Week 1

Question 1

Generalisation

Answer 1

A general conclusion based on many observations of similar phenomena. For example, after observing a loss of motion perception in 30 individuals with damage a particular area of the brain, a biological psychologist might conclude that this area of the brain is necessary for motion processing in all people

Question 2

Reduction

Answer 2

A phenomenon is described in terms of the more elementary processes that underlie it. For example, a research team might want to understand how humans learn language for the first time. Using the reductionist approach, some researchers might explore the specific brain areas involved in language production, while others might explore the areas involved in language comprehension. Other’s still might explore the electrochemical activity in the brain as someone speaks.

Question 3

Dualism

Answer 3

The belief that the body is physical but the mind is not

Question 4

Monism

Answer 4

The belief that the world consists only of matter and energy and that the mind is a phenomenon produced by the workings of the nervous system

Question 5

Ancient culture beliefs of mind/body

Answer 5

• Believed that the heart controlled thoughts and emotions
• When Tutankhamen was mummified in 1300 BCE, his heart, but not his brain was preserved
• “Get thee a heart of wisdom”. The Christian bible rarely mentions the brain, but often mentions the heart

Question 6

Aristotle 384-322 BC

Answer 6

Mental capacities are located in the heart. The brain cools the passions of the heart

Question 7

Hippocrates 460-375 BC

Answer 7

Not only our pleasure, but also our sorrow rises from the brain

Question 8

Galen 129-210 AD

Answer 8

• Galen is often labelled the Father of Modern Medicine
• Treated the head injuries of gladiators and noticed behavioural changes.
• Reasoned that if the brain cooled the heart, why would they be so far away from each other?
• Contributed to ourunderstanding of anatomy and physiology by dissecting brains of sheep, cattle, pigs, and apes

Question 9

Renes Descartes 1596-1650

Answer 9

Descartes argued that the behaviour of animals (and perhaps even humans) worked similarly to that of a machine.

Studied reflexes.

He was a dualist, however, he believed in mind-body interactions.

Question 10

Pineal gland theory

Answer 10

• Descartes believed that the mind and body interact via the Pineal Gland.
• Thought the pineal gland caused fluid to travel from the brain to an appropriate set of nerves to stimulate movement

Question 11

Luigi Galvani 1737-1798

Answer 11

• Began to empirically test ideas around mind-body interactions
• Disproved Pineal Gland Theory
• Electrical stimulation on frog nerves showed that muscles contracted even when not attached to the rest of the body

Question 12

Johannes Muller 1801-1858

Answer 12

All nerves carry a basic message – an electrical impulse - yet we perceive the messages of different nerves in different ways

Doctrine of Specific Nerve Energies: Different parts of the brain get information from different nerves. Thus, different parts of the brain serve different functions

Question 13

Contemporary research into mind/body

Answer 13

• Sensitive tools to amplify electrical signals produced by the brain
• Neurochemical techniques to measure changes within and between cells
• Epigenetics to study changes in gene expression induced by the environment