PSY 209 Brain and Behavior - Intro


Key Concepts in Behavioral Neuroscience

  • Definition:

    • Behavioral Neuroscience, also known as Physiological Psychology or Biopsychology, studies the biological bases of psychological processes and behavior.

  • Main Ideas:

    • The brain regulates behavior and is not a two-way street; behavior influences brain activity (e.g., diet and experiences affecting behavior).

  • Important Questions Explored:

    • Why do certain emotional experiences impact memory retention?

    • What is the nature and purpose of sleep?

    • How does brain damage influence behavior?

Brain Regions and Functions

  • Key Parts of the Brain:

    • Frontal Lobe: Involved in reasoning, motor skills, higher-level cognition.

    • Parietal Lobe: Processes sensory information.

    • Temporal Lobe: Involved in processing auditory information and memory.

    • Occipital Lobe: Responsible for visual processing.

    • Cerebellum: Coordinates voluntary movements and balance.

    • Amygdala: Key for emotional regulation.

    • Hippocampus: Critical for memory consolidation.

Research Methodologies

  • Scientific Method Overview:

    • Steps:

    1. Observation of a phenomenon

    2. Hypothesis development

    3. Testing predictions from the hypotheses

    4. Drawing conclusions based on the data

  • Hypotheses in Behavioral Neuroscience:

    • A hypothesis is a proposed explanation that can be tested through systematic, objective data collection.

Levels of Analysis

  • Proximate Causes (How):

    • Physiological: Links behavior to brain and organ activity.

    • Developmental (Ontogenetic): Describes the behavior's growth over an individual's lifetime. Some species have to reach a certain mass in order to leave home

  • Ultimate Causes (Why):

    • Evolutionary: Discusses the evolutionary history of a behavior, examining why it may have evolved.

  • Full Behavior Analysis:

    • A comprehensive analysis requires addressing both proximate and ultimate questions.

Case Study: Belding's Ground Squirrel Example

  • Physiological Factors:

    • Gonadal hormones affect behavioral patterns.

  • Developmental Factors:

    • Specific body mass must be attained before leaving home.

  • Evolutionary Factors:

    • The behavior stems from common traits shared with ancestral species, adapting for survival (avoid incest).

Summary of Behavioral Neuroscience

  • Main Goals:

    • Understand the biological underpinnings of behavior and experiences.

    • Recognize the nervous system as central to all mental and behavioral processes.

    • Employ the scientific method for studying both proximate and ultimate causes of behavior.