Biological Psychology: Brain Structures, Functions, and Techniques

Biological psychology

Study of how biological processes like genes, hormones, and the brain influence behavior, thoughts, and emotions.

Levels of analysis

The different complementary views for analyzing phenomena: biological, psychological, and social-cultural.

Neuroplasticity

The brain's ability to change its structure and function by forming new neural connections throughout life.

Lesion

Intentional or accidental damage to brain tissue used to study the function of specific brain regions.

EEG (Electroencephalogram)

Records electrical activity of the brain through electrodes on the scalp; used to study sleep, seizures, and brain waves.

fMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow; shows which brain areas are active during specific tasks.

Hindbrain

Lower part of brain (includes medulla, pons, cerebellum); controls vital functions like breathing, balance, and movement coordination.

Midbrain

Central part connecting hindbrain and forebrain; controls movement, eye coordination, and arousal (contains reticular formation).

Forebrain

Largest brain region; responsible for thought, emotion, memory, and sensory processing (includes limbic system and cerebral cortex).

Brainstem

Base of brain connecting to spinal cord; controls automatic survival functions like breathing, heart rate, and arousal.

Medulla

Located at the base of the brainstem; controls vital autonomic functions like heartbeat and respiration.

Thalamus

Top of brainstem; acts as a sensory relay station sending information (except smell) to the cerebral cortex.

Reticular formation (RAS)

Network of neurons in the brainstem that regulates sleep, wakefulness, and alertness.

Cerebellum

Rear of brainstem; coordinates voluntary movement, balance, posture, and muscle tone.

Limbic system

Neural system below the cerebral hemispheres; linked to emotion, motivation, and memory (includes amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus).

Amygdala

Part of limbic system; processes emotions such as fear, anger, and aggression.

Hypothalamus

Below the thalamus; maintains homeostasis, regulates hunger, thirst, body temperature, and controls the endocrine system via the pituitary gland.

Hippocampus

In the temporal lobe; responsible for forming and storing new memories and spatial navigation.

Cerebral cortex

Outer layer of the brain; involved in higher cognitive functions like thinking, language, and decision-making.

Frontal lobes

Front of cortex; involved in planning, judgment, personality, motor control, and speech (Broca's area).

Parietal lobes

Top of brain; process sensory input related to touch, pressure, and spatial awareness (contains somatosensory cortex).

Occipital lobes

Back of brain; processes visual information.

Temporal lobes

Sides of brain; handle hearing, language comprehension (Wernicke's area), and memory.

Motor cortex

Rear of frontal lobe; controls voluntary muscle movements by sending signals to the body.

Somatosensory cortex

Front of parietal lobe; receives and interprets touch, temperature, and pain sensations.

Association areas

Parts of the cortex not involved in primary sensory or motor functions; integrate information for learning, memory, and reasoning.

Neurogenesis

Formation of new neurons, especially in the hippocampus; can be influenced by learning and exercise.

Corpus callosum

Large band of neural fibers connecting the two hemispheres and enabling communication between them.

Split brain research

Studies of people with severed corpus callosum (usually to treat epilepsy); show that left hemisphere handles language and right hemisphere handles visual-spatial tasks.