It can be hard to grasp what biology and psychology could possibly have in common. However, once you think about how “the ultimate purpose of the nervous system is to produce and control behavior” (Pinel, 2014, p. 4), the significant role that biopsychology has becomes apparent. Neuroscience and biopsychology have an intertwined relationship with one another. Neuroscience is the all-encompassing study of the nervous system and how each aspect interacts with the others. Biopsychology is a very important facet of neuroscience. It focuses on studying the biology of behavior. Biopsychologists bring a fount of knowledge to the neuroscience field, ranging from their experience with methodical research to their intimate understanding of behavior.
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Animal behavior is simpler to analyze. Their brain is less complex, making it easier to study. The ability to compare the biological and behavioral variances between different species is also valuable. By far, the most prized reason for using animals is that researchers are able to design studies that wouldn’t be feasible or ethical to perform on humans. Pure experiments are motivated by the desire to learn more about a subject and are conducted out of curiosity. In contrast, an applied experiment has a potential outcome in mind that would benefit society. Applied research often has more regulative freedom than pure research because the potential is easier to grasp. Scientists argue that pure research has hidden practical benefits that aren’t initially discernible but are less likely to be biased. Many researchers use a combination of both approaches. One example of applied research is psychopharmacology. Psychopharmacologists are interested in the relationship between drugs and brain behavior. They actively seek to create beneficial drugs or treat drug abuse. For example, psychopharmacologists are studying how to improve memory in Alzheimer patients through drug therapy. Their research most often studies the effects on laboratory animals, but may use human subjects if ethically …show more content…
Comparative psychologists study the manners of separate species and analyze their differences. One subset of comparative psychology is evolutionary psychology, which considers the origins of a species when studying its behavior. Behavioral genetics delves into how genetic composition influences behavior. Observations may be done in a laboratory or in the subject’s natural environment. Cognitive neuroscience is another division of biopsychology. Cognitive neuroscience studies perception by using functional brain imaging. By taking images of firing neurons during different activities, researchers can study the physical effects of memory and thought. The advantage of studying cognitive patterns is that it is noninvasive; Therefore, human subjects can be used. This technology is so helpful that cognitive neuroscientists often collaborate with other scientists to assist in their research. I was initially drawn to this class because of my interest in psychopharmacology. I aspire to be a mental health therapist, and I knew that having an understanding of how psychoactive drugs ' work would help my communication with other professionals regarding my clients. After reading the first few chapters of our textbook, however, I am finding that the entire subject of biopsychology has application in my future
Animal behavior is simpler to analyze. Their brain is less complex, making it easier to study. The ability to compare the biological and behavioral variances between different species is also valuable. By far, the most prized reason for using animals is that researchers are able to design studies that wouldn’t be feasible or ethical to perform on humans. Pure experiments are motivated by the desire to learn more about a subject and are conducted out of curiosity. In contrast, an applied experiment has a potential outcome in mind that would benefit society. Applied research often has more regulative freedom than pure research because the potential is easier to grasp. Scientists argue that pure research has hidden practical benefits that aren’t initially discernible but are less likely to be biased. Many researchers use a combination of both approaches. One example of applied research is psychopharmacology. Psychopharmacologists are interested in the relationship between drugs and brain behavior. They actively seek to create beneficial drugs or treat drug abuse. For example, psychopharmacologists are studying how to improve memory in Alzheimer patients through drug therapy. Their research most often studies the effects on laboratory animals, but may use human subjects if ethically …show more content…
Comparative psychologists study the manners of separate species and analyze their differences. One subset of comparative psychology is evolutionary psychology, which considers the origins of a species when studying its behavior. Behavioral genetics delves into how genetic composition influences behavior. Observations may be done in a laboratory or in the subject’s natural environment. Cognitive neuroscience is another division of biopsychology. Cognitive neuroscience studies perception by using functional brain imaging. By taking images of firing neurons during different activities, researchers can study the physical effects of memory and thought. The advantage of studying cognitive patterns is that it is noninvasive; Therefore, human subjects can be used. This technology is so helpful that cognitive neuroscientists often collaborate with other scientists to assist in their research. I was initially drawn to this class because of my interest in psychopharmacology. I aspire to be a mental health therapist, and I knew that having an understanding of how psychoactive drugs ' work would help my communication with other professionals regarding my clients. After reading the first few chapters of our textbook, however, I am finding that the entire subject of biopsychology has application in my future