BIOLOGICAL AREA
Definition:
- Focuses on genetic, neurochemical and how the brain and nervous system work as
explanations of behaviour
Key assumptions:
- Psychology should be seen as a science
↪ to be studied in a scientific manner
- Behaviour can be largely explained in terms of biology
(e.g genes/hormones)
- Human genes have evolved over millions of years to adapt behaviour to the
environment
↪ most behaviour will have an adaptive/evolutionary purpose
Why this area is useful (for what or to whom):
- Can look at: IQ, Sleep, Abnormal Psychology, Stress response
Key points for comparison:
- The way research is carried out:
↪ Usually in a controlled setting (a laboratory)
↪ Using physiological (objective) m
easures (such as MRI scans)
- Links to debates:
↪ Focuses on Psychology being a science
↪ Believed that our behaviour is determined by our biology (biological determinism)
↪ Often supports nature side of debate
Strengths Weaknesses
Research within the biological area is leading to a Limitations to way data are gathered in the Biological
greater understandings of the physiognomy of the brain area
↪ l earning how the brain works and how it impacts on our behaviour ↪ even though physiological approach tries to be scientific, there is
↪ Discipline of cognitive neuroscience is at the cutting edge of limited ability to study brain processes directly & objectively
scientific enquiry & is making major contributions to our ↪ meaning we often have to rely on self-report data, & here demand
understanding of both normal and abnormal brain function characteristics may be a problem (may not be entirely valid)
Favours scientific method, using laboratory experiment Methods use to measure brain objectively have their
to investigate mental processes limitations
↪ Enables researchers to establish cause and effect between variables ↪ MRI scans can show us changes in the brain (Maguire) or illustrate
↪ Brings academic credibility to psychology as a discipline since it brain function (Casey)
favours a scientific methodology ↪ HOWEVER while scans show us that something is happening, we
↪ Biological area contributes heavily to the modern paradigm of are limited in our interpretation of what precisely is happening - are
cognitive neuroscience in psychology the regions of the brain being turned on (exhibitory signals) or being
- Use of objective measures (e.g MRI brain imaging techniques) turned off (inhibitory signals)?
further supports scientific credibility of the biological area
, CLASSIC: SPERRY - REGIONS OF THE BRAIN
Link to Key theme:
- Sheds light on function of the corpus callosum
↪ Importance of the corpus callosum as a communication pathway between the two
hemispheres made evident in this study
↪ Tasks that split-brain participants could not perform under Sperry’s strictly controlled
conditions presented no difficulties for normal control participants;
And this was because normal participants’ corpus callosum was intact and the 2 sides
of their brain could still communicate
- Showed that left and right hemispheres each performed separate functions
↪ e.g Under Sperry’s strictly controlled test conditions the right hemisphere could send
instructions to and receive tactile messages from the left hand, whereas the left hemisphere
could not.
Link to Area:
- Investigating regions of the brain and lateralisation of brain function
↪ Specifically, it demonstrated the importance of the corpus callosum as a communication
pathway between the left and right hemispheres
↪ Provided evidence of the different functions each hemisphere performs
Links to debates:
PSYCHOLOGY AS A SCIENCE:
+ Carried out controlled laboratory experiments & these fulfill scientific criteria of theory, control,
evidence and replication
↪ Supports claim that psychology is a scientific discipline
In theory his work is falsifiable
↪ Possible to prove fals what Sperry is saying about the abilities of split-brain patients by
replicating his study with a fresh sample of such patients
↪ HOWEVER obtaining such a sample may not be easy
USEFULNESS:
useful Ground-breaking in beginning to understand the physiognomy of the brain - how the brain works
↪ Revealed importance of the corpus callosum as a pathway for internal communication
between the two side of the brain
FREEWILL/DETERMINISM:
freewill
determinist Suggests a position of biological determinism
↪ Undergoing a commissurotomy will mean that split-brain patients are: e.g no longer able to
name objects that they touch with their left hands.
↪ Their inability to do this is determined by physiological factors
Definition:
- Focuses on genetic, neurochemical and how the brain and nervous system work as
explanations of behaviour
Key assumptions:
- Psychology should be seen as a science
↪ to be studied in a scientific manner
- Behaviour can be largely explained in terms of biology
(e.g genes/hormones)
- Human genes have evolved over millions of years to adapt behaviour to the
environment
↪ most behaviour will have an adaptive/evolutionary purpose
Why this area is useful (for what or to whom):
- Can look at: IQ, Sleep, Abnormal Psychology, Stress response
Key points for comparison:
- The way research is carried out:
↪ Usually in a controlled setting (a laboratory)
↪ Using physiological (objective) m
easures (such as MRI scans)
- Links to debates:
↪ Focuses on Psychology being a science
↪ Believed that our behaviour is determined by our biology (biological determinism)
↪ Often supports nature side of debate
Strengths Weaknesses
Research within the biological area is leading to a Limitations to way data are gathered in the Biological
greater understandings of the physiognomy of the brain area
↪ l earning how the brain works and how it impacts on our behaviour ↪ even though physiological approach tries to be scientific, there is
↪ Discipline of cognitive neuroscience is at the cutting edge of limited ability to study brain processes directly & objectively
scientific enquiry & is making major contributions to our ↪ meaning we often have to rely on self-report data, & here demand
understanding of both normal and abnormal brain function characteristics may be a problem (may not be entirely valid)
Favours scientific method, using laboratory experiment Methods use to measure brain objectively have their
to investigate mental processes limitations
↪ Enables researchers to establish cause and effect between variables ↪ MRI scans can show us changes in the brain (Maguire) or illustrate
↪ Brings academic credibility to psychology as a discipline since it brain function (Casey)
favours a scientific methodology ↪ HOWEVER while scans show us that something is happening, we
↪ Biological area contributes heavily to the modern paradigm of are limited in our interpretation of what precisely is happening - are
cognitive neuroscience in psychology the regions of the brain being turned on (exhibitory signals) or being
- Use of objective measures (e.g MRI brain imaging techniques) turned off (inhibitory signals)?
further supports scientific credibility of the biological area
, CLASSIC: SPERRY - REGIONS OF THE BRAIN
Link to Key theme:
- Sheds light on function of the corpus callosum
↪ Importance of the corpus callosum as a communication pathway between the two
hemispheres made evident in this study
↪ Tasks that split-brain participants could not perform under Sperry’s strictly controlled
conditions presented no difficulties for normal control participants;
And this was because normal participants’ corpus callosum was intact and the 2 sides
of their brain could still communicate
- Showed that left and right hemispheres each performed separate functions
↪ e.g Under Sperry’s strictly controlled test conditions the right hemisphere could send
instructions to and receive tactile messages from the left hand, whereas the left hemisphere
could not.
Link to Area:
- Investigating regions of the brain and lateralisation of brain function
↪ Specifically, it demonstrated the importance of the corpus callosum as a communication
pathway between the left and right hemispheres
↪ Provided evidence of the different functions each hemisphere performs
Links to debates:
PSYCHOLOGY AS A SCIENCE:
+ Carried out controlled laboratory experiments & these fulfill scientific criteria of theory, control,
evidence and replication
↪ Supports claim that psychology is a scientific discipline
In theory his work is falsifiable
↪ Possible to prove fals what Sperry is saying about the abilities of split-brain patients by
replicating his study with a fresh sample of such patients
↪ HOWEVER obtaining such a sample may not be easy
USEFULNESS:
useful Ground-breaking in beginning to understand the physiognomy of the brain - how the brain works
↪ Revealed importance of the corpus callosum as a pathway for internal communication
between the two side of the brain
FREEWILL/DETERMINISM:
freewill
determinist Suggests a position of biological determinism
↪ Undergoing a commissurotomy will mean that split-brain patients are: e.g no longer able to
name objects that they touch with their left hands.
↪ Their inability to do this is determined by physiological factors
