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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