history of behavioural neuroscience Flashcards
(22 cards)
What is behavioural neuroscience?
Behavioural neuroscience, also called biological psychology or physiological psychology, is the scientific study of the relationship between the nervous system and behaviour, including how brain activity influences thoughts, emotions, and actions.
What disciplines does behavioural neuroscience combine?
It combines neuroscience (study of brain structures and functions) and psychology (study of mental processes and behaviour).
What are the main focuses of behavioural neuroscience?
Understanding how brain activity produces and influences perception, cognition, emotion, and observable behaviour.
What religious or cultural factors historically limited neuroscience research?
In ancient cultures like Greece, religious and moral beliefs prohibited dissection, limiting anatomical understanding of the brain.
What technological limitations slowed neuroscience progress?
Before modern tools, researchers lacked methods to study nerve signals and brain function, especially before the discovery of electricity’s role in neural activity.
What role did serendipity play in neuroscience?
Accidental discoveries, like Luigi Galvani’s experiment with frog legs and static electricity, led to the discovery of electrical signals in nerves.
How did scientific conservatism affect progress in behavioural neuroscience?
Resistance to new or controversial ideas—such as Gall’s theory of phrenology—often delayed acceptance of novel concepts about brain function.
What did the Edwin Smith Papyrus reveal about ancient brain knowledge?
It documented that brain injuries were linked to changes in behaviour, showing early awareness of the brain’s importance.
What did Hippocrates propose about the brain?
Hippocrates argued that the brain—not the heart—was the command center of the body and responsible for mental functions.
What was René Descartes’ contribution to neuroscience?
Descartes proposed the mind-body problem and believed in mechanical reflexes controlled by fluid movement in nerves.
How did Luigi Galvani change our understanding of neural signals?
He discovered that nerve impulses are electrical, not fluid-based, through his work with frog legs and static electricity.
What did Franz Joseph Gall contribute to neuroscience?
Gall introduced the idea of localization of function in the brain through phrenology, although the theory itself was flawed.
What were Broca and Wernicke’s contributions to understanding language?
Broca identified the brain region for speech production, and Wernicke identified the region for language comprehension, showing that different brain areas have specialized functions.
How much does the human brain weigh?
Approximately 1,400 grams (1.4 kg), which is about 3% of total body weight.
How many neurons and synapses are in the human brain?
The brain has about 100 billion neurons and roughly 1 quadrillion synapses.
How much energy does the brain use?
About 20% of the body’s energy, running on just 20 watts—similar to a dim light bulb.
Why is the brain considered the most complex system in the universe?
Due to its massive interconnected network of neurons and the sophisticated processing involved in thought, behaviour, and consciousness.
What is neuropsychology and what does it study?
Neuropsychology studies the effects of brain injury or disease on cognitive functions such as language, memory, and attention.
What is psychopharmacology?
It is the study of how drugs affect the brain and behaviour, focusing on neurotransmitters and mental disorders.
What is cognitive neuroscience?
Cognitive neuroscience explores the neural basis of mental processes, often using tools like fMRI and EEG to study perception, memory, and decision-making.
What is neuromorphic computing?
A field that models brain-like neural networks in computers using silicon-based circuits to mimic biological information processing.
What careers are available in behavioural neuroscience?
Clinical: neuropsychologist, neurologist, psychiatrist
Research: neuroscientist, cognitive psychologist, neuroengineer
Applied: roles in marketing, education, artificial intelligence (AI)
