Forteza, Mark Neil C.
UP-FA1-BSPSYCH3-01
Biological Psychology
July 02, 2024
What is neuroscience?
In its simplest form, neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system, which
includes our brain, spinal cord, and nerves. It helps us understand the structure, functions, and
disorders of these intricate human organs, which are responsible for almost all major activities
in our daily lives. Neuroscientists use a wide range of approaches to understand the depth of
this field, such as electroencephalography (EEG), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), position
emission tomography (PET), and the like.
Neuroscience includes numerous related areas, namely neuroanatomy (the study of the
structure of the nervous system), neurochemistry (the study of the chemical bases of neural
activity), neuroendocrinology (the study of interactions between the nervous system and the
endocrine system), neuropathology (the study of nervous system disorders),
neuropharmacology (the study of the effects of drugs on neural activity), and neurophysiology
(the study of the functions and activities of the nervous system).
The Importance and Applications of Neuroscience in Psychology
Neuroscience helps us better understand the role of biology in the behavior of
humankind. It provides insight into how the brain and neural activity influence our mental
processes. It also plays a crucial role in the advancement of different approaches to various
psychological conditions and phenomena, which has led us to have beneficial knowledge in
diagnosing, treating, and preventing psychological disorders.
Moreover, neuroscience has been applied to psychology for educational practices,
understanding the development of mental disorders, and to enlighten many professionals with
regard to the enhancement of cognitive and behavioral therapies, resulting in some more
effective therapeutic interventions. Some approaches to treating mental illness have been
proven effective; however, some are still lacking, and relapse is common (Mansson et al.,
2020). With the gap in knowledge between the human brain, mental processes, and behavior,
neuroscience significantly contributes to the field of psychology to improve our overall wellbeing.
History of Biopsychology
Biopsychology has a long history, but it did not emerge as a prominent neuroscientific
subject until the twentieth century. D.O. Hebb published The Organization of Behavior in 1949
which was a crucial figure in the origin of biopsychology (Brown & Milner, 2003; Cooper,
2005; Milner, 1993). In his book, Hebb presented the explanation of how complex
psychological phenomena may be formed by brain activity. Hebb's hypothesis was founded on
tests with people and laboratory animals, clinical case studies, and logical arguments derived
from his own astute observations of everyday life. This eclectic approach has become the
hallmark of biopsychological research in the present (Pinel & Barnes, 2017). Some of the other
individuals who contributed to the development of biopsychology are listed below.
LIST OF NOBLE PRIZES RELATED TO THE
NERVOUS SYSTEM AND BEHAVIOR
Noble Winner(s)
Year
Accomplishments
Ivan Pavlov
Camillo Golgi and Santiago Romón y Cajal
1904
1906
Charles Sherrington and Edgar Adrian
Henry Dale and Otto Loew
1932
1936
Joseph Erlanger and Herbert Gasser
1944
Walter Hess
Egas Moniz
Georg von Békésy
John Eccles, Alan Hodgkin, and Andrew
Huxley
Ragnor Granit, Haldan Hartline, and George
Wald
Bernard Katz, Ulf von Euler, and Julius
Axelrod
Karl Von Frisch, Konrad Lorenz, and
Nikolass Tinbergen
Roger Guillemin and Andrew Schally
1949
1949
1961
1963
1970
Research on the physiology of digestion
Research on the structure of the nervous
system
Discoveries about the functions of neurons
Discoveries about the transmission of nerve
impulses
Research on the functions of single nerve
fibers
Research on the role of the brain in behavior
Development of the prefrontal lobotomy
Research on the auditory system
Research on the ionic basis of neural
transmission
Research on the chemistry and physiology of
vision
Discoveries related to synaptic transmission
1973
Studies of animal behavior
1977
Herbert Simon
Roger Sperry
1979
1981
David Hubel and Torsten Wiesel
Rita Levi-Montalcini and Stanley Cohen
Erwin Neher and Bert Sakmann
Alfred Gilman and Martin Rodbell
Arvid Carlsson, Paul Greengard, and Eric
Kandel
Linda Buck and Richard Axe
John O’Keefe, May-Britt Moser, and
Edvard Moser
1981
1986
1991
1994
2000
Discoveries related to hormone production by
the brain
Research on human cognition
Research on separation of the cerebral
hemispheres
Research on neurons of the visual system
Discovery and study of nerve growth factors
Research on ion channels
Discovery of G-protein–coupled receptors
Discoveries related to synaptic transmission
1967
2004
2014
Research on the olfactory system
Research on the brain’s system for
recognizing locations