Lecture 1 - Perspectives and Methods

Question 1

Biological Psychology

Answer 1

The study of the neural bases of behavior and mental processes.

Question 2

Somatic Intervention

Answer 2

Manipulation of body structure/chemistry to induce behavioral change.

Question 3

Behavioral Intervention

Answer 3

Direct manipulation of behavior or indirect manipulation of the environment for the observation of bodily changes.

Question 4

Brain/Body Covariance

Answer 4

Reciprocal changes associated with both the brain and behavior.

Question 5

Mentalism

Answer 5

The philosophical argument that there exists a nonmaterial “mind” or “psyche” responsible for our behavior.

Question 6

Dualism

Answer 6

The philosophical argument that suggests the dual existence of a nonmaterial mind and a physical body that work to produce behavior.

Question 7

Materialism

Answer 7

The position that behavior can be explained as a function of the nervous system without recourse to the mind.

Question 8

Phrenology

Answer 8

The antiquated (and pseudoscientific) study of brain structure and function, where behavioral traits are localized in specific modules around the brain.

Question 9

Neuropsychology

Answer 9

The study of the relationship between brain function and behavior, with particular emphasis on assessment after brain trauma.

Question 10

EEG

Answer 10

Electroencephalography; a tool that provides a temporal record of brain activity (an electroencephalogram) by measuring the graded potentials of many thousands of neurons from the scalp.

Question 11

PET

Answer 11

Positron Emission Tomography; a tool that produces a spatial image of the brain by detecting changes in blood flow, which itself is accomplished by the administration of radioactive tracers.

Question 12

fMRI

Answer 12

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging; a tool that measures changes in brain activity by measuring changes in iron and oxygen levels in the flow of blood to active neurons.

Question 13

MEG

Answer 13

Magnetoencephalography; a tool that produces a temporospatial rendering of the brain through the detection of magnetic fields produced by the action potentials of neurons.

Question 14

TMS

Answer 14

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; a spatial tool that creates its own magnetic field in order to stimulate certain areas of the brain. TMS is able to inhibit or excite brain activity in this way.