Methodology in biological psychology

Type :

Presentation

Pages :

10 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

11/28/2008

Category :

Science & technology

Sub category :

Biology

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Summary :

Introduction.
Biological psychology studies both humans and non-human animals.
Biological psychology uses a variety of approaches.
Some issues involved in different approaches and methods.
Motor behaviour: reflexes, movements and actions.
1. Reflexes.
2. Selective potentiation.
3. Levels of control of motor behavior.
Some main principles of biological psychology.
Conclusion.

Abstract

biological psychology manipulates and observes psychological variables just as do all other fields of psychology. However, to delineate the somatic contribution to behavior and mental functions, biological psychology needs to draw evidence from studies combining methods of psychology with those of other disciplines such as neuroscience, pharmacology, immunology, and endocrinology. These methods allow the investigator to probe into relevant bodily systems. In contrast to many other fields of psychology that focus their research mainly on human beings, biological psychology investigates both human and nonhuman species. Study of animal subjects is justified for two reasons. First of all, from an evolutionary perspective, the bodily systems sub serving mental activity, like any other biological features, are under the pressure of natural selection and have evolved over a long period of time as a consequence of adaptation to the environment. Common components may underlie mental functions of both humans and other species in terms of their structural bases or operational mechanisms. Investigating the brain function of animals can therefore contribute significantly to our understanding of that of humans. This expectation is substantiated by numerous findings suggesting shared biological bases of human and nonhuman behavior.