PSYCHOBIOLOGY

PSY 241
This Lecture
 About Prof. Zavala
 What is Psychobiology
 Early views of Mental Function: Dualism - mind and body are
separate
 Monism – the view that the mind and body are the same
 Localizing brain function
 Multidisclipnary approach
 Syllabus
 Supplemental Instruction
 Hi, my name is…
 Arturo Zavala  Research drug addiction
 Ph.D in Behavioral Neuroscience from using animal models
Arizona State

 At California State University, Long Beach

since 2008
 Office: PSY Room 429

 Office hours: Tuesday 2-3 pm

 Email: arturo.zavala@csulb.edu
Psychobiology
Definition
 The study of how the brain affects behavior.

 Also referred to as: biological psychology, physiological psychology,

behavioral neuroscience

 Biological psychology, or behavioral neuroscience, is the study of the

biological bases of psychological processes and behavior (Watson
and Breedlove 2016)
 Psychobiology
What psychological processes and behaviors?
 Learning
 Memories
 Emotions (love, anger, fear)
 Language
 Movement
 Consciousness
 Thinking
 Sleep
 Dreams
 Addiction
 Hunger
 Sex Biopsychology is interested in discovering the
underlying biological mechanism
Psychobiology
Biological processes are found in the brain
 Study the brain and we can understand the
underlying biological mechanism of
psychological processes and behaviors

 Francis Crick said it best in his “Astonishing

Hypothesis”
 “...that "You", your joys and your sorrows, your
memories and your ambitions, your sense of
personal identity and free will, are in fact no
more than the behaviour of a vast assembly of
nerve cells and their associated molecules.”

 What we are able to do and what we are is

the result of the activity of the brain.
 Early Perspectives of Mental Function
Dualism
 Maybe you believe in Dualism – The belief that the body
is physical (and can be studied) but the mind is not physical
(and cannot be studied).
 The mind and body are separate

 Rene Descartes (1596-1650) defended the view of

Dualism – the idea that both mind and body exist
separately.
 He argued we have material bodies, but our minds are
immaterial and non-physical (not bound to our body)
Rene
Descartes
 Arguments supporting Dualism

 The creativity and spontaneity of human action cannot be replicated by machines or

nonhumans (remember he lived in the 17th century).

 Descartes asked, “What can we be sure of?”

 He believed in a GOD, but how could he be sure there is one?
 He believed he lived in a rich country, but how did he know he was not being fooled?
 He believed he had a family, but how did he know he was not being fooled?
 What if an evil demon has tricked him into believing he is experiencing things that are not
real?
Dualism – Arguments supporting it

 Descartes believed having a body was also uncertain.

 The one thing he could not doubt was the fact that he was thinking.

 “I think, Therefore I am.”

 Having a body is uncertain, but having a mind is not (cannot self-refute)
 He concluded , "I knew that I was a substance, the whole essence or nature of which is to
think, and that for its existence, there is no need of any place nor does it depend on any
material thing. That is to say, the soul by which I am, when I am, is entirely distinct from
body.“
Dualism makes sense to us…..

 Dualism is enmeshed in our Language

 We say “my car”, “my house”, “my watch” to identify material possessions, but we extend
that to our brain and body. We own our brain and our body….so we say “my arm”, “my
heart”, “my body”, “my brain”.

 Dualism shows up in our intuitions about personal identity

 We can imagine that someone can be the same person even if they go radical changes in
their body
Dualism is common sense

 We can also imagine more than one person in single body

 Dissociative identity Disorder (Multiple personality disorder)
 Possession
Dualism is common sense

 Most people in the world believe that the self will survive after we die.
 Cultures differ in terms of where your self goes…..But what they share is the idea that what
you are is separable from this physical thing you carry around. And the physical thing that
you carry around can be destroyed while you live on.
 Implies the body is separate from the mind
Back to Crick’s hypothesis…

 Today, the scientific consensus is that dualism is wrong. There is no “you” separable from
your brain.

 The mind is what your brain does – this view is termed Monism.
 The belief that the world consists only of matter and energy and the mind must be a part of it.
 The mind and body can be studied: they are either matter or energy

 Why is Dualism rejected?

Problems with Dualism

 It is unscientific….”the mind is non-physical” yet the mind and body

interact. Dualism does not explain how or where the mind and body
interact.

 We now have a better understanding of what physical things can do.

 Computers and robots can do sophisticated things
 Brain Function and Mental Life
 Evidence supporting the role of the brain in
our mental life has accumulated over the
years
 Disease can affect our mental ability
 Chemicals can affect how we think

 Injury to head can change our mental ability

 And now we can see using imaging techniques a

correspondence between our mental life and our
brain.
 Track blood flow (fMRI)
 Track radioactive chemical (PET)
 Mind = Brain

 Today, the scientific consensus is that all of mental

life, including consciousness, emotions, choice,
morality, etc. are the result of brain activity

 Goal of Biological Psychology is to explain how

the brain can give rise to thought, emotion,
memory, and what we think of as human
behaviors by understanding how the brain works.
Localizing Brain Function
Phrenology
 Early attempts to uncover
the underlying mechanism
of psychological processes
focused on the bumps on
our skull.

 The study of relating

bumps on the skull with an
individual’s personality,
temperament, and talents is
referred to as phrenology

 Has been discredited

Localizing function in the brain

 Today, new techniques

allow us to see that the
brain is active most of
the time, but certain
areas peak during
specific behaviors
 Biological Psychology

 Multidisciplinary field that overlaps with

other branches of science
 Cellular Biology
 Molecular Biology
 Chemistry
 Anatomy
 Physiology
 Cognitive psychology
 Computer Science
 Psychiatry
 Pharmacology
Course goals and learning outcomes

 Goals and Learning Outcomes

 The objective of this course is to introduce you to the biological and
chemical basis of behavior, and how normal brain function, and
various drugs influence the biological and psychological aspects of
a behaving organism. By the end of the course, you should minimally
have a basic understanding of:
 Brain Anatomy/chemistry
 Neural communication
 Research methods in biological psychology
 Mechanisms of action of the most common used drugs and their influence
on behavior
 Biological basis underlying normal and abnormal behavior
Text and additional materials

 The Mind’s Machine: Foundations of Brain

and Behavior (2016)
 Neil V. Watson and S. Marc Breedlove.
 Book is available for checkout at the
Library Reserve (3 hr)
 Additional class materials are located on
the BeachBoard website and book’s
companion website (Quizzes, animations,
activities, flashcards, and keyterms).
 Readings for the first three weeks of
class in a PDF on BeachBoard (after that
you will need book)
Course evaluation
Grades will be determined by your performance (not your effort) on the course. Grades will be based
on the following:
1) Quiz 15 points 2.5%
2) Exam 1 50 points 8.3%
3) Exam 2 100 points 16.7%
4) Exam 3 100 points 16.7%
5) Exam 4 100 points 16.7%
6) Exam 5 100 points 16.7%
7) Cumulative Final Exam 20 points 3.3%
8) Paper 25 points 4.2%
9) Five Homework Writing Assignments 75 points 12.5%
10) Attendance 15 points 2.5%
Cumulative Total 600 points 100%

Grading will be on an absolute scale (i.e., NOT on the curve), meaning that everyone in class may earn
an “A.” Final grades will be determined per the following point system:
A = ≥ 540 points D = 360-419 points
B = 480-539 points F = ≤ 359 points
C = 420-479 points

For psychology majors, a passing grade is a “D” in the class to be allowed into the major.
 Quiz and Exams
 There will be one quiz given during the second week of school. The quiz will consist of multiple-choice questions and will
require both thought and knowledge. The quiz will cover material from previous lectures. Because the answers to the
quiz will be given immediately, you will not be able to make up the quiz.

 The exams will consists of multiple-choice questions and will require both thought and knowledge. Questions will be taken
from both the lecture notes, homework, and the assigned reading; however, the lecture material will be emphasized. The
Cumulative Final Exam will cover material from Exams 1-4
 THERE WILL BE NO SCHEDULED MAKE-UP EXAMS (see course policies). Pursuant to university policy, requests to take
make-up exams will only be granted under the following situations:
1) Illness or injury to the student
2) death, injury, or serious illness of an immediate family member or the like
3) religious reasons*
4) jury duty or government obligation*
5) University sanctioned or approved activities*
 If deemed necessary, a SINGLE make-up exam will be given at the instructor’s convenience and discretion. Any student
that fails to contact the instructor by the next class meeting following the missed exam forfeits their eligibility to take a
make-up exam.
Paper

 Write a reaction paper that involves a critical analysis of a primary research

article (i.e., journal article from a peer-reviewed journal, not a review article,
popular media, or website).
 Choose a topic (any psychological process or behavior)
 Article must focus on biological mechanism
 Please see handouts on BeachBoard. They will help you on how to search for
articles, how to identify the appropriate article, and how to write the reaction
paper.
 Use at least one keyword from a list of 135 keywords
 You need to submit a topic approval form (see course schedule). Once approved
you can write your paper. Do not write the paper until topic has been approved.
 How to write the paper
 Handout on beachboard
 The reaction paper is written in two parts: a Summary section and an Evaluation
section.
 Each section is worth 5 points
 Do not copy directly from article (Plagiarism).
 You are responsible for reading the University’s policy on academic honesty, especially the sections
covering cheating and plagiarism
 Do not use quotes in your article (summarize in your own words)
 Organize your paper (use headings)
 Maximum length: 5 pages
 Turn in Reaction Paper Rubric Grading Form, Approved and Signed Topic Approval
Form, and Full copy of article (no need to print new one)
 Must submit paper to Dropbox to check for plagiarism by Turnitin software
 See handout for details.
 Homework Assignments
 There will be 5 homework writing assignments that you will be required to turn in throughout the
semester.
 Each homework assignment will be worth 15 points.
 All homework must be handwritten (DO NOT TYPE YOUR HOMEWORK). Homework that is typed
OR NOT LEGIBLE will not be graded and will be given a grade of 0 points and will not be
allowed to resubmit.
 All homework assignments are due at the beginning of class on their due date. Note that
Homework will be considered late if it is not turned in during class on the due date.
 Homework assignments turned in late will be deducted 50% (7.5 points) for each class day that is
late.
 Homework asks you about material that we have not covered in class. You will need the book to
complete the homework. Homework will ask you to write down definitions, draw or trace figures
from the book (copy them exactly as they are shown in the book), and/or think critically about the
readings from the book. Do not use lecture notes to complete homework. All homework is
completed using the book only.
 Course policies
Classroom Etiquette
 In an effort to create a classroom environment conducive of learning and open participation,
the following classroom etiquette is required:
 Arrive on time to class.
 Walking out of class is not acceptable.
 Be polite and respectful to others in class.
 Do not carry on conversations with others while in class.
 Please turn off your cell phone and other electronic devices.
 Laptops are to be used to access course materials or take notes during class ONLY.
Testing Procedures
 Nobody will be permitted to begin the exam once a student has finished and left the room.
 Nobody will be permitted to leave the room and then continue taking the exam

 Electronic devices (e.g., cell phones, MP3 players, etc.) must be turned off and put away.

 I will relocate students before and during exams at my discretion.

Attendance and Participation
 Attendance is absolutely required, 15 points will be given for attendance. If you get caught
signing in for someone else, both you and the other student will get 0 points for attendance.
 Lectures consist of material from the assigned readings, as well as material that is not
covered or elaborated on in the text.
 Thus, success in this course strongly depends on your attendance and participation in class.
 Lecture notes will also have missing information that can only be obtained by coming to
class.
 If you cannot make the commitment to attend class you may want to consider dropping this
course.
 If for some reason you cannot attend class, it is your responsibility to arrange with another
student to get notes for material discussed in class.
 PSYCHOBIOLOGY CLASS SCHEDULE1

Tentative Week
1 T Aug 29
Class Topic
Introduction to course
Cells of the Nervous System
Readings &Assignments
Chapter 1 (pgs. 4-7; 15-16)
Ch 2 (pgs. 20-29; Appx. A1-A3)
Due

Schedule 2
Th
T
Th
Aug 31
Sep 5
Sep 7
Resting membrane potential
Library Day – Find Paper Topic (no class)
Quiz &Action potential
Ch 3 (pgs. 50-54)

Ch 3 (pgs. 55-61) HW 1
3 T Sep 12 Synaptic Neurotransmission Ch 3 (pgs. 62-76) Topic
Th Sep 14 Synaptic Neurotransmission II Ch 4 (pgs. 79-82)
4 T Sep 19 Exam 1
Th Sep 21 Neurotransmitter Systems Ch 4 (pgs. 82-87)
5 T Sep 26 Hormones Ch 8 (pgs. 210-225) HW2
Th Sep 28 Food and Energy Regulation Ch 9 (pgs 256-259; 264-275)
6 T Oct 3 Food and Energy Regulation II
Th Oct 5 Exam 2
7 T Oct 10 Peripheral Nervous System Ch 2 (pgs. 30-35); Chapter 5
(112-120)
Th Oct 12 Central Nervous System Ch 2 (pgs. 36-47)
8 T Oct 17 Visual System I Ch 7 (pgs. 174-186) HW3
Th Oct 19 Work on Paper (no class)
9 T Oct 24 Visual System II Ch 7 (pgs. 193-205)
Th Oct 26 Visual System III
10 T Oct 31 Exam 3
Th Nov 2 Sleep I Ch 10 (pgs.278-296)
11 T Nov 7 Sleep II Ch 10 (pgs. 297-307)
Th Nov 9 Learning and Memory I Ch 13 (pgs. 368-383) HW4
12 T Nov 14 Learning and Memory II – Dr. Treesukosol Ch 13 (pgs. 383-393)
Th Nov 16 Learning and Memory III Ch 13 (pgs. 404-406) Paper
OPTIONAL REVIEW SESSIONS 13 T Nov 21 Fall Break – No Classes
Exam Day Date Time Location Th Nov 23 Fall Break – No Classes
Exam 1 Monday September 18 6:00-7:00 PM PSY (TBD) 14 T Nov 28 Exam 4
Exam 2 Tuesday October 3 6:00-7:00 PM PSY (TBD) Th Nov 30 Drug Abuse I Ch 4 (pgs. 88-95)
Exam 3 Monday October 30 6:00-7:00 PM PSY (TBD) 15 T Dec 5 Drug Abuse II Ch 4 (pgs. 95-105) HW5
Exam 4 Monday November 27 6:00-7:00 PM PSY (TBD) Th Dec 7 Emotion and Stress Ch 11 (pgs. 310-326;330-335)
Exam 5 Wednesday December 13 6:00-7:00 PM PSY (TBD)
16 T Dec 12 Mood Disorders Ch 12 (pgs. 352-359)
Th Dec 14 Exam and Cumulative Final Exam (Exam 1-4) @ 10:15-12:15 PM
 How to do well in this course
 Regularly attend and actively participate in class (ask questions when things are not clear).
 Download lecture notes and bring them to class (they will be up the day before class by 7 pm).
 Use the notes in class so you don’t have to write everything down-just clarification. This allows you to focus on
the concepts and listen to the whole lecture.
 Circle/highlight all items that are emphasized-with particular attention to those concepts that are repeated
and/or described in several ways.
 The lecture notes are your study guide.

 Devote 8-10 hours of studying per week for this class

 Read the chapter assignments before the lecture and again before the exam
 Make flash cards to study the lecture notes and terms in the textbook
 Complete the keyterms handed out 5-7 days before each exam. Don’t just simply write definitions; try to relate
the keyterms to each other. Know the relationship between them.
 Come to office hours to help clarify any questions and the review sessions (see class schedule)
 Get organized. Write down all due dates. Do not turn in assignments late.
Supplemental Instruction
 SI Leaders: Daniela Franco (dnlfranco12@gmail.com) or Michelle
Frankot (Michelle.frankot@student.csulb.edu)
 SI: academic assistance program targeting high-risk courses
 Optional

1 unit credit/no credit

 Goals:
 Master course content
 Develop effective study and test taking skills

 Create independent learners

Enrolling in SI
 Add course on MyCSULB
 Session times:
 Tuesday & Thursdays
 9:30-10:45 in HHS1 105 – Daniela Franco

 12:30-1:45 in ECS 302 – Michelle Frankot

 Enrollment capacity is limited

 Once enrolled, participation is absolutely required
 Regular attendance
 3 Office hour visits
 No SI (Spring 2014)

Grade Distribution Fall 2014

Grades for SI and Non-SI Spring 2015
Average Percentage on Assignments
100 92
90 87.4 86 87.21
81.7 82.2 79.01
80 74.7 74 74.74
69.1
70
60.3
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Quiz Homework Exam 1 Exam 4 Final % %C or Better
SI Non-SI
 Grade Distribution
Spring 2015

50% Supplemental Instruction

45% 50% Non SI
40% 45%
Percentage of students

Percentage of students
35% 40%
35%
30%
30%
25%
25%
20%
20%
15% 15%
10% 10%
5% 5%
0% 0%
A B C D F UW W A B C D F UW W