the biological basis of behaviour

the biological perspective

concerned w/ the links between behaviour & biology

includes: neuroscience, behavioural genetics, evolutionary psychology

what type of researchers research the biological basis of behaviour?

• behavioural neuroscientists

• neuroscientists

• behavioural geneticists

• bio psychologists

the biological approach

all behavioural can be traced to internal states or events

the biological approach advantage?

• observable

• reliable

• replicable

• quantitative

history of the biological approach (plato)?

located the mind in the head, spherical shape mirrored the perfect form

history of the biological approach (aristotle)?

located the mind in the head, pumped vitality through the body

history of the biological approach (1800’s)?

popularization of phrenology – bumps on the skull could reveal a person’s mental abilities and character traits. Ironically accurate to theory of localization – the idea that various brain regions have particular functions

scanning technologies

• EEG

• PET

• CAT

• MRI

• fMRI

what do scanning technologies allows researchers to do?

Allows correlation between physiological events in the brain with emotions, cognition, & decision making

optigenetics

genetic modifications combines with fibre-optic stimulation allows for neurological states to be observed

contemporary perspectives

• Neurological states and events precede awareness

• Neurological states and events predict behaviour

Occurs in 3 ways:

• Brain structure & function

• Neurotransmitters/drugs

• Hormones

holism

understanding complex systems as whole interconnected entities

reductionism

explaining complicated systems by breaking them down into component parts