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Psychology 304: Brain and Behaviour

Lecture 1

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Introduction and History

1. What is biological psychology?

2. What is the relation between biological psychology and other disciplines of neuroscience?

3. What is the history of research in biological psychology?

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By the end of today’s class, you should be able to:

1. define the term “biological psychology.”

2. describe neuroscientific disciplines related to biological psychology.

4. describe major theoretical shifts in the history of biological psychology.

3. identify dominant individuals in the history of biological psychology.

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What is biological psychology?

• The scientific study of the biological bases of psychological processes and behaviour.

• Also referred to as biopsychology, behavioural neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, psychobiology, and behavioural biology.

• A branch of neuroscience.

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What is the relation between biological psychology and other disciplines of neuroscience?

• Biological psychology draws upon research findings from many other disciplines of neuroscience. Among these are:

Neurochemistry

NeuroendocrinologyNeuroanatomy

Neuropharmacology

NeuropathologyNeurophysiology

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What is the history of research in biological psychology?

• Biological psychology developed into a formal discipline of neuroscience in the 20th century.

• Nevertheless, the study of the biological basis of psychology and behaviour has a long history.

Aristotle (384-322 BC): Argued that the heart was responsible for thought and behaviour.

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Hippocrates (430-350 BC) and Galen (131-201 AD): Argued that the brain was responsible for thought and behaviour.

“I hold that the brain is the most powerful organ of the human body. Eyes, ears, tongue, hands and feet act in accordance with the discernment of the brain.”

– Hippocrates, 1952 Translation

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300 AD-1300 AD: Dominant theories argued that behaviour was regulated by the fluid-filled ventricles of the brain:

Anterior ventricles: PerceptionMiddle ventricles: ReasonPosterior ventricles: Memory

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Descartes (1596-1650): Argued that the pineal gland was the “seat of the soul” or “mind,” controlling action by directing the movement of fluid within the ventricles.

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The Cartesian Reflex

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Galvani (1737-1798): Demonstrated that electrical stimulation of the nerves produces muscle contraction—that is, that nerves conduct electricity.

Electrical Stimulation of Nerves and Muscles by Luigi Galvani

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Gall (1758-1828): Founded phrenology. Argued that the cerebral cortex consists of separate regions, each of which is associated with a distinct psychological or behavioural function.

Phrenologists believed that personality could be determined by examining the shape of the skull. Gall referred to this technique as anatomical personology.

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1. Amativeness2. Philoprogenitiveness3. Concentrativeness4. Adhesiveness5. Combativeness6. Destructiveness6a. Alimentiveness7. Secretiveness8. Acquisitiveness9. Constructiveness10. Self-esteem11. Love of approbation12. Cautiousness13. Benevolence14. Veneration15. Conscientiousness16. Firmness17. Hope

18. Wonder19. Ideality20. Wit21. Imitation22. Individuality23. Form24. Size25. Weight26. Colour27. Locality28. Number29. Order30. Eventuality31. Time32. Tune33. Language34. Comparison35. Causality

Gall’s Personality Regions

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Flourens (1794-1867):Used “experimental ablation” to examine the functions of distinct brain regions. Concluded that cerebral matter was “equipotential”: that any part of the brain could perform another’s function.

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Broca (1824-1880): Identified Broca’s area—damage to this region among patients resulted in an inability to speak or labored speech, with no impact on the ability to understand. This area is located in the left frontal lobe.

Broca’s area

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A Lesion in Broca’s Area“Tan’s” Brain

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Example of the speech of an individual with Broca’s aphasia. The individual is describing the story of Cinderella.

Cinderella...poor...um 'dopted her...scrubbed floor, um, tidy...poor, um...'dopted...Si-sisters and mother...ball. Ball, prince um, shoe... Scrubbed and uh washed and un...tidy, uh, sisters and mother, prince, no, prince, yes. Cinderella hooked prince. (Laughs.) Um, um, shoes, um, twelve o'clock ball, finished. Married...Prince, and Cinderalla meet, um met um met. Shoe, um found shoe.

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Introduction and History

1. What is biological psychology?

2. What is the relation between biological psychology and other disciplines of neuroscience?

3. What is the history of research in biological psychology?