Untitled
Introduction
The Major Issues
- Dorothy Parker said: "The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity."
Devotion
Core Questions
- Who are you?
- Why are you like you are?
- Reference to Psalm 139.
Psalm 139 (New International Version)
Overview
- For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
Verses:
- You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.
- You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
- You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
- Before a word is on my tongue, you, Lord, know it completely.
- You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.
- Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
- Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
- If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
- If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
- even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
- If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”
- even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
- For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
- I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
- My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
- Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
- How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!
- Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand—when I awake, I am still with you.
Understanding Human Behavior
Understanding Levels of Analysis in Biological Psychology
- ### Levels of Analysis:
- Social Level: Individuals behaving in social interaction.
- Organ Level: Brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and eyes.
- Neural Systems Level: Eyes and visual brain regions.
- Brain Region Level: Visual cortex.
- Molecular Level: Membrane receptors.
- Cellular Level: Single neuron.
- Circuit Level: Local neural circuit.
The Mind-Brain Relationship
The Nature of Consciousness
- Chalmers (1995) proposed two distinct problems:
- Easy Problems: Focus on differences in conscious states and their mechanisms.
- Hard Problems: Focus on why and how brain activity correlates with consciousness.
Dualism and Neuroscience
- Dualism Definition: The belief in different kinds of substances that exist independently.
- Defended by French philosopher René Descartes.
- Common belief among nonscientists but rejected by most neuroscientists.
Mind-Brain Problem
- Mind-Brain Problem Definition: A central issue in biological psychology, exploring the relationship between mind and brain.
- Various explanations exist for the mind-brain problem.
Categories of Biological Explanations of Behavior
- Physiological: Relates behavior to the brain and organ activity.
- Ontogenetic: Describes the development of a behavior or structure.
- Evolutionary: Reconstructs the evolutionary history of a behavior or structure.
- Functional: Describes why a behavior evolved as it did.
Careers Related to Biological Psychology
Categories:
- Research: Involves scientific inquiry that typically requires a PhD.
- Therapy: Clinical practice that often requires a PhD or PsyD.
Fields of Specialization in Psychology
Research Fields:
| Specialization | Description |
|---|---|
| Neuroscientist | Studies anatomy, biochemistry, or physiology of the nervous system. |
| Behavioral neuroscientist | Investigates how brain functioning influences behavior. |
| Cognitive neuroscientist | Analyzes people's knowledge and cognition based on brain research. |
| Neuropsychologist | Conducts tests to determine abilities of individuals with brain damage. |
| Psychophysiologist | Measures physiological responses related to behavior. |
| Neurochemist | Investigates chemical reactions in the brain. |
| Comparative psychologist | Studies animal behavior related to habitats. |
| Evolutionary psychologist | Relates behaviors to evolutionary pressures. |
Practitioner Fields:
| Specialization | Description |
|---|---|
| Clinical psychologist | Helps individuals with emotional problems. |
| Counseling psychologist | Aids in educational and vocational decisions. |
| School psychologist | Identifies and addresses educational needs of schoolchildren. |
Medical and Allied Fields
Medical Fields:
| Field | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Neurologist | Treats patients with brain damage or diseases. |
| Neurosurgeon | Performs brain surgery. |
| Psychiatrist | Helps with emotional distress or behaviors using medical interventions. |
Allied Medical Fields:
| Field | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Physical therapist | Helps with muscle or nerve dysfunctions. |
| Occupational therapist | Aids in daily functioning post-injury. |
| Social worker | Assists with personal and family issues. |
The Use of Animals in Research
Importance and Controversy
- Animal research provides critical insights for biological psychology but remains controversial based on ethics and the level of stress caused to animals during research.
Reasons for Studying Animals
- Mechanisms of behavior are often similar across species.
- Interest in animals for their own sake.
- Insights into human evolution can be gained from animal studies.
- Some experiments on humans are hindered by legal or ethical concerns.
The Ethical Debate on Animal Research
Positions on Animal Research
- Minimalists: Support strong regulations on animal research, focusing on animal type and stress caused.
- Abolitionists: Argue that all animals have human-like rights and oppose all animal research.
Justification of Research
- Justifying animal research involves weighing the scientific benefits against animal suffering. No clear cutoff exists.
- Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees oversee practices in colleges and research institutions in the U.S.
The Cells of the Nervous System
Types of Cells
- Neurons: Approximately 100 billion neurons in the human brain.
- Glia: Supportive cells in the nervous system facilitating neuron functioning.
Historical Contribution
- Santiago Ramon y Cajal (1852-1934): Demonstrated that individual neurons remain separate and do not merge.
Neuron Structure
- Neurons include:
- Membrane: Encasing the neuron.
- Nucleus: Contains DNA for genetic control.
- Mitochondria: Energy production.
- Ribosomes: Protein synthesis.
- Endoplasmic Reticulum: Modifies and transports proteins.
Neuron Types and Functions
Motor and Sensory Neurons
- Motor Neurons: Soma situated in the spinal cord, conducting impulses to muscles.
- Sensory Neurons: Specialized to respond to specific stimulations (light, sound, etc.).
Neuron Structure Details
- Dendrites: Receive incoming signals; have synaptic receptors.
- Cell Body/Soma: Life-support center for neurons, containing metabolic structures.
- Axon: Transmits impulses; may be insulated with a myelin sheath.
- Presynaptic Terminals: Release chemicals to communicate with other neurons.
Synapse
- Definition: Junction between the axon terminal of one neuron and the dendrite or cell body of another.
- Components: Synaptic gap or cleft exists within the synapse.
Neuron Shape and Function
- Neurons vary in size, shape, and function based on their connections and contributions to the nervous system. An example is Purkinje cells which are extensively branched.
Blood-Brain Barrier
Mechanism and Importance
- Blood-Brain Barrier: Prevents most chemicals from entering the brain, crucial for protecting neurons from harmful agents since they generally do not regenerate.
Neuron Nutrition and Condition
- Neurons primarily depend on glucose for energy since it is the main nutrient able to cross the blood-brain barrier.
- Deficiency Challenges: A thiamine deficiency can cause issues such as Korsakoff's syndrome, which is characterized by significant memory impairment.
Neural Activity Significance
Mechanism of Neuron Communication
- Neurons communicate via electrical and chemical signals, functioning as the brain's "language."
- Applications of these discoveries are being researched, such as controlling machines directly through brain activity (Dr. Miguel Nicolelis).
The Nerve Impulse
Definition and Propagation
- Nerve Impulse: Electrical message transmitted down a neuron's axon, initiated and regenerated at specific points.
Electrical Gradient Maintenance
- Neurons maintain an electrical gradient, which reflects a difference in electrical charge inside/outside the cell, with a resting potential around -70 millivolts.
Action Potential Characteristics
Mechanisms of Depolarization
- Action Potentials: Triggered by depolarization past a threshold, resulting in rapid neuronic signal transmission. Venues for sodium channels and effects of voltage-gated channels are emphasized.
Recovery Processes
- After firing, sodium channels close, and potassium flows out to restore the resting state, facilitated by the sodium-potassium pump.
Local Neuron Characteristics
- Local Neurons: Have short axons, exchange information nearby, and do not produce action potentials, generating graded potentials instead.
Elaborating on these concepts allows understanding of the fundamental interactions within the neural mechanisms underlying behavior, cognition, and psychological functioning, providing a comprehensive approach to biological psychology.