Introduction Flashcards
Advantages of Non-human Studies
> . They have simpler nervous systems.
. Studying various species makes it possible to use the comparative approach.
. There are fewer ethical constraints.
. Greater experimental control.
Advantages of Human Studies
> . They can follow directions.
. They can report subjective experiences.
. They are often less expensive.
. They have a human brain.
Experimental Studies
> . Between Subject Design (BSD)
A different group of subjects is tested under each treatment condition of an experiment.
> . Within Subjects Design (WSD)
The same group of subjects can be tested under multiple treatment
conditions.
Non-Experimental Studies
> . Used when it is impossible to conduct controlled experiments.
> . In a quasi experimental design, researchers examine subjects in real-world
situations who have self-selected into specific conditions (e.g., excessive alcohol intake)
Pure Studies
Motivated primarily by the curiosity of the researcher to find out how things work; pure research focuses on establishing building blocks or basic concepts that may provide information salient to many problems.
Applied Studies
Motivated by an attempt to directly use the building blocks of basic research to answer specific questions; human and animal problems are directly addressed.
Six Divisions of Biopsychology
>. Physiological Psychology >. Psychopharmacology >. Neuropsychology >. Cognitive Neuroscience >. Psychophysiology >. Comparative Psychology
Comparative Psychology
Focus on the biology of behavior. Features comparative
and functional approaches. Features laboratory research, as well as studies of animals in their natural environments (ethology). Includes disciplines of evolutionary
Psychology (understanding behavior through its evolutionary origins) and behavioral genetics (understanding the genetic influences on behavior).
Psychophysiology
Focuses on the relationship between physiological and psychological processes in human subjects. Because human subjects are used, all brain recordings. Are noninvasive (i.e., from the surface of the head).The usual measure of brain activity is the scalp electroencephalogram (EEG). Muscle tension, eye movement, heart rate, Pupil dilation, and electrical conductance of the skin are other common psychophysiological measures.
Cognitive Neuroscience
Newest division of biopsychology. Focuses on the neural bases of cognitive processes like learning/memory,
attention, and perceptual processes. Noninvasive, functional brain imaging techniques.
Neuropsychology
Focuses on the behavioral effects of brain damage in humans, typically cortical damage. Cannot be studied in humans by experimentation; research focuses on case studies and quasi-experimental studies. Most applied of the
six divisions of biopsychology; neuropsychological tests of brain damaged patients facilitate diagnosis, treatment, and lifestyle counseling (e.g., the case of HM).
Psychopharmacology
The nervous system is manipulated pharmacologically. Focuses on drug effects on behavior and how these changes are mediated by changes in neural activity. Many psychopharmacologists favor pure research and use drugs to reveal the nature of brain-behavior interactions, while others concentrate on applied questions (e.g., drug abuse, therapeutic drugs).
Physiological Psychology
Focuses on direct manipulation of the nervous
system in controlled lab settings (e.g., lesions, invasive recording) The subjects are usually laboratory animals. Strong focus on pure research
Pseudo Science
Often characterised by: –Lack of supporting evidence, plausibility –Lack of ability to falsify –Reliance on ‘confirmation’ –Lack of openness to evaluation –Lack of parsimony
