Biopsychology as a Neuroscience Flashcards
–is the scientific study of the biology of behavior.
–denotes a biological approach to the study of psychology.
Biopsychology
The organization of Behavior(1949)
Donald O. Hebb
It did not become a major
neuroscientific discipline until
the 20th century
Origin of Biopsychology
are neuroscientists who bring to
their research a knowledge of behavior and of the
methods of behavioral research
Biopsychologists
is the study of the nervous system –
from structure to function, development to
degeneration, in health and in disease
Neuroscience
3 Major Dimensions of Biopsychological Research
1.Human or non-human subjects
2.Formal experiments or nonexperimental studies
3.Pure or applied
– They can follow instructions
– They can report their
subjective experiences
–Humans are often cheaper
1.1 Human Subjects
Human Subjects Advantages
– The brains and behavior of _____________are
simpler than those of human subjects.
1.2 Non-Human Subjects
Non-Human Subjects Advantages
➢the study of biological processes by comparing different species.
➢Fewer ethical constraints on the study of laboratory species than on the study of humans.
Comparative approach
Is the method used
by scientists to study
causation– to find
out what causes
what.
Experiments
the variable that’s controlled by the
experimenter by administering
treatments.
Independent Variable
These variables are expected to change
as a result of an experimental
manipulation of the independent
variable.
Dependent Variable
– is an outside influence that changes the effect
of a dependent and independent variable.
– This extraneous influence is used to influence
the outcome of an experimental design.
– is an extra variable entered into the equation
that was not accounted for.
Confounding Variable
Designed by the experimenter
under which the subjects will be
tested.
Conditions
all participants are exposed to
every treatment or condition
WITHIN-SUBJECTS DESIGN
is a type of practice effect that
occurs because the results
from one test influences
another. Whenever subjects
perform in more than one
condition (as they do in withinsubject designs) there is a
possibility of carryover effects
Carryover Effect
➢A different group of subjects is tested under
each condition.
➢The basic idea behind this type of study is that
participants can be part of the treatment group
or the control group, but cannot be part of
both.
➢A between subjects design is a way of avoiding
the carryover effects that can plague withinsubjects design.
BETWEEN-SUBJECTS
DESIGN
Non-experimental
A.Quasi-experimental Studies
B.Case Studies
studies of groups of subjects who have been
exposed to the conditions of interest in the real
world.
– These studies have the appearance of
experiments, but they are not true experiments
because potential confounded variables have not
been controlled or randomly selected.
Quasi-experimental
Studies
– Studies that focus on a single case or subjects.
– Provide a more in-depth picture that that
provided by an experiment or quasi-experimental
study.
Disadvantage of Case Study
➢Generalizability – the degree to which the results
can be applied to other cases.
Case Study
– Is research motivated primarily by the
curiosity of the researcher.
– It is done solely for the purpose of
acquiring knowledge.
Pure Research
–Is research intended to bring about
some direct benefit to humankind.
Applied Research
Six Major Divisions of
Biopsychology
A.Physiological Psychology
B. Psychopharmacology
C. Neuropsychology
D.Psychophysiology
E. Cognitive Neuroscience
F. Comparative Psychology
– Study of the neural mechanisms of
behavior by manipulating the
nervous systems of non-human
subjects in controlled experiments.
A. Physiological Psychology
