Biological perspectives
Brain functions and structure, hormones, nerves
How the mind effects behaviour.
The study of biological basis of psychology processes and normal and abnormal behaviour.
Senses and movements, emotion, sleep and biological rhythms, motivation, addiction,
learning and memory, cortical lateralisation.
History:
Ancient Egyptians- preservation of liver, lungs, stomach and intestines in jars.
Heart remained in the body.
Brain was removed.
Aristotle- Located mental capacities within the heart.
Influenced language.
Galen- treated gladiators- head injuries altered behaviour.
RENE DESCARTES 1596-1650 dualism- body acts and responds like a machine.
Mind is immaterial- grands free will.
Origin of consciousness- pineal gland.
THOMAS WILLIS 1621-1675- brain coordinates and controls behaviour.
FRANZ GALL 1758- 1828 phrenology- localised area of function.
Measures areas on skull to assess different qualities.
Research methods:
Somatic interventions- effect of change on a structure or function of the brain on behaviour.
E.g. administer a drug, stimulates or inhibits a region of the brain.
Behavioural interventions- effect of change in behaviour on body structure or function.
E.g. completion of training programmes.
Correlations- assesses how change in one variable are associated with change in another
variable.
E.g. assessing whether increases in testosterones are associated with increases in aggression.
Brain imaging techniques:
Magnetic resonance imaging MRI- provides a high level of detail.
See fine structures and detect subtle changes.
Electroencephalography EEG- assesses change in voltage in the cortex.
Very good resolution to the millisecond.
Relatively mobile and cheap to use.
Lengthy and uncomfortable.
Low spatial resolution and only suitable for cortical activity.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging FMRI- detects small changes in brain metabolism.
Generates images in the brain’s activity in response to different stimuli.
Expensive and low temporal resolution.
Positron emission tomography PET- generate an image of the brain’s activity.
Uses radioactively labelled glucose to assess changed in metabolism and blood flow.
Able to detect changes in brain activity quickly.
Less detailed than FMRI.
Brain functions and structure, hormones, nerves
How the mind effects behaviour.
The study of biological basis of psychology processes and normal and abnormal behaviour.
Senses and movements, emotion, sleep and biological rhythms, motivation, addiction,
learning and memory, cortical lateralisation.
History:
Ancient Egyptians- preservation of liver, lungs, stomach and intestines in jars.
Heart remained in the body.
Brain was removed.
Aristotle- Located mental capacities within the heart.
Influenced language.
Galen- treated gladiators- head injuries altered behaviour.
RENE DESCARTES 1596-1650 dualism- body acts and responds like a machine.
Mind is immaterial- grands free will.
Origin of consciousness- pineal gland.
THOMAS WILLIS 1621-1675- brain coordinates and controls behaviour.
FRANZ GALL 1758- 1828 phrenology- localised area of function.
Measures areas on skull to assess different qualities.
Research methods:
Somatic interventions- effect of change on a structure or function of the brain on behaviour.
E.g. administer a drug, stimulates or inhibits a region of the brain.
Behavioural interventions- effect of change in behaviour on body structure or function.
E.g. completion of training programmes.
Correlations- assesses how change in one variable are associated with change in another
variable.
E.g. assessing whether increases in testosterones are associated with increases in aggression.
Brain imaging techniques:
Magnetic resonance imaging MRI- provides a high level of detail.
See fine structures and detect subtle changes.
Electroencephalography EEG- assesses change in voltage in the cortex.
Very good resolution to the millisecond.
Relatively mobile and cheap to use.
Lengthy and uncomfortable.
Low spatial resolution and only suitable for cortical activity.
Functional magnetic resonance imaging FMRI- detects small changes in brain metabolism.
Generates images in the brain’s activity in response to different stimuli.
Expensive and low temporal resolution.
Positron emission tomography PET- generate an image of the brain’s activity.
Uses radioactively labelled glucose to assess changed in metabolism and blood flow.
Able to detect changes in brain activity quickly.
Less detailed than FMRI.
