Biological level of analysis Biology is defined as the study of life (from the Greek bios meaning

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Biological level of analysis Biology is defined
as the study of life (from the Greek bios meaning
life and logosmeaning study).

• Physiology and behavoiur
• Chapter 2.1
• By Ms Lindstrom

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Learning Outcomes

• General learning outcomes
• Outline principles that define the biological
  level of analysis (for example, patterns of
  behaviour can be inherited animal research may
  inform our understanding of human behaviour
  cognitions, emotions and behaviours are products
  of the anatomy and physiology of our nervous and
  endocrine systems).
• Explain how principles that define the
  biological level of analysis may be demonstrated
  in research (that is, theories and/or studies).
• Discuss how and why particular research methods
  are used at the biological level of analysis (for
  example, experiments, observations, correlational
  studies).
• Discuss ethical considerations related to
  research studies at the biological level of
  analysis.

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Learning Outcomes

• Physiology and behaviour
• Explain one study related to localization of
  function in the brain (for example, Wernicke,
  Broca and Sperry).
• Using one or more examples, explain effects of
  neurotransmission on human behaviour (for
  example, the effect of noradrenaline on
  depression).
• Using one or more examples, explain functions
  of two hormones in human behaviour.
• Discuss two effects of the environment on
  physiological processes (for example, effects of
  jet lag on bodily rhythms, effects of
  environmental stressors on reproductive
  mechanisms).
• Examine one interaction between cognition and
  physiology in terms of behaviour (for example
  amnesia). Evaluate two relevant studies.
• Discuss the use of brain imaging technologies
  (for example, CAT, PET, fMRI) in investigating
  the relationship between biological factors and
  behaviour.

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In the light of past and ongoing research on
genetics, neuroscience, and behavior

• Who am I? Who are they?
• Why do I behave the way I do? Why do they?
• How did I/they get to be this way?
• What can I/they/we do about it?

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• Two important principles are emerging from past
  and ongoing research in humans and other
  organisms
• Virtually all behavior is influenced by genes.
• Virtually no behavior is determined by genes.

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The interactionist approach

• A more holistic picture of human behaviour not
  soley either nature or nurture. (also the way IB
  psychology views it)
• Biological researchers often adopt a reductionist
  approach to the study of human behaviour
  (micro-level research).

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A biological perspective is relevant to the
study of Psychology inthree ways

• 1. Comparative method different species of
  animal can be studied and compared.
• This can help in the search to understand human
  behaviour.
• 2. Physiology how the nervous system and
  hormones work, how the brain
• functions, how changes in structure and/or
  function can affect behaviour. For
• example, we could ask how prescribed drugs to
  treat depression affect behaviour through their
  interaction with the nervous system.
• 3. Investigation of inheritance what an animal
  inherits from its parents,
• mechanisms of inheritance (genetics). For
  example, we might want to know
• whether high intelligence is inherited from one
  generation to the next.

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Principles of the biological level of analysis

• patterns of behaviour can be inherited
  (evolution)
• animal research may inform our understanding of
  human behaviour (therefore a lot of animal
  research within this perspective)
• cognitions, emotions and behaviours are products
  of the anatomy and physiology of our nervous and
  endocrine systems ( a link between a biological
  factor and a behaviour)