Biological Psychology: Intro Flashcards
The Four Fundamental Forces of the Universe
- Gravity
- Electromagnetism
- The strong nuclear force
- The weak nuclear force
Mind-Brain Problem, or Mind-Body Problem
The question of how mind relates to brain activity. Put another way: given a universe composed of matter and energy, why is there such a thing as consciousness?
Biological Psychology
Biological psychology is the stury of the physiological, evolutionary, and developmental mechanisms of behavior and experience.
Dorsal vs. Ventral View of the Human Brain
The human brain viewed from the top (assuming an upright, standing posture) is called a dorsal view––from the bottom a ventral view.
The two kinds of cells in the human brain
Three General Points to Remember
- Perception occurs in your brain.
- Mental activity and certain types of brain activity are, so far as we can tell, inseparable. This position is known as monism, the idea that the universe consists of only one type of being. (The opposite is dualism, the idea that minds are one type of substance and matter is another.) Nearly all neuroscientists and philosophers support the position of monism.
- We should be cautious about what is an explanation and what is not. We should avoid overstating the conclusions from any research study.
Biological explanations of behavior fall into four categories:
- Physiological
- Ontogenetic
- Evolutionary
- Functional
Physiological explanations of behavior
A physiological explanation relates a behavior to the activity of the brain and other organs. It deals with the machinery of the body––for example, the chemical reactions that enable hormones to influence brain activity and the routes by which brain activity controls muscle contractions.
Ontogenetic explanations of behavior
The term ontogenetic comes from Greek roots meaning the origin (or genesis) of being. An ontogenetic explanation describes how a structure or behavior develops, including the influences of genes, nutrition, experiences, and their interactions. For example, the ability to inhibit impulses develops gradually from infancy through the teenage years, reflecting gradual maturation of the frontal parts of the brain.
Evolutionary explanations of behavior
An evolutionary explanation reconstructs the evolutionary history of a structure or behavior. The characteristic features of an animal are almost always modifications of something found in ancestral species. For example, bat wings are modified arms, and porcupine quills are modified hairs. In behavior, monkeys use tools occasionally, and humans evolved elaborations on those abilities that enable us to use tools even better. Evolutionary explanations call attention to behavioral similarities among related species.
Functional explanations of behavior
A functional explanation describes why a structure or behavior evolved as it did. Within a small, isolated population, a gene can spread by accident in a process called genetic drift. For example, a dominant male with many offspring spreads all his genes, including some that helped him become dominant and other genes that were irrelevant or even disadvantageous. However, a gene that is prevalent in a large population probably provided some advantage––at least in the past, though not necessariloy today. A functional explanation identifies that advantage.
Neuroscientist
A neuroscientist studies the anatomy, biochemistry, or physiology of the nervous system. This broad term includes any of the following:
- Behavioral neuroscientist: Investigates how functioning of the brain and other organs influences behavior.
- Cognitive neuroscientist: Uses brain reseasrch, such as scans of brain anatomy or activity, to analyze and explore people’s knowledge, thinking, and problem solving.
- Neuropsychologist: Conducts behavioral tests to determine the abilities and disabilities of people with various kinds of brain damage and changes in their condition over time. Most neuropsychologists have a mixture of psychological and medical training; they work in hospitals and clinics.
- Psychophysiologist: Measures heart rate, breathing rate, brain waves, and other body processes and how they varty from one person to another or one situation to another.
- Neurochemist: Investigates the chemical reactions in the brain.
Comparative Psychologist
(almost synonymous with Ethologist or Animal Behaviorist)
Compares the behaviors of different species and tries to relate them to their habitats and ways of life.
Evolutionary Biologist
(almost synonymous with Sociobiologist)
Relates behaviors, especially social behaviors, including those of humans, to the functions they have served and, therefore, the presumed selective pressures that caused them to evolve.
Practitioner Fields of Psychology
In most cases, their work is not directly related to neuroscience. However, practitioners often need to understand it enough to communicate with a client’s physician. Includes the following:
- Clinical psychologist: Requires PhD or PsyD; employed by hospital, clinic, private practice, or college; helps people with emotional problems.
- Counseling psychologist: Requires PhD or PsyD; employed by hopsital, clinic, private practice, or college; helps people make educational, vocational, and other decisions.
- School psychologist: Requires master’s degree or PhD. Most are employed by a school system. Identifies educational needs of schoolchildren, devises a plamn to meet the needs, and then helps teachers implement it.
