325: PSY PHYSIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY Course Number 1002-LEC (24674) Instructor: Sudipta Biswas, Ph. D. Class Time: Tu, Th 10:30 - 11:45 AM Location: College Of Design South # 15
Office: 231 Schwada Building E-mail: [e-mail]
Office Hrs: Tuesday (8:30 AM -10:30 AM) Friday (10:00 AM 12:00 PM)
TA: Ryan Meyers Office: Psychology Building 366 E-mail: [e-mail] Office Hrs: By appointment
Electronics
Please turn off phones, pagers, all electronic equipment. It is disruptive to the class.
PSY 325
Satisfies one of the Psychology Depts Requirement for B.S. or B.A. degree
General Course Information
Requirements:
Textbook Carlson 9th edition * Buy at Bookstore Pre-requisites * PSY 290 (Research Methods) * OR two Biology Courses
Over-rides
This class has a maximum capacity of 50 students. No more overrides can be provided.
Expectations of This Course
It is a DIFFICULT course. Involves a lot of hard work and learning new concepts and memorization.
INTERDISCIPLINARY
Emphasis on biology specifically neurobiology Also involves knowledge of Psychology Biochemistry Physics Molecular biology
DYNAMIC FIELD
New Information all the time
LECTURE NOTES:
Students who want access to lecture notes can download them prior to the lecture using blackboard. They will be in PDF. Go to: https://my.asu.edu/ myasucourses,ASUinteractive Lecture notes are NOT required but are HIGHLY recommended because you can focus on the CONCEPTS during class lectures.
PRACTICE EXAMS: not available: exam format has changed
Grades
Three Midterm Exams: Lowest Score would be dropped so only 2 would be counted. Midterm 1 Midterm 2 Midterm 3 Final Exam = 150 pts 150 pts 150 pts 300 midterm points total 200 points
Total Points = 500 points Final Exam is comprehensive Final Grades are based upon:
A: 90-100% B: 80-89% C: 70-79% D: 60-69%
Make-Up Exams: Not available because one midterm is dropped.
Extra Credit Option
Extra Credit points are added after the final scores have been tallied. Extra credits are not used to increase a score by one full letter grade. Instead, they are meant to boost students to the next grade when they are within 2 to 3 points of the next grade. Instructor approval is required before you do an extra credit project.
Option 1 (10 pts) Design an illustration to be used as a powerpoint illustration
to be used in future Psychology 325 classes. Extra credit Grading 1. Helpfulness (4 pts): 2. Clarity (3 points): 3. Effort (3 pts):
Chapter 1: Introduction
What is Physiological Psychology?
Physiological Psychology is the study of how the brain affects behavior using all kinds of animals (excluding humans). Cognitive Psychology is the study of how the brain affects behavior in humans.
Understanding Human Consciousness
Consciousness : Refers to a variety of concepts May be simple wakefulness It can be altered by changes in brain chemistry * it may be a physiological function May or may not include awareness of perceptions Blindsight : Interesting phenomenon that can illustrate the meaning of consciousness (Weiskrantz et al., 1974). Old Dogma: Consciousness includes awareness of perceptions Blindsight phenomenon shows that perceptions can occur without consciousness.
Example of blindsight: A blind person with only vision in middle of visual field can accurately reach for objects in his or her blind visual field ( page 5 box). The person is not consciously aware of the objects. Blindsight Caused by damage to the mammalian visual system of the brain Shows that consciousness is not a general property of all parts of the brain Some brain regions can function without consciousness
Blindsight (Fig. 1.2)
Split-brain operation
Brain surgery that is occasionally performed to treat a form of epilepsy. A surgeon cuts the corpus callosum, which connects the two hemispheres (the two symmetrical halves of the brain). The two hemispheres work independent of each other
Fig 1.3
Split brain patients: Right hemisphere controls left side of body. Left hemisphere controls speech. Right can understand verbal instructions. Exception is the olfactory system (which is not crossed). 1. Blocked left nostril and blindfolded patient then presented a rose smell 2. Asked what do you smell Patient denies smelling anything
(left blocked, no perception).
3. Asked to use left hand to choose the type of smell. Reaches for rose.
(not conscious but can perceive)
Conclusion: Consciousness involves operations of the verbal mechanisms of the left hemisphere. May or may not be linked to perception.
Fig. 1.4
PhysiologicalPsychology The Goals Of Research
There are two main approaches that scientists use to explain a discovery : Generalization: A conclusion based on many observations of similar phenomena. Particular instances of behavior are used as examples of general laws (theories are based on examples). Reduction: A phenomenon is explained in terms of the more elementary processes that underlie it. Behaviors are systematically analyzed at smaller levels.
Biological Roots Of Physiological Psychology
Localization of Function - 2 Basic Problems 1) Are mental problems due to brain or mind? 2) Where is the locus of control for different behaviors within the brain?
TheMindBodyQuestion
Mind-Body Problem What is the mind? Is the mind part of the Nervous System and does it control the nervous system? Is the mind tangible? 1. Dualism: The belief that the body is physical (and can be studied) but the mind (or soul) is not physical (and cannot be studied). They believe that the mind and body are separate (two) and that the mind consists of something not yet understood. 2. Monism: The belief that the world consists only of matter and energy and the mind must be a part of it. They believe that the mind and body can be studied because they are either matter or energy. a. This is the assumption of most physiological psychologists. b. Once the workings of the nervous system are known, then so will the mind-body problem be understood.
Brain Hypothesis - mental processes in brain Alcmaeon of Croton (ca. 500 B.C.) Hippocrates (460-370 B.C.) Plato (420-347 B.C) - "part closest to heaven"
Heart Hypothesis - mental processes in heart Empedocles (ca. 490-430 B.C.) Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) - Heart is Warm & Active Mental Processes - Brain is Cool & Inert Radiator to Cool Blood
Physiological Psychologists down the ages Descartes (1596-1650)
The first person to propose a model linking the mind and brain on how the nervous system worked. Dualist: Believed that the world was purely mechanical. Once God set it in motion, the body ran its course without divine interference. Used reflexes as an example: A reflex is an automatic, stereotyped movement that is produced as the direct result of a stimulus. Descartes called Reflexes - Mechanistic Body Responses -Automatic & Involuntary -Stereotyped
Descartes explanation of a reflex based on statues in Royal gardens in Paris
His theory was: Ventricles in the brain = pressurized water Nerves = pipes for the water to flow Muscles = cylinders body Pineal = valves: where the mind and body interacted seat of soul
Fig. 1.6
Luigi Galvani (17 C) Disproved Descartes model. Galvani found that electrical stimulation of a frogs nerve caused contraction EVEN when the muscle was detached from the rest of the body.
Why did this disprove Descartes model?
Gustav Fritsch & Eduard Hitzig (1870) Used small pulses of electrical stimulation on the surface of a dogs brain and observed the effect: 1. Dog neocortex muscle contractions, leg twitches on the OPPOSITE side of the body 2. Mechanical irritation of temporal cortex in man eye movements Concluded that Cortex (the surface of the brain): 3) Is Electrically Excitable 4) Important in Producing Movement 5) Has Topographic Organization Localized Function Primary Motor Cortex Hermann von Helmholtz Determined nerve communication to be chemical, not electrical. Found nerve speed was slower than the speed of light (~90 ft/sec)
Pierre Flourens (1825) Ablation (Lesion) Method - removed specific part(s) of brain, then observed behavior for loss of specific abilities
Paul Broca (1860s) - applied principle to human brain by studying patients with brain damage from strokes - Found Left Cortex responsible for Speech Brocas Area
Fig. 1.9
Johannes Mller (1801 - 1858) 1. Advocated experimental techniques (previously, activities were based upon observation and classification) 2. Doctrine of specific nerve energies Found the brain to be functionally divided. Although all nerves carry the same message and electrical impulse- the information is perceived differently. Example: Optic nerve produces visual image and auditory nerve produces hearing. How can the same message from a nerve be perceived differently?
Extra Credit From Student (Skeekey)
Charles Darwin (1809-1882) Evolutionary Theory Functionalism - characteristics of living organisms perform useful function (or at least used to) Eg. Appendix as storage sac
Adaptation - In order to survive the changes in environment, different organs have to undergo adaptation. Eg. Forelimbs
Mutations - Random/Accidental changes in recipe (chromosomes) that produces building blocks (proteins) and lead to the adaptive changes.
Fig 1.11
Gave rise to the theory of Natural Selection Evolutionary changes across offsprings increase the probability for survival. Selective Advantages better resistance to disease better appearance: - more sexually appealing - better camouflage increased speed to flee or capture prey But selections are not always adaptive (maladaptive) F. 1.13) Role of Genetics in Physiological Psychology To study how mutations or other genetic mechanisms influence physiological processes upon which behaviors depend.
Evolution of the Human Species
Evolution is the gradual change in the structure and physiology of plant and animal species as a result of natural selection. Comparative Psychology - the study of different species to understand the evolution of brain structure & behavior
Human genetic relatedness to: Chimp = 98.8% Gorilla = 98.6% Orangutan = 97.2%
Fig 1.16
Evolution of Large Brains
Does a Larger Brain Confer Greater Intelligence? compare human vs elephants vs whales Bigger bodies require bigger brains, but size of brain does not have to increase with the size of the body Eg/proportion of brain to body size human vs elephant vs shrew = 2.3% vs 0.2% vs 3.3% Thus larger muscles do not necessarily require more nerve cells to control them. ** What counts is NOT having nerve cells committed to moving muscles or receiving sensory information, but having nerve cells devoted for learning, remembering, reasoning, and making plans
Orange line: brain and body size of related hominids Blue line: brain and body size of Homo-related hominids Fig. 1.19
Neoteny (extended youth)
A slowing of the process of maturation, allowing more time for growth; an important factor in the development of large brains
Human and Chimps brains similar in size at infancy
Neoteny lets humans keep larger brains
Infancy
Adulthood
Chimps:
Humans:
Extra Credit from Student (Hamilton)
Use Of Animals In Research
History of Animal Rights - evolution of the movement Ren Descartes (17th C) Dualist (def. pg. 4) * Humans possess spirit/mind * Animals machine-like (inferior to man, no spirit) Jeremy Bentham (17th - 18th C) * Issue is not about ability to reason or talk, but about ability to suffer * "Rights" - Ability to suffer by animals must be considered equally with man's Richard Ryder (1975) * Speciesism - prejudice, akin to Racism or sexism, against nonhumans
Categories of Movements
Animal Welfare Movement: Are animals being treated humanely? a. Seek improved care & housing b. Emphasize ban on use of pound animals for experimentation c. Support animal research when animals are treated humanely d. Federal law passed in 1985 has strict requirements for the care, housing and use of animals in research
2. Animal Rights Movement: Do animals have the same rights as humans? Seek elimination of what they view as abuse
b. Attempt to eliminate abuse by a combination of means, including militant & terrorist activities c. Do not want animals used in research at all because animal use is morally wrong Examples of Organizations: PETA - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals ~200,000 dues-paying members ALF - Animal Liberation Front - committed to freeing lab animals - destroyed equipment, records & facilities - burned laboratory at U. C. Davis School of Veterinary Medicine (>$3 million loss)
Uses of Animals
Food Work on Farms Transportation Fur/Clothing Pleasure pets sporting hunting racing fishing Research Research & Education accounts for only 0.3% animals used but gets the majority (63.3%) of attention. Most animal abuse comes from pet ownership (Miller,1983) No oversight, no permits. FIFTY times more animals are killed by humane societies due to abandonment than those killed in animal research
Purpose of animal use in Research
1. Biomedical & Behavioral Testing - how systems function - to advance medical knowledge 2. Education - Health professions - Veterinary medicine - Biomedical research - Biological knowledge 3. Drug & Product Testing - Safety & efficacy of new drugs - Toxicity of chemicals
Impact of Animal Research
Among the Nobel Prizes awarded between 1901-1985 54 of 76 awards in Physiology or Medicine for Discoveries attributed to Animal Research
1985 - Cholesterol & Heart Disease - Dogs 1966 - Viruses & Cancer - Chickens 1960 - Foreign Tissue Rejection - Cattle, Mice 1923 - Poliomyelitis Virus Cultures Dogs OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS Imprinting in the Condor - teach identification with own species of threatened lines Learning, Addictive Behaviors (tobacco, drugs, alcohol), Compulsive Behaviors (anorexia nervosa)
Benefits of animal research on animals
1.Immunization against distemper, rabies, parvo virus, infectious hepatitis, anthrax and tetanus 2. Treatment of feline leukemia 3. Experimental radiation techniques and immunotherapy for cancer in dogs