Chapter 1: Biopsychology as a Neuroscience

Neuroscience

the scientific study of the neuron’s system

biopsychologists use their knowledge of

behaviour and the methods of behavioural reserach

comparative approach

the study of biological processes by comparing different species

Non-human animal ethics committees emphasize consideration of the 3 R’s:

1. reduction

2. refinement

3. replacement

Reduction

reducing number of animals used

refinement

refining the way animals are cared for

replacement

replacing studies with other methods

experiments

methods used by scientists to study causation

generalizability 

the degree to which their results can be applied to other causes 

translational research

reproach that aims to translate the findings of pure research into useful application for humankind

Physiological psychology

a division of biopsychology which studies the neural mechanisms of behaviour through direct manipulation and recording the brain

phsyiological psychology places a large emphasis on…

reproach that develops the theories of the neural control of behaviour rather than immediate practical benefit

psychopharmocology

the study of the manipulation of neural activity and behaviour with drugs

psychopharmacology mostly develops…

therapeutic drugs and ways to reduce drug abuse (so specialized that it is regarded as a separate discipline) 

Neuropsychology

the study of psychological effects of brain dysfunction in human patients

neuropsychology exclusively uses____ for research because…

case studies or quasi studies because exposing healthy patients to brain dysfunction is unethical

Psychophysiology

studies the relationship between physiological activity and psychological process in humans

psychophysiology measures include…

EEGs, muscle tension, eye movement, indicators of the autonomic nervous system

Cognitive neuroscience

studies the neural bases of cognition

cognition 

higher, intellectual processes such as thought, memory, attention, and complex perceptual processes 

functional brain imaging

recording images of activity in living human brains

comparative psycholoogy

the study of the behaviour of animals in their natural environments

comparative psychology compares the behaviours of…

different species in order to understand evolution, genetics, and adaptiveness of behaviour 

ethological research

the study of behaviour in an animals natural environment 

psychosurgery  

any brain surgery