Biological Psychology Overview

Biological Psychology: A Bridge Between Psychology and Neuroscience

• Biological psychology aims to understand how biological factors create psychological experiences like learning, memory, emotions, and perception.

History of Biological Psychology

• Phrenology (19th Century): Founded by Gall, phrenology proposed that personality and abilities could be determined by examining bumps on the skull.

Research Techniques in Biological Psychology

• Observations of behavior after head injuries: Studying how damage affects cognitive function.
• Animal brain dissection: Examining animal brains to understand structure and function.
• Post-mortem dissection of human brains: Analyzing brains after death to study structural features.
• Microscopic examination of nerve cells: Studying the cells comprising the nervous system.
• Neuroimaging techniques: Modern methods for visualizing and measuring brain activity.

Neuroimaging Techniques

Brain Structure

• CT scan (Computerized tomography): Creates detailed cross-sectional images of the brain.
• MRI scan (Magnetic resonance imaging): Provides detailed 3D images of brain structure.

Brain Function

• EEG (Electroencephalography): Measures electrical activity in the brain.
• PET scan (Positron emission tomography): Measures brain activity by detecting radioactively tagged molecules.
• fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging): Measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow.
• MEG (Magnetoencephalography): Measures magnetic fields generated by brain activity.
• TMS (Transcranial magnetic stimulation): Stimulates or inhibits specific brain regions to assess their function.

Disorders of Consciousness

• Coma: A state of unconsciousness with no wakefulness or awareness, no response to stimuli.
• Vegetative state: A state of wakefulness but no awareness, showing sleep-wake cycles and reflexes, but no response to commands.
• Locked-in syndrome: A condition where individuals are awake and aware but unable to communicate due to paralysis, often using eye movements to communicate.

EEG in Vegetative Patients

• EEG can be used to investigate brain activity in vegetative patients.
• Healthy brains exhibit complex, interconnected networks associated with awareness.
• Some vegetative patients show well-preserved brain networks similar to those of healthy individuals.

Conclusions about the Vegetative State

• Clinical assessments based on behavioral responses may not detect awareness if motor skills are severely impaired.
• fMRI can reveal signs of residual cognitive function and awareness, particularly in cases of locked-in syndrome.
• Neuroimaging techniques (like fMRI) offer a means for communication for individuals in these conditions.

Explore the fascinating intersection of biology and psychology in this quiz. Discover key concepts, historical developments, and research techniques used in the field of biological psychology. Test your knowledge on how biological factors influence psychological experiences.