Biological Psychology

by

James Kalat

Introduction

Biological psychology approaches behavior and experience with the assumption that they are products of the nervous system, as it has been molded through evolution. This field encompasses studies of genetics, evolution, hormones, the nervous system, and the physiology of other organs, as they relate to perception, movement, learning and memory, motivation and emotion, consciousness, and abnormal behavior. The term biological psychology” is approximately synonymous with biopsychology, psychobiology, behavioral neuroscience, and physiological psychology. Research methods include examining behavioral changes after brain damage, brain stimulation, and drug injections. Methods also include recordings from the brain during behavior, genetic analyses of behavior, and comparisons of behavior in different species. Traditionally, and still to a fair extent, researchers have relied on studies of laboratory animals. However, because of advances in brain imaging, today’s researchers also conduct much research on humans.

Textbooks

Several textbooks are available, with varying levels and emphases. Any of these could be consulted for more detailed information. Expect each of them to be revised periodically. Biological psychology heavily overlaps neuroscience, but as a rule, textbooks with the word neuroscience in the title—such as Bear, et al. 2007, Carlson 2011, and Purves 2008—tend to put more emphasis on the physiology and biochemistry of the nervous system. Those with the title biological psychology—such as Breedlove, et al. 2010, Kalat 2009, and Pinel 2009—tend to put more emphasis on application to behavior.

• Bear, Mark F., Barry W. Connors, and Michael A. Paradiso. 2007. Neuroscience: Exploring the brain. 3d ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott.

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  A text suitable for students with a strong biology background and an interest in neuroscience.

• Breedlove, S. Marc, Neil V. Watson, and Mark R. Rosenzweig. 2010. Biological psychology: An introduction to behavioral, cognitive, and clinical neuroscience. 6th ed. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates.

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  One of the standard undergraduate textbooks.

• Carlson, Neil R. 2011. Foundations of behavioral neuroscience. 8th ed. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

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  Generally regarded as a more detailed text, suitable for graduate courses as well as for advanced undergraduates.

• Kalat, James W. 2009. Biological psychology. 10th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

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  One of the standard undergraduate textbooks.

• Pinel, John P. J. 2009. Biopsychology. 7th ed. Boston: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.

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  One of the standard undergraduate textbooks.

• Purves, Dale, eds. 2008. Neuroscience. 4th ed. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer.

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  A comprehensive textbook appropriate for medical students and graduate students.