1. Chapter 1 Introduction to Biopsychology
How Biopsychologists Think about Behavior
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Chapter 1 Overview
What is Biopsychology?
Human Evolution
Fundamental Genetics
Thinking about the Biology of Behavior: Mind-Brain and Nature-Nurture Issues
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Consider this..
Does the brain have the capacity to understand something as complex as itself?
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Four Major Themes
Thinking Clearly about Biopsychology
Connecting the text to real life
Clinical Implications
The Evolutionary Perspective
The comparative approach – what can we learn from other species?
Cognitive Neuroscience
Connecting brain activity and cognition
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What is Biopsychology?
“the scientific study of the biology of behavior”
Also known as behavioral neuroscience, behavioral biology, psychobiology
Psychology: the scientific study of behavior
Hebb (1949) proposed that psychological phenomena might be produced by brain activity
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6. Biopsychology is an integrative discipline
Knowledge from other disciplines of neuroscience is applied to the study of behavior
Each discipline studies a different aspect of the nervous system that informs our understanding of what produces and controls behavior
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7. Other Disciplines of Neuroscience
Neuroanatomy
Structure of the nervous system
Neurochemistry
Chemical bases of neural activity
Neuroendocrinology
Interactions between the nervous system and the endocrine system
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8. Other Disciplines of Neuroscience
Neuropathology
Nervous system disorders
Neuropharmacology
Effects of drugs on neural activity
Neurophysiology
Functions and activities of the nervous system
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9. Behavior is the Product of Interactions Among:
Genes (“genetic endowment”, nature)
Experience (nurture)
Perception of the current situation
The brain – where these 3 factors interact
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Human Evolution
While Darwin was not the 1st to propose that species evolve, he was the 1st to compile supporting evidence and to suggest how evolution works
Darwin presented 3 kinds of evidence
The most convincing evidence comes from direct observation of evolution in progress
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Human Evolution
Darwin’s evidence
Fossil evidence of evolution
Noted structural similarities among living species, suggesting common ancestors
Impact of selective breeding
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12. Evolution and Behavior
Just as physical features can contribute to “fitness”, so do behaviors
The ability to find food, avoid predation, etc.
Social dominance and courtship displays
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13. Thinking about Human Evolution
Evolution does not proceed in a single line
Humans have only been around for a brief period of time
Rapid evolutionary changes do occur
< 1% of all known species are still in existence
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14. Evolution of the Human Brain
There is no relationship between brain size and intelligence
Brain size is generally correlated with body size
More informative to look at relative size of different brain regions
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15. Evolution of the Human Brain
Brain stem regulates reflex activities that are critical for survival
Cerebrum is involved in complex adaptive processes such as learning, perception, and motivation
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16. Evolution of the Human Brain
The human brain has increased in size during evolution
Most of the increase in size has occurred in one region - the cerebrum
Increased convolutions in the cerebrum have increased the volume of the cerebral cortex
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17. Evolution of the Human Brain
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18. Biopsychological Research Involves Both Human and Nonhuman Subjects
Why would we look at rats, mice, and nonhuman primates to further our understanding of the human brain?
How different are you and a rat?
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19. Why use nonhuman subjects?
While some questions about behavior can only be addressed using human subjects, much can be learned from studying the brains of other species
Differences are more quantitative (relating to size) than qualitative (relating to function)
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20. Why use nonhuman subjects?
Simpler brains makes it more likely that brain-behavior interactions will be revealed
Comparative approach – gain insight by making comparisons with other species
Fewer ethical restrictions
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Fundamental Genetics
Dichotomous traits – occur in one form or another, not normally in combination
True-breeding lines – interbred members always produce offspring with the same traits
Mendel studied dichotomous traits in true-breeding lines of pea plants
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Mendel’s Experiments
Crossed a line bred true for brown seeds with one bred true for white
First generation offspring all had brown seeds
When the first generation were bred, the result was ¾ brown and ¼ white seeds
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Mendel’s Experiments
True-breeding lines
White (ww)
Brown (BB)
Brown was the dominant trait, appearing in all of the 1st generation offspring (Bw)
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Mendel’s Experiments
Phenotype – observable traits
Genotype – traits present in the genes
If the dominant trait is present in the genotype (Bw), it will be observed in the phenotype (brown seeds)
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Mendel’s Experiments
Each inherited factor is a gene
Two genes that control the same trait are called alleles
Homozygous – 2 identical alleles (BB, ww)
Heterozygous – 2 different alleles (Bw)
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26. Chromosomes and Reproduction
Genes are located on chromosomes in the nucleus of each cell.
Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, with an allele on each chromosome
Meiosis – a process of cell division that yields cells with just 23 chromosomes
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27. Chromosomes and Reproduction
Gametes, eggs and sperm, are produced by meiosis
When egg and sperm combine to form a fertilized egg (zygote), 23 pairs of chromosomes are again present
Mitosis – a form of cell division that yields daughter cells that have 23 pairs of chromosomes
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28. Sex Chromosomes and Sex-Linked Traits
Sex chromosomes, X and Y, look different and carry different genes
Female = XX, Male = XY
Sex-linked traits - influenced by genes on the sex chromosomes
Dominant traits on the X chromosome will be seen more commonly in females, recessive ones in males
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29. Sex Chromosomes and Sex-Linked Traits
Color-blindness – a recessive sex-linked trait
Who is more likely to be color-blind?
Males
Why?
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30. Chromosome Structure and Replication
Each chromosome is a double-stranded molecule of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
Each strand consists of a sequence of nucleotide bases – their sequence constitutes the genetic code
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32. Human Genome Project: What’s Next?
Why don’t we now have all the answers?
How genes interact with one another and experience is still not clear.
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Thinking about the Biology of Behavior: Mind-Brain and Nature-Nurture Issues
The mind-brain issue
Are the mind and brain one and the same?
The nature-nurture issue
What makes you how you are – genes or environment?
The genetics of individual differences
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The Mind-Brain Issue
Dualism – human brain and mind are separate
While we generally accept that mind and brain are really one today, there are some who still believe that some components of the mind are not just products of brain activity
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Consider this..
What evidence is there that mind and brain are one?
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36. The Nature-Nurture Issue
Is it inherited or is it learned?
Watson – father of behaviorism – believed that all behavior was the product of learning (nurture)
Ethology – the study of animal behavior in the wild – focused on instinctive behaviors, emphasizing nature
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Consider this..
Is the “nature-nurture” debate alive today?
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38. The Nature-Nurture Issue
Behavior is impacted by factors other than genetics (nature) or learning (nurture)
“Nurture” now encompasses learning and environment
While it is generally accepted that behavior is a product of nature and nurture, many still ask how much is determined by each
But genetic and experiential factors do not merely combine in an additive fashion
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39. The Heritability of Individual Differences
What conclusions can be made, if any about the heritability of individual differences?
What would a biological psychologist say about what makes you who and how you are?
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