Textbook Module 1.1 Biological Approach to Behavior

Module 1.1 Biological Approach to Behavior-  January 13, 2015

Lecture Notes

I. INTRODUCTION  Textbook pg 2

"Why is there something rather than nothing?"

Science studies the universe on many different levels of analyses.  See powers of ten On the EXPANDING view of Powers of Ten we get a picture of our place in the universe.
What does the COLLAPSING view indicate to you?

The film simply allow us to see what is possible to observe and speculate the universe as far away and as deep down as humans technology can take us. The technology is just one aspect of human curiosity that allows the asking of questions.  David Chalmers, a philosopher says that the "hard problem" is ...

"Why is there such a thing as consciousness?"

A. Biological Psychology- the study of the physiological, evolutionary and developmental mechanism of behavior and experience and is similar to: Biopscychology, psychobiology, physiological psychology and behavioral neuroscience.

CAN YOU ANSWER THIS QUESTION-
? What is the difference between biological psychology and behavioral neuroscience.?


B. Two views of the human brain  (Figure 1.2 pg 4)
  outer view

DORSAL	VENTRAL
Frontal Lobe	Frontal Lobe
Pre central Gyrus	Temporal lobe
Central Sulcus	Longitudinal fissure
Post central Gyrus	Olfactory Bulb
Parietal Lobe	Optic nerve
Occipital Lobe	Medulla, Cerebellum and Spinal cord

CAN YOU IDENTIFY MOST OF THESE AREAS FROM THE COLORING BOOK?- 7.1,7.2 AND 7.3

inner view
Figure 1.3 Neurons magnified
CAN YOU IDENTIFY THE TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING ENDS OF THE NEURON?
COLORING BOOK -3.1

II. Biological Explanations of Behavior
 The four categories of behavior- according to the biological explanation of behavior.
A. Physiological explanation
B. Ontogenetic explanation
C. Evolutionary explanation
D. Functional explanation

CLOSE BOOK-
  Explain the birdsong in terms of the four categories.


III. Career Opportunities

Q. How many different fields of Psychology are there?
  A. Research, Practioner, Medical Allied Medical
Q. What  particular specialization seems most interesting to you? Why?


ADDITIONAL FACTS FROM 12TH EDITION-
  There are three main points that the author wants you to remember from the book.
#1  "Perception occurs in your brain."
#2 "Mental activity and certain types of brain activity are, "So far as we can tell, inseparable." This view is known as monism.  (This is the view of the author but not all scientists agree. See here for an alternative view to monism from Biologist Richard Sheldrake.
#3 Don't confuse an example with an explanation. Examples of scientific findings can convey many different things and never will a single study provide all the answers.