Chapter One
Introducing Biological
Psychology
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCING BIOLOGICAL
PSYCHOLOGY
Biological Psychology as an Interdisciplinary
Field
• Biological psychology
– “the branch of psychology that studies the
biological foundation of behavior, emotions, and
mental processes” – (Pickett, 2000)
• Draws on techniques and theories from
psychology, biology, physiology, biochemistry,
the neurosciences, and related fields
Historical Highlights in Biological Psychology
• Ancient people’s view of the nervous system
– Trepanation
– Egyptian medical papyrus
– Ancient Greeks: Hippocrates, Aristotle, Herophilus, Galen
• 1500-1800
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Descartes: Mind-body dualism
Van Leeuwenhoek
Galvani
Bell and Magendie
Figure 1.1 Prehistoric Brain Surgery
Figure 1.2 The Reflex According to Descartes
Figure 1.5 Phrenology Bust
Historical Highlights in Biological Psychology
• Phrenology
– Gall and Spurzheim
– Structure of a person’s skull could be correlated with his or
her individual personality characteristics and abilities
• Historical names
– Paul Broca
– Carl Wernicke
– Phineas Gage
Phineas Gage
Research Methods in Biological Psychology
• Histology
– The study of microscopic structures and tissues
– Provides means for observing structure, organization, and
connections of individual cells
– Microtome machine and specialized stains
• Autopsy
– Examination of the body after death
– Correlational method that must be interpreted carefully
and precisely
Figure 1.6 Horseradish Peroxidase Provides a
Method for Identifying Neural Pathways
Research Methods in Biological Psychology
• Imaging
– Can watch living brain as it behaves
– Types of imaging technologies
• Computerized Tomography (CT)
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
– Functional MRI (fMRI)
Figure 1.7 CT Scans
Figure 1.8 PET Scans Show Patterns of Brain
Activation
Figure 1.10 fMRI Tracks Cerebral Blood Flow
Research Methods in Biological Psychology
• Recording
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Record electrical and magnetic output from the brain
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Evoked potentials
Magnetoencephalography (MEG)
Single-cell recordings
Figure 1.11 Hans Berger and the First EEG
Recording
Figure 1.12 Evoked Potentials
Figure 1.13 Magnetoencephalography (MEG)
Research Methods in Biological Psychology
• Brain Stimulation
– Artificially stimulating areas of the brain with electricity or
magnetism and watching for resulting behavior
– Can be applied during neurosurgery
– Transcranial magnetic stimulation
– Most stimulation research has been conducted with
laboratory animals
• Lesion
– Injury to neural tissue
• Naturally occurring
• Deliberately produced
Figure 1.14 Recording Electrodes Surgically
Implanted in a Rat’s Brain
Figure 1.17 Lesion
Research Methods in Biological Psychology
• Biochemical Methods
– Use of chemical stimulation and microdialysis
• Genetic Methods
– Twin studies
– Adoption studies
– Studies of genetically-modified animals
• Stem Cells
– Undifferentiated cells that can divide and differentiate into
other types of cells
Research Ethics
• Mechanisms for protection of human
participants and animal research subjects
– Federal government and the Common Rule
– University review and institutional review boards
– Publication process and review
Research Ethics
• Human Participant Guidelines
– Coercion of research participants is unacceptable
– Benefits to participants should not be “excessive or
inappropriate”
– Participants must be informed that they can leave without
penalty at any time
– Participants must be told enough about the experiment to
make an informed decision about participating
– Participants must receive contact information in case they
have questions
– Participants must be assured their data will be confidential
Research Ethics
• Animal Subjects Guidelines
– Necessity of research
– Basic care and housing
– Experimental procedures should cause as little pain and
distress as possible
• Emerging Issues in Research Ethics
– Ethics of research on the internet
– Ethics of stem cell research