PSYC1004 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Gene Regulatory Network, Impulsivity, Donald O. Hebb
Lecture 1
22 August 2017
11:21
Biological Psychology
Attempt to explain behaviour very simply by defining physiological reasons behind
behaviour
oReductionist
oSystems approach
oBiological mechanisms that underpin behaviour may be more important than
social/societal influence
Principles:
oThere are biological basis of our behaviours
There are biological correlates ,of behaviour
oAnimal research can provide insight into human behaviour
oOur behaviour is, at least partially, based on genes (nature vs nurture)
oDifferent parts of the brain/different neurotransmitters serve different functions
If our universe is comprised of matter and energy, what is consciousness or our mind?
How does the brain (biologically, neurotransmitters, etc.) play a role in our everyday
experiences… like hunger? Anger? Sexual desire? Sadness?
What genes predispose some people ton psychological disorders?
How does pre-natal development affect someone's life as an adult?
The world around us is dynamic. We are receiving a constant stream of information
How we receive information. How we interpret information
We respond to our interpretation of the information I'm our environment: Actions or
behaviour
How might the brain work?
Large scale organisation
oLeft side/right side motion: figure 8 motion with your foot and draw a number 6 in
the air - these are 2 alternative motions, and the brain will just pick 1
oDifferent parts of the brain are responsible for different behaviours
Language (last semester) left hemisphere
Spatial processing -right hemisphere
Right hemisphere - use left hand to solve Rubik's cubes (right brain
corresponds to left side of the body)
Hebbian learning - frequency oscillations
oDonald Hebb: inn order to understand the behaviour of living organisms it made
sense to study the neural machinery responsible for that behaviour
oTwo assemblies spatially closer to each other, end up syncing together and forming
a neural network
oLearning is the development of neural network
oCells fire in a consistent way - the more you do it, these fire more automatically
Nature vs Nurture
Neither is more important than the other - its collaborate influence
What is the relative contribution of each?
In psychology, you tend to talk more about nurture (the environment), but biological
psychology you look at nature
Behaviour is dependent upon both environment and biology
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Attempt to explain behaviour very simply by defining physiological reasons behind behaviour o o o. Biological mechanisms that underpin behaviour may be more important than social/societal influence. There are biological correlates ,of behaviour: animal research can provide insight into human behaviour, our behaviour is, at least partially, based on genes (nature vs nurture, different parts of the brain/different neurotransmitters serve different functions. We are receiving a constant stream of information. We respond to our interpretation of the information i"m our environment: actions or behaviour. Right hemisphere - use left hand to solve rubik"s cubes (right brain corresponds to left side of the body) Hebbian learning - frequency oscillations: donald hebb: inn order to understand the behaviour of living organisms it made sense to study the neural machinery responsible for that behaviour o. Two assemblies spatially closer to each other, end up syncing together and forming a neural network o o.
