Biological Psychology Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What does the biological approach to psychology investigate?

Influence of cultural factors on behavior

Relationships between physiology and behavior (correct)

Impact of social interactions on mental processes

Contributions of environmental conditions to mental health

Who are the four contributors to the biological approach?

Gazzaniga, Bouchard, Rosenzweig, and Sperry

List the three principles that define the biological level of analysis.

All behavior has a physiological basis. 2. Behavior may be influenced by evolutionary processes. 3. Animal studies provide insight into human behavior.

How does the case study of Phineas Gage help support the idea of localization of brain function?

Gage's traumatic brain injury resulted in changes to only part of his personality, supporting the idea that specific brain regions are responsible for particular functions. Signup and view all the answers

Explain genetic predisposition.

It refers to a person's increased likelihood of developing a particular psychological condition based on family history. Signup and view all the answers

What were the methods, findings, and conclusion of the Gazzaniga experiment?

The study involved both human and non-human animals, conducting visual, auditory, and tactile tests in a lab setting and concluded that there are two independently working hemispheres of the brain responsible for specific tasks. Signup and view all the answers

What are some examples of applications of the Split Brain study?

Localization therapy. Signup and view all the answers

List at least one criticism of the Gazzaniga study.

No human activity uses only one side of the brain. Signup and view all the answers

What is neurotransmission?

It is the process in which the body communicates by sending and receiving messages, primarily carried out by neurotransmitters. Signup and view all the answers

What is a neurotransmitter?

A chemical messenger that carries, boosts, and modulates signals between neurons and other cells in the body. Signup and view all the answers

Provide examples of how neurotransmitters affect behavior.

Serotonin affects sleep and mood; dopamine is linked to movement and emotion; acetylcholine pertains to memory; noradrenaline affects heart rate and stress. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the Martinez and Kesner (1999) study and its relation to neurotransmission.

In a lab setting, the study involved rats given acetylcholine to enhance memory, finding that the group with increased acetylcholine had better maze recall. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the Kasamatsu & Hirai (1999) study and how the environment affects neurotransmission.

Buddhist monks fasted during a pilgrimage in the mountains, which led to hallucinations due to increased serotonin levels activated by sensory deprivation. Signup and view all the answers

What is ablation and scarring? Are there ethical concerns associated with the methods?

Ablation is the removal of brain tissue, while scarring (lesioning) involves damaging it to study behavioral changes; ethical concerns include permanence and harm to participants. Signup and view all the answers

What is an EEG, and what are its applications, positives, and negatives?

An EEG measures electrical activity in the brain; applications include studying sleep and epilepsy; positives include non-invasiveness, while negatives include limited depth information. Signup and view all the answers

What is Positron Emission Tomography (PET)? What are its applications, positives, and negatives?

PET is a scan that monitors glucose metabolism in the brain; it involves injecting radioactive glucose; positives include detailed brain activity maps, while negatives include exposure to radiation and high costs. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Biological Approach to Psychology

Explores the relationship between physiology, behavior, and mental processes.
Emphasizes the roles of the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, and autonomic nervous system.
Investigates brain chemistry, body chemistry, and the endocrine system.
Considers genetics and heredity in influencing behavior.

Contributors to Biological Psychology

Significant figures include Gazzaniga, Bouchard, Rosenzweig, and Sperry.

Principles of Biological Level of Analysis

All behaviors have a physiological basis and can be inherited.
Evolutionary processes may influence behavior.
Insights into human behavior can be gained from animal studies.

Phineas Gage Case Study

Gage's traumatic brain injury changed part of his personality, supporting localization of brain function.
Demonstrates that specific brain areas are responsible for distinct functions.

Genetic Pre-Disposition

Based on family history, individuals may have a higher likelihood of developing specific psychological conditions.

Gazzaniga Experiment Findings

Studied both human and non-human animals using visual, auditory, and tactile tests.
Discovered that the brain's two hemispheres operate independently, each responsible for specific tasks (localization).

Applications of Split Brain Study

Insights are applied in localization therapy.

Criticism of Gazzaniga Study

Suggests no human activity utilizes only one side of the brain, questioning findings' applicability.

Neurotransmission Process

Involves communication through neurotransmitters that send and receive messages, allowing responses to environmental and internal stimuli.

Role of Neurotransmitters

Serotonin regulates sleep, appetite, temperature, pain, and mood.
Dopamine is crucial for involuntary movements, learning, memory, and emotions.
Acetylcholine is tied to cognitive functions such as memory and emotion.
Noradrenaline affects heart rate, stress response, sleep, and emotion.

Martinez and Kesner (1999) Study

Investigated the effect of acetylcholine on memory in rats.
Rats with increased acetylcholine showed enhanced memory and navigated mazes more quickly.

Kasamatsu & Hirai (1999) Study

Explored the effects of environmental sensory deprivation on neurotransmission.
Buddhist monks' fasting led to hallucinations due to increased serotonin levels, activating the hypothalamus and frontal cortex.

Ablation and Scarring

Ablation (removal) and lesioning (scarring) are methods to study behavioral changes by manipulating brain tissue.
Ethical concerns arise due to irreversibility and potential harm to participants.

EEG (Electroencephalogram)

Measures electrical activity in the brain to understand sleep, emotions, and epilepsy.
Limitations include inability to access deeper brain regions and functional analysis.

PET (Positron Emission Tomography)

Monitors glucose metabolism in the brain using radioactive glucose injections.
Produces colored maps of brain activity but has limitations in detail and depth of information.

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Description

Explore the fundamental concepts of biological psychology with these flashcards. Delve into the relationships between physiology, behavior, and mental processes, focusing on areas such as the central nervous system and brain chemistry. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their understanding of this critical branch of psychology.