4.1 Biological Psychology

Question 1

What is Biological Psychology / behavioural sciences

Answer 1

scientific study of reciprocal connections between structure & activity of the nervous system and behaviour & mental processes

Ghrelin => linked to Crum et al’s study

Question 2

What is the monistic approach vs Descartes?

Answer 2

Monistic => the mind is what the brain does

Descartes => Dualism - mind is separate from our physical being

Question 3

Early attempts: phrenology

Answer 3

pattern of bumps on an individual’s skull correlated with their personality traits and abilities

=> more frequently used areas of the brain, the bigger it would grow and “bulge”

Correct conclusion => some behavioral functions are localized to certain areas of the brain

Question 4

Ramón y Cajal: nervous system was made of SEPARATE CELLS

Answer 4

Golgi: nervous system was a single continuous network

R&C: used microscopic stain by Golgi to prove

Question 5

Jackson: NS is organized as a hierarchy

Answer 5

• observed his patients with seizure disorders
• progressively more complicated behaviors managed by more recently evolved and complex structure

=> ppl drinking alcohol – decreases activity of brain areas involved in decision-making