Psyc 2012 1st Edition Lecture 1 Outline of Last Lecture I. None Outline of Current Lecture II. What is biopsychology?A. Today’s lecture goalIII. Definition of psychology and biopsychologyA.Principles of biologyB.Key pointIV.Defining scientific research and experimentsA.5 types of biopsychological variables that can be manipulatedB.4 types of biopsychological outcome variables that can measuredC.Use of human vs animal subjects in research- pros and cons of animal researchV. Course goalCurrent LectureWeek 1- Lecture 1- 1/13What is biopsychology?Goal: learn what biopsychology is and how it’s studiedPsychology: the scientific study of the human mind and its functions; especially thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Biological psychology: the application of the principles of biology to the study of thoughts, feelings, and behavior in humans and animals. We study psychology to know more about human kind, but we can also use animals to do this. Principles of biologyAnatomy: the study of structure and organs in the body, focusing on the structures of the brain and nervous system. Cellular anatomy: the study of the structure and function of cell organelles. These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.Physiology: the study of how living systems function, involves the study of how the cells in the nervous system function in relation to how the nervous system works. Genetics: the study of how genes and evolution affect biological processes. Developmental biology: the study of how an organism and its tissues are created during development, with a focus on how the brain and nervous system develop. Biochemistry: the study of the molecules of life and how they influence living systems, like humans. Key point: biological psychology focuses on the role genes, molecules, cells, tissues and organs play in cognitive, affective, and behavioral processes. Defining scientific research and experimentsScientific Research: systematic, controlled and critical examination of the world, often using experiments to explore the relationship between two variables. Science is self-critical (we don’t accept things at face value), which is why this element of critical study is significant to this type of research. Experiments: subjects are placed in one of two conditions where oine variable is manipulated. The effect of manipulating that variable on some measureable outcome variable can then be measured. 5 types of biopsychological variables that can be manipulated- things we can manipulate1) Genetic manipulation: includes selective breeding (choosing which animals willproduce offspring depending on behavior) and transgenic manipulation (activating particular genes in animals). Used only on animals; we can’t manipulate human genes. 2) Neuropharmacology: giving agonists (drugs that increase certain behaviors) or antagonists (drugs that deter certain behaviors) to brain chemicals. Used on humans and animals. If a drug has been approved for humans, this type of research is how we test its impact. 3) Electrical stimulation: increase the activity of a brain region by stimulating it electrically. Used on humans and animals. Can be used to remove tumors, treat epilepsy and depression (when medication fails). 4) Trauma studies: damage to brain region due to accidental injury, people volunteer their brain injuries for medical studies.Used on humans only. This isn’t precise because damage typically affects more than one area.5) Lesion studies: intentional damage to brain regions that can be temporary or permanent. Used on animals only. 4 types of biopsychological outcome variables that can be measured- how we measure the things we can manipulate1) Neuroimaging: ways that we can non-invasively image brain structures or theiractivity, includes MRI, fMRI and PET scans. MRI: (magnetic resonance imaging) shows us the size, shape, and volume of brain structures. Used to look at autism. We generally want to investigate how the brain is affected by autism, and how autism has caused to brain to physically adapt to it. fMRI: (functional MRI) shows us size, shape, structure, and what parts arethe most active. PET: (positron emission tomography) uses radioactive substances to look for diseases in organs. 2) Electrophysiology: measuring the electrical activity of the brain, includes EEG, EMG, and patch clamping (inserting an electrode into a single cell to measure its activity). 3) Neurochemistry: measures neurotransmitters, metabolites, and signaling molecules, which change depending on what people are coping with mentally. Signaling molecules: chemicals released by nervous system cellsThese can all be studied through extremely invasive measures, like spinal taps to get nervous system fluid, or much less invasive measures like urine samples. 4) Neurocytology: the study of the anatomy and activity of the brain and nervoussystem cells by staining them. Use of human vs animal subjects in research- pros and cons of animal experimentationProsEthical limitations that don’t apply to animals, we need consent from humans.Reproduce and develop faster which increases number of subjectsyou can study. You can study the entire lifespan of an animal, which makes experimentation cheaper. Animals are simpler and easier to understand and control than humans, because they’re genetically bred to be similar. Simpler nervous systemsAnimals share many of the same biological pathways (Neurotransmitters). ConsEthical issues because animals can’t give consent. They can’t self-report or follow instructions. They’re not human, so there will be true differences in results thatwe can’t apply to humans. These differences are mainly in the cerebral cortexes. Course goal: to understand the principles of biological psychology and the fundamentals of the relationships between brain structure, brain function, and