering

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Research Ethics Oversight

Federal guidelines

Professional societies recommendations by (APA, Society for Neuroscience)

Institutional review boards Human Subjects Committee IACUC

Journals