This document contains the summaries for the first six chapters of the book Biospychology, Global Edition. It is based on the learning objectives described in the book. It contains illustrations to make it more clear.
Training questions for the second exam in the minor Neuroscience
Biopsychology Selectie Universiteit Utrecht
Theory, the brain, cognition and development subtest 1
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Bachelor / Pre-master Psychologie
Biopsychology
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Summary Subtest 1 –
Biopsychology
2020-2021
Brain & Cogniti on
1
,Index
Chapter 1 – Biopsychology as a Neuroscience.......................................................................................3
Chapter 2 – Evolution, Genetics, and Experience...................................................................................6
Chapter 3 – Anatomy of the Nervous System......................................................................................13
Chapter 4 – Neural Conduction and Synaptic Transmission.................................................................24
Chapter 5 – The Research Methods of Biopsychology.........................................................................34
Chapter 6 – The Visual System.............................................................................................................41
2
, Chapter 1 – Biopsychology as a Neuroscience
The human brain is a network of neurons these are cells that receive and transmit electrochemical
signals). Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system.
What is Biopsychology?
Defining biopsychology
Biopsychology is the scientific study of the biology of behavior. Some refer to this field as
psychobiology, behavioral biology, or behavioral neuroscience; but we prefer the term
biopsychology because denotes a biological approach to the study of psychology rather than the
other wat around.
Psychology is the scientific study of behavior.
What are the origins of biopsychology?
Biopsychology did not develop into a major neuroscientific discipline until the 20 th century. D.O.
Hebb played a key role in its emergence. Hebb developed the first comprehensive theory of how
complex psychological phenomena might be produced by brain activity.
How is biopsychology related to the other disciplines of Neuroscience.
Neuroscience is a team effort and bio psychologists are important team members.
The following are a few of the disciplines of neuroscience that are particularly relevant to
biopsychology
Neuroanatomy – the study of the structure of the nervous system
Neurochemistry – the study of the chemical bases of neural activity
Neuroendocrinology – the study of interactions between the nervous system and the
endocrine system
Neuropathology – the study of nervous system disorders
Neuropharmacology – the study of the effects of drugs on neural activity
Neurophysiology – the study of the functions and activities of the nervous system
Human and nonhuman subjects
The brains of humans differ from the brains f other mammals primarily in their overall size and the
extent of their cortical development. This is why many of the principles of the human brain function
can be clarified by the study of nonhumans.
Experimenting with humans has several advantages
They can follow instructions
They can report their subjective experiences
Humans are often cheaper
When studying the brain they have human brains
Experimenting with animals have certain advantages too
The brains and behavior of nonhuman subjects are simpler than those of human subjects
Insights frequently arise from the comparative approach, the study of biological processes
by comparing different species.
It is possible to conduct research on laboratory animals that, for ethical reasons, is not
possible with human participants
3
, Experiments and nonexperiments
The experiment is the method used by scientists to study causation, that is, to find out what causes
what.
Usually, a different group of subjects is tested under each condition (between-subjects design), but
sometimes it is possible to test the same group of subjects under each condition (within-subjects
design).
Dependent variable depends on the independent variable. It is difficult to determine whether it was
the independent variable or the unintended difference, called a confounded variable that led to the
observed effects on the dependent variable.
Quasi experimental studies are studies of groups of subjects who have been exposed to the
conditions of interest in the real world. These studies have the appearance of experiment, but they
are not true experiments because potential confounded variables have not been controlled.
Case studies focus on a single case or subject. They offer a more in-depth picture than that provided
by an experiment or a quasi-experimental study. However, there is a major problem with all case
studies: their generalizability, the degree to which their results can be applied to other cases.
Pure and applied research
Pure research is motivated primarily by the curiosity of the researcher, it is done solely for the
purpose of acquiring knowledge.
Applied research is intended to bring about some direct benefit to humankind.
Of course, it is not necessary for a research project to be completely pure or completely applied;
many have elements of both.
Pure research often becomes the topic of translational research: research that aims to translate the
findings of pure research into useful applications for humankind.
What Are the Divisions of Biopsychology?
Physiological psychology
Physiological psychology is the division of biopsychology that studies the neural mechanism of
behavior though the direct manipulation and recording of the brain in controlled experiments,
surgical and electrical methods are most common. Subjects are almost always laboratory animals.
Psychopharmacology
Psychopharmacology is similar to physiological psychology expect that it focuses on the
manipulation of neural activity and behavior with drugs. A substantial portion of
psychopharmacological research is applied.
Neuropsychology
Neuropsychology is the study of the psychological effects of brain damage in human patients. They
almost exclusively deal with case studies and quasi experimental studies of patients with brain
damage resulting from disease, accident or neurosurgery.
It is the most applied of the biopsychological subdisciplines.
Psychophysiology
Psychophysiology studies the relation between physiological activity and psychological processes in
human subjects. The usual measure of brain activity is the scalp of electroencephalogram (EEG).
4
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