KHA258 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Urinary Incontinence, Chronic Pain, Positron Emission Tomography
1 Jul 2018
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Behavioural Neuroscience week 1:
1.1 Unit overview and introduction to biopsychology:
- In conjunction with cognition: higher order
- More emphasis on underlying mechanisms: neural processing
oNeural system
oFundamental basis of cognition
oCognitive neuroscience brings cognition and this subject together
- Learning outcomes:
oDisorders
oNeuroplasticity
oComprehend the disorders and the physical damage
- Biopsychology started in 1940’s:
oDonald Hebb
oInfluential figure in this field: notion that allowed for us to explain
neurology
oPsychological behaviour prior to this were thought to be too complex,
as well as the physiological processes
oSince then a growing focus on underlying
oHebbian learning: neuroplasticity
Strengthening neurons when they fire within close proximity
- Different disciplines:
oInterdisciplinary
oDifferent disciplines study different aspects of nervous system and
how they relate to behaviour
oBroad
oNeuroscience is a loose term, encompasses a lot of different things
oNeuroanatomy: structure of nervous system
oNeurochemistry: chemical bases of neural activity
Synaptic transmission etc.
oNeuroendocrinology: interactions between the nervous system and the
endocrine system
Important for sex response differences
Stress related responses
Many characteristics similar to neurotransmission
oNeuropathology: disorders and diseases
oNeuropharmacology: effects of drugs on the neural activity
oNeurophysiology: function and activities of the nervous system
- Biopsychology in the research field:
oBoth human and non-human research
Species differences are often more quantitative than qualitative
Eg. Sea slugs: influential on Hebbian learning
Wanted to study memory but needed system that had
simpler brain
Systems were still comparable
Why use humans:
Mainly interested in humans
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Can make useful connections but if we really want to
study human we need to study humans
Humans follow instructions (not always)
Can make subjective reports
Humans cheaper to work with
Not always just an ethical reason for using animals
Nervous systems are simpler in animals
oRelies on experimental and non-experimental research
Eg. Pre-existing psychological conditions
oPure and applied research:
Improve knowledge
Applied: applications to try and assist in the real world
Eg. Drug addiction
o
1.2 Divisions of biopsychology: more specific branches that inform the field
- Physiological psychology:
oFocuses heavily on neural systems
oExperiments involved relation of the brain
oEg. Stimulating brain regions
Through electrode into different regions of the brain
Parkinson disease for example, technique started in animals and
moved to humans
Basal Ganglia: stimulates this area to make up for the loss of
neurotransmitter dopamine
oAnimal research is most common, informs other deeper understandings
oTrans-cranial magnetic stimulation
In humans
Makes use of electrode interventions
Chronic pain: implanting electrodes in the spinal cord
Electrical stimulation reduces the pain
Rare case of human use, nto volunteering just available given
circumstances
- Psychopharmacology:
oDrugs on the brain and behaviour
oBehavioural studies
oMost important drugs to understand is alcohol: depressive mixed with
energy drinks
oWide awake drunks is very dangerous
oEcstasy and marijuana: how many drugs are being taken by how many
people been found out by levels in sewers
oRecreational but also pharmaceutical sides
- Neuropsychology:
oBrain damage and their psychological effects
oClinical emphasis
oHM no long term memories due to removal medial temporal lobe
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
More emphasis on underlying mechanisms: neural processing: neural system, fundamental basis of cognition, cognitive neuroscience brings cognition and this subject together. Learning outcomes: disorders, neuroplasticity, comprehend the disorders and the physical damage. Strengthening neurons when they fire within close proximity. Synaptic transmission etc: neuroendocrinology: interactions between the nervous system and the endocrine system. Many characteristics similar to neurotransmission: neuropathology: disorders and diseases, neuropharmacology: effects of drugs on the neural activity, neurophysiology: function and activities of the nervous system. Biopsychology in the research field: both human and non-human research. Species differences are often more quantitative than qualitative. Wanted to study memory but needed system that had simpler brain. Can make useful connections but if we really want to study human we need to study humans. Not always just an ethical reason for using animals. Nervous systems are simpler in animals: relies on experimental and non-experimental research. Pre-existing psychological conditions: pure and applied research:
