Lecture 1: Neural Foundations of Behavior

Biopsychology

The scientific study of the biology of behavior

Behavior is the product of which 3 factors?

• Genetic endowment (Natural selection)

• Experience

• Perception of current situation

Areas of Biopsychology

Neuralanatomy

Neurophysiology

Neurochemistrry

Neuroendocrinology

Neuropathology

Neuropharmacology

Neuralanatomy

Structure

Neurophysiology

Function

Neurochemistry

Chemical Bases

Neuroendocrinology

Hormones

Neuropathology

Disorders

Neuropharmacology

Drugs

Research Approaches

Subjects: Human vs Nonhuman

Design: Experiments vs Nonexperiments

Nonhuman=Experiment

Human=Nonexperiment

Pros of using Human Subjects

• Have Human Brains

• Follow instructions

• Report Experiences

• Cheap

Cons of using Human Subjects

• Random life experiences

• Macro-level research

Pros of using Nonhuman Subjects

• Controlled

• Micro-level

• Simpler brains

Cons of Studying NonHumans

• Nonhuman brains

• Expensive

Experiments

Involve the controlled manipulation of variables

Design: between or within-subject

Variables: Independent, dependent, confounding

Nonexperiments

Researcher does not control the variables of interest

• Quasiexperimental: Real-world groups

• Case studies: Single individual

Divisions of Biopsychology

• Physiological Psychology

• Psycho-pharmacology

• Neuro-psychology

• Psycho-physiology

• Cognitive Neuroscience

• Comparative Psychology

Physiological Psychology

Study of the neural mechanisms of behavior by manipulating the nervous systems of nonhuman animals in controlled experiments

Physiological Psychology Strategy

Insert precisely a tool in the brain, use the tool, and observe behavior.

Lesion Methods: remove, damage, or inactivate a structure

Physiological recordings: methods to record electrical activity inside or outside of a cell

Psychopharmacology

Study the effects of drugs on the brain and behavior in nonhumans and humans

Psychopharmacology Strategy

Administer drugs to increase/decrease the effects of chemical messengers in the brain, and observe the behavioral consequences

Locating Neurotransmitters

• Immunocytochemistry (label antibodies to neuroproteins)

• In situ hybridization (label binds to RNA)

Measuring Chemical Activity

• Cerebral Microdialysis (Implant a tube, analyze chemicals found outside of cells)

• Radiotracers (Administer a drug for/against a specific target, image the brain

Neuropsychology

Study of the psychological effects of Brian damage in human patients

Neuropsychology Strategy

Assess the cognitive functions of neurological patients (human) using a test battery approach (time-consuming, refines diagnosis and care)

Common test battery

• Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scal (WAIS), an IQ test

• Language Lateralization (sodium Amytal dichotomy listening)

Specific Test Battery

• Memory: Short or Long-Term

• Language: sound, grammar, or meaning

• Frontal-Lobe Function (Wisconsin Card Sorting)

Psychophysiology

Study the relation between gross physiological activity and psychological processes in human subjects by noninvasive physiological recording

Psychophysiology Strategy

Record physiological activity from the surface of the human body while a behavior is performed

Psychophysiology five most widely studied measures

• Brain: Electroencephalography (EEG)

• Muscle Tension: Electromyography, EMG

• Eye Movement: Electrooculography

• Skin Conductance

• Cardiovascular Activity (ECG)

Cognitive Neuroscience

Study of the neural mechanisms of human cognition

Cognitive Neuroscience Strategy

Use functional brain imaging techniques to identify the parts of the brain that mediate various constituent (simple) cognitive processes.

Cerebral blood flow and neuronal activation are tightly coupled

Positron emission tomography PET

• Inject a radioactive substance

• Have subject perform behavior (active cells take up substance)

• Scan a horizontal slice of brain

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

• No substance injected

• Have subject perform behavior

• Scan Brain for oxygenated blood

Comparative Psychology

Study of the evolution, genetics, and adaptiveness of behavior in laboratory species

Comparative Psychology Strategy

Use genetic manipulations and behavioral research methods to assess species-common behaviors (eating, drinking, anxiety, aggression, sexual behavior)