biopsychology (1.1) Flashcards
neurons
cells that receive and transmit electrochemical signals
neuroscience
the scientific study of the nervous system
biopsychology
the scientific study of the biology of behavior
D.O. Hebb
wrote the Organization of Behavior; developed first comprehensive theory of how complex psychological phenomena might be produced by brain activity
Biopsychology holds that all behavior is the product of interactions among (3)
the organisms genetic endowment (product of evolution via natural selection), its experience, and its perception of the current situation
Jimmie G
frozen in time; could not remember anything after age 19; tested by Oliver Sacks; long-term alcohol consumption
biopsychologists
neuroscientists who bring to their research a knowledge of behavior and of the methods of behavioral research; unique because of behavioral expertise
areas of neuroscience (neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, neurochemistry, neuroendocrinology, neuropathology, neuropharmacology)
neuroanatomy: structure of NS
neurophysiology: functions and activities of NS
neurochemistry: chemical bases of neural activity
neuroendocrinology: hormones (NS —> endocrine system)
neuropathology: NS disorders
neuropharmacology: effects of drugs on neural activity
major dimensions along which approaches vary (2)
subjects (human vs nonhuman) and design (experiments vs nonexperiments)
pros and cons of humans vs nonhumans
humans: pros (human brains, follow instructions report experiences, cheap) and cons (random, macro-level)
nonhumans: pros (controlled, micro-level, simpler brains, comparative approach (comparing species), ethical reasons) and cons (nonhuman brains, expensive)
experiments (between- and within-subject design; independent, dependent, and confounding variables) vs nonexperiments (quasi-experimental, case studies)
experiments: between-subject design (different subjects under each condition) and within-subject design (same subjects under each condition); independent (compares difference between conditions), dependent (used to assess the effect of the i.v), and confounded (unintended difference that may lead to observed effects)
nonexperiments: quasi-experimental (real-world groups, not reproducible), case studies (single individual, problem of generalizability)
divisions of biopsychology (6)
physiological psychology, psychopharmacology, neuropsychology, psycho physiology, cognitive neuroscience, comparative psychology
physiological psychology (definition and strategy)
definition: the study of the neural mechanisms of behavior by manipulating the nervous system of nonhuman animals in controlled experiments
strategy: insert precisely a tool in the brain, use the tool, and observe behavior
physiological psychology tools (atlas, stereotaxic instrument), lesion methods (unilateral and bilateral; aspiration, knife, and reversible (cold)), electrical stimulation, and physiological recordings
tools: atlas (map of the brain), stereotaxic tool (holds the brain in place and holds the device to be inserted)
lesion methods: unilateral (one half of the brain) and bilateral (both sides of the brain); aspiration (layers of cortical tissue peeled off with pipette), sectioning (cutting to eliminate conduction in a nerve or tract), and reversible (temporarily eliminating activity in a particular part of the brain)
electrical stimulation: insert a wire into the brain and put it next to or inside of the neurons (cells)
physiological recordings: methods to record electrical activity inside or outside of a cell (only with nonhuman animals)
psychopharmacology (definition and strategy)
definition: the study of the effects of drugs on the brain and behavior in humans and nonhumans
strategy: administer drugs to increase/decrease the effects of chemical messengers in the brain, and observe behavioral consequences
psychopharmacology locating neurotransmitters (immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization) and measuring chemical activity (cerebral microdialysis, radiotracers)
locating neurotransmitters: immunocytochemistry (labels antibodies with dye or radioactive element to neuroproteins —> brain slices) and in situ hybridization (hybrid RNA strands labeled with dye direct the synthesis of the target neuroprotein — brain slices)
measuring chemical activity: cerebral microdialysis (implant a tube, analyze chemicals found outside of cells) and radiotracers (administer a drug for/against a specific target —> brain image)
neuropsychology (definition and strategy)
definition: the study of the psychological effects of brain damage in human patients
strategy: assess the cognitive functions of neurological patients using a test battery approach (time-consuming, refines diagnosis and care)
neuropsychology customized vs common (Wechsler adult intelligence scale, language laterialization (sodium Amytal, dichotic listening) ) vs specific (Wisconsin card sorting) test battery
customized test battery: find existence and exact nature of deficits; highly successful; common battery of tests followed by customized series (revealed by common battery)
common test battery: WAIS (IQ test), sodium amytal test (anesthetic sodium amytal into carotid artery in the neck —> anesthetizes same-side hemisphere), dichotic listening test (sequences of digits in each ear)
specific: memory, language, frontal-lobe function —> Wisconsin card sorting (tests ability to learn and remember guidelines)
psychophysiology (definition and strategy)
definition: the study of the relation between gross physiological activity and physiological processes in human subjects (by noninvasive physiological recording)
strategy: record physiological activity from the surface of the human body while a behavior is performed
psychophysiology most widely studied measures (5)
brain, muscle tension, eye movement, skin conductance, cardiovascular activity
psychophysiology (EEG, EMG, EOG, ECG)
Electroencephalogram (EEG): measure of electrical activity in the brain
Electromyogram (EMG): measure of muscle tension
Electrooculogram (EOG): records eye movements
Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG): records the electrical signal associated with each heartbeat through electrodes placed on the chest
cognitive neuroscience (definition and strategy)
definition: the study of the neural mechanisms of human cognition
strategy: use functional brain imaging techniques to identify the parts of the brain that mediate various simple cognitive processes
cognitive neuroscience PET and fMRI
Positron emission tomography (PET): first brain-imaging technique to provide images of brain activity rather than of brain structure; inject radioactive substance, have subject perform behavior (active cells take up substance), scan horizontal slice of brain
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI): no substance injected, have subject perform behavior, scan brain for oxygenated blood
comparative psychology (definition and strategy)
definition: the study of the evolution, genetics, and adaptiveness of behavior in lab species
strategy: use genetic manipulations and behavioral research methods to assess species-common behaviors
comparative psychology fluorescence (brainbow) and animal learning (open-field test, colony-intruder)
brainbow: green fluorescent protein (GFP) exhibits bright green fluorescence when exposed to blue light
open-field test: subject in large, barren chamber; activity in the chamber is recorded
colony-intruder: combative encounters between the dominant male (alpha male) rat of an established colony and a smaller male intruder
comparative psychology semi-natural paradigms (conditioned taste aversion, Morris water maze, defensive burying)
Conditioned taste aversion: avoidance of certain tastes of food whose consumption has been followed by illness
Morris water maze: rats in circular, featureless pool of cool milky water in which they must swim until they discover the escape platform
Defensive burying: conditioned response; rats receive an aversive stimulus (i.e. shock) from an object and learn to fling the bedding material from the floor at the test object
converging operations
when different approaches are focused on a single problem in such a way that the strengths of one approach compensate for the weaknesses of the other (progress)
Korsakoff’s syndrome (definition, hypothesis, data, theory, treatment)
definition: a condition characterized by severe memory loss, commonly seen in alcoholics (i.e. Jimmie G)
hypothesis: due to alcohol
data: seen in malnourished persons who have had little alcohol and in thiamine (vitamin B1)-deficient rats
theory: due to thiamine deficiency but accelerated by alcohol
treatment: given vitamin B1 and counseled to stop drinking
