Biopsychology.pdf

Biopsychology is a scientific study of the biology of Case studies- studies that focus on a single subject behavior (Dewsbury, 1991). It is a biological approach to or very small number of subjects the study of psychology rather than...

Biopsychology is a scientific study of the biology of Case studies- studies that focus on a single subject behavior (Dewsbury, 1991). It is a biological approach to or very small number of subjects the study of psychology rather than 5. Pure Research- motivated primarily by the curiosity Origins: of the researcher. It is done solely for the purpose of The Organization of Behavior by Donald Hebb in acquiring knowledge 1949 6. Applied Research- intended to bring about some Relations to the Disciplines of Neuroscience direct benefit to humankind 1. Neuroanatomy. The study of the structure of the Major Divisions of Biopsychology nervous system 2. Neurochemistry. The study of the chemical bases of 1. Physiological Psychology- studies neural neural activity mechanism of behavior 3. Neuroendocrinology. The study of interactions 2. Neuropsychology- psychological effects of brain between the nervous system and the endocrine damage in human patients system 3. Comparative Psychology- comparing 4. Neuropathology. Study of nervous system 4. Psychophysiology- relation between physiological dysfunction activity and psychological process in human subjects 5. Neuropharmacology. Study of the effects of drugs 5. Psychopharmacology - manipulation of neural on neural activity activity and behavior with drugs 6. Neurophysiology. The study of the functions and 6. Cognitive neuroscience- generally refers to higher activities of the nervous system intellectual processes Types of Research that characterize the Electroencephalogram(EEG)- scan of brainwaves Biopsychological approach Converging operations- integrating evidence from 1. Human Subjects- volunteers/participants various research methods to provide a more 2. Nonhuman Subjects- used because of several ethical comprehensive understanding of psychological considerations. No consent needed. phenomena Crash Test Dummy (used live pigs before) Korsakoff's Syndrome -purpose is to measure human injury during potential - cannot form new memories vehicle crashes. - Anterograde Amnesia - damage in the prefrontal cortex Animal Welfare Committee - lack of thiamine Reduction- efforts to reduce the numbers of animals used in research Anterograde Amnesia- can remember events in the Refinement- refining research studies or the way past before the accident that lead to the acquisition of animals are cared for so as to reduce suffering (e.g said illness. providing animals with better living condition) Replacement- replacing of studies using animal Retrograde Amnesia- cannot remember the past, but subjects with alternate techniques, such as can make new memories. Memories can be brought experimenting on sell cultures or using computer back. models Walter Jackson Freeman- he was the one who 3. Experiments- method used by scientists to study invented lobotomy, which he called psychosurgery (it causation, that is, to find out what causes what was a time where there were no psychological between-subjects design interventions) within-subjects design independent variable Dr. Egas Moniz- was awarded the Nobel Prize in dependent variable Physiology and Medicine for the development of confounded variable prefrontal lobotomy. 4. Non-Experiments Prefrontal Lobotomy- a surgical procedure in which Quasi Experimental studies- measures casual the connection between the frontal lobes and the rest of relationships without random assignment the brain are cut as a treatment for mental illness Prefrontal lobes- the large areas, left and right, at the very front of the brain. Case 2: Two Chimpanzees, Moniz and the Prefrontal Lobotomy These two chimpanzees were behaving erratically, which they can compare to people with psychotic illnesses. Moniz's discovery was based on the report that two chimpanzees that frequently became upset when they made errors during the performance of a food-rewarded task, did not do so following the creation of a large bilateral lesion (an area of damage to both sides of the brain) of their prefrontal lobes. After witnessing a demonstration of this result at a scientific meeting in 1935, Moniz convinced neurosurgeon Almeida Lim to operate on a series of psychiatric patients, Lima cut out six large cores of prefrontal tissue with a surgical device called a leucotome. The leucotome was inserted six times into the patient's brain with the cutting wire retracted. After each insertion, the cutting wire was extruded and the leucotome rotated to cut out a core of tissue. Following Moniz's claims that prefrontal surgery was therapeutically useful, there was a rapid proliferation of various forms of prefrontal psychosurgery. One such variation was transorbital lobotomy which was Prefrontal Cortex----> Broca's Area----> Aphasia developed in Italy and then popularized in the United States by Walter Freeman in the late 1940's. Broca's Area- an area below the prefrontal cortex, and if damaged, you will develop aphasia (language It involved inserting an ice pick-like device under the disorder that affects how we communicate), one of the eyelid, driving it through the orbit (eye socket) with a few negative symptoms of schizophrenia. taps of a mallet, and pushing it into the prefrontal lobes, where it was waved back and forth to sever the Bilateral lesion- area damaged in the both sides to the connections between the prefrontal lobes and the rest brain fluid in the brain (cyst) of the brain. This operation was frequently performed in doctor's offices. Transorbital lobotomy- developed in Italy A few patients died a few months after the procedure. GENETICS AND BEHAVIOR(Nature vs. Nurture) Nature vs. Nurture Gene- the unit of heredity that dictates the traits and functions in an organism DNA- stores and transmits genetic information (genes) essential for an organism's growth, development, and reproduction.  Chromosomes- responsible for the replication and Shared Environment- provided by the parents(home) distributions The idea of using twins to study the heritability of traits NATURE can be traced back to the British researcher Sir Francis Our genetics determine our behavior. Our personality Galton. His pioneering work The History of Twins in traits and abilities are in our "nature" 1875 NURTURE Our environment, upbringing, and life experiences GENOME-WIDE ASSOCIATION STUDY determine our behavior. We are "nurtured" to behave a study done in 2010 where each person gives a in certain ways sample of DNA, from which millions of genetic variants are read in order to see if certain genes are Behavioral Genetics- the study of effects of heredity on behavior. Behavioral genetics tries to answer this question: To what extent are our abilities, personality traits, sexual orientations, sociability, and psychological disorders determined by genes inherited from our parents? TWIN STUDIES the idea of using twins to study the heritability of traits can be traced back to the British researcher Sir Francis Galton. His pioneering work, The History of Twins in 1875 inspired much debate by suggesting that England's "chief men of genius" were the product more of good breeding (nature) than of Allele 334(infidelity gene)- vasopressin- loyal hormone good rearing (nurture). polymorphism. used to help us answer the questions of nature vs. nurture. Since identical twins share the same genetic Study results- men who carry one or two extra copies makeup, we can assume that differences between of a gene called allele 334 often behave differently in them are due to environmental factors. relationships than men who lack this gene variant. Men Pair 1: Same DNA, Same environment- if intelligence with an extra copy of the gene felt a weaker, less is different, we can assume that there are tiny permanent attachment to their partners, and were more differences in environment (different friends, time likely to be unfaithful. Men who had two copies of allele spent, studying, etc.) that caused the difference. 334 were also twice as likely to have had a marital or Pair 2: Same DNA, Same Environment- however, relationship crisis in the past year than those who twins often grow up in very similar environments. If lacked the gene variant. (Karolinska Medical Institute, intelligence is the same, it's hard to tell if it is due to Stockholm) genetics or environment. Pair 3: Same DNA, Different Environment- twins Vasopressin- a polypeptide hormone secreted by the adopted by different families grow up in different posterior lobe of the pituitary gland or obtained environments. If intelligence is the same, it is likely synthetically that increases blood pressure and due to genetics. If intelligence is different, it is likely decreases due to the environment. urine flow Pair 4: Different DNA, Same Environment- One sibling is adopted, if intelligence is the same, it is polymorphism- process of copying the sequences of likely due to the environment. If intelligence is the gene into a lot of copies. different, it is likely due to genetics. Twin Study- the idea of using twins to study the heritability of traits can be traced back to the British researcher Sir Francis Galton. His pioneering work, The History of Twins in 1875 inspired much debate by suggesting that England's "chief men of genius" were the product more of good breeding (nature) than of good rearing (nurture). Non-shared Environment- unique experiences  Easy-going children are generally happy and active from birth and adjust easily to new situations and environments Slow-to-warm up children are generally observant and calm and may need extra time to adjust to new ituations. Children with difficult temperaments often have varied routines (eating, sleeping, etc.) and approach life with zest. Large studies have identified several genes that play a role in temperament. Many of these genes are involved in communication between cells in the brain. Certain gene variations may contribute to particular traits related NOVELTY-SEEKING BEHAVIOR STUDIES to temperament. For example, variants in the DRD2 and Novelty seeking behavior (impulsive decision making, DRD4 genes have been linked to a desire to seek out the need to explore, lack of organization) is related to new experiences, and KATNAL2 gene variants are the presence of a certain gene in a body, and is highly associated with self-discipline and carefulness. Variants inheritable affecting while some MAOA gene variants may be linked in several genes, such as SLC6A4, AGBL2, Genes and Test Scores BAIAP2, CELF4, L3MBTL2, LINGO2, XKR6, ZC3H7B, In a study at University College London, researchers OLFM4, MEF2C, and TMEM 161B contribute to compared test scores of high school students to their anxiousness or depression. genes. The study found that 58% of the variation on student test scores was due to genetic factors. In conclusion, the fact that children exhibit personality - science subjects characteristics in infancy suggests that genetics plays a part, but changes in personality overtime also point to a Genes and Success nurture component as well. Hence, it is still difficult to Study shows that for children living in poverty, it did not pinpoint which has the greater influence (the nature or matter whether they had good genes or not. The nurture). negative impact of the environment almost always played a greater role in their future success than their genes. MENDELIAN GENETICS Gregor Mendel has explained to us the mechanisms of For children in middle class and wealthy homes, having inheritance in his experiment with pea plants. He good genes becomes very important in determining decided to study dichotomous traits, and he decided to their future success. Genes played a much greater role begin his experiments by crossing the offspring of true- in the future success of each child breeding lines. Hence, researchers concluded that for children in harsh Dominant Trait- appeared in all of the first living conditions, it is harder for exceptional genes to generation offspring, always expressed when shine through (Turkenheimer, 2013) the connected allele is dominant. Recessive Trait- appeared in about one-quarter TEMPERAMENT STUDIES of the second generation expressed only if both According to Bratko, Butkovic & Vukasovic (2017), kids the connected alleles are recessive. display early signs of their personality in the form of Phenotype- organisms observable traits, temperament, which is estimated to be 20% to 60% due observable expression of the genotype. to genetics. Children generally have one of three basic Genotype- a persons genetic material temperaments: easy, difficult, or slow-to-warm-up. Homozygous Dominant- genotypes made of the same alleles that are dominant. What is TEMPERAMENT? Heterozygous- genotypes made of two different Temperament is human's natural dispositions, it alleles. includes behavioral sociability such as (outgoing, or Homozygous recessive- genotypes made of shy), emotionality (easy-going or quick to react), activity the same alleles that are recessive. level (high. or, low energy), attention level (focused or Monohybrid cross- inheritance of a single pair easily distracted), and persistence (determined or easily of alleles, focusing on one particular trait only. discouraged).  Dihybrid cross- inheritance of two different alleles; looking at two different traits simultaneously. FERAL CHILD A feral child is a child who has lived isolated from human contact from a very young age, often without any experience of human care, social behavior, or language. As a result, feral children lack the social and cultural behaviors that are learned through interaction with other humans. They may have been raised by animals or survived alone in the wilderness, away from civilization. Ages 1-3- critical stage for the child's development. Key characteristics of feral children include:  Lack of Language Skills: Feral children typically do not acquire language naturally, as they have not been exposed to human speech. Their communication may be limited to sounds, gestures, or mimicry of animal sounds if they were raised by animals. Social Isolation: These children often lack social skills and the ability to interact appropriately with other humans. They may not understand basic social norms and behaviors, as they have not been socialized in a typical human environment. Physical Behavior: Some feral children exhibit physical behaviors that resemble the animals they may have lived with, such as walking on all fours, making animal-like sounds, or showing heightened senses of smell or hearing. Developmental Delays: Due to the lack of human interaction and education, feral children often have developmental delays in areas like language, cognition, and emotional regulation. Adaptation to Environment: Feral children may have developed survival skills that are uncommon among typical children, such as finding food in the wild, avoiding predators, or understanding animal behavior. Examples in Real Life and Literature: In real life, cases of feral children are rare but have been documented, such as the cases of Genie in the United States and Victor of Aveyron in France. In literature and media, the concept of feral children has been popularized in stories like Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, which tells the story of Mowgli, a boy raised by wolves, and Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan, about a man raised by apes.