Generalisation
A general conclusion based on many observations of similar phenomena. For example, after observing a loss of motion perception in 30 individuals with damage a particular area of the brain, a biological psychologist might conclude that this area of the brain is necessary for motion processing in all people
Reduction
A phenomenon is described in terms of the more elementary processes that underlie it. For example, a research team might want to understand how humans learn language for the first time. Using the reductionist approach, some researchers might explore the specific brain areas involved in language production, while others might explore the areas involved in language comprehension. Other’s still might explore the electrochemical activity in the brain as someone speaks.
Dualism
The belief that the body is physical but the mind is not
Monism
The belief that the world consists only of matter and energy and that the mind is a phenomenon produced by the workings of the nervous system
Ancient culture beliefs of mind/body
- Believed that the heart controlled thoughts and emotions
- When Tutankhamen was mummified in 1300 BCE, his heart, but not his brain was preserved
- “Get thee a heart of wisdom”. The Christian bible rarely mentions the brain, but often mentions the heart
Aristotle 384-322 BC
Mental capacities are located in the heart. The brain cools the passions of the heart
Hippocrates 460-375 BC
Not only our pleasure, but also our sorrow rises from the brain
Galen 129-210 AD
- Galen is often labelled the Father of Modern Medicine
- Treated the head injuries of gladiators and noticed behavioural changes.
- Reasoned that if the brain cooled the heart, why would they be so far away from each other?
- Contributed to ourunderstanding of anatomy and physiology by dissecting brains of sheep, cattle, pigs, and apes
Renes Descartes 1596-1650
Descartes argued that the behaviour of animals (and perhaps even humans) worked similarly to that of a machine.
Studied reflexes.
He was a dualist, however, he believed in mind-body interactions.
Pineal gland theory
- Descartes believed that the mind and body interact via the Pineal Gland.
- Thought the pineal gland caused fluid to travel from the brain to an appropriate set of nerves to stimulate movement
Luigi Galvani 1737-1798
- Began to empirically test ideas around mind-body interactions
- Disproved Pineal Gland Theory
- Electrical stimulation on frog nerves showed that muscles contracted even when not attached to the rest of the body
Johannes Muller 1801-1858
All nerves carry a basic message – an electrical impulse - yet we perceive the messages of different nerves in different ways
Doctrine of Specific Nerve Energies: Different parts of the brain get information from different nerves. Thus, different parts of the brain serve different functions
Contemporary research into mind/body
- Sensitive tools to amplify electrical signals produced by the brain
- Neurochemical techniques to measure changes within and between cells
- Epigenetics to study changes in gene expression induced by the environment
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Week 1131
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Week 11 - topic 233
