PSY 2C 08: BRAIN, BODY AND
BEHAVIOUR
UNIT–I: BRAIN AND BEHAVIOUR
TOPIC: Major Methods And Concepts
, MAJOR METHODS AND CONCEPTS
The attempt to relate behaviour to the brain rests on the assemptions thatall behaviours is
mediated bt physical processes and that the complex behaviour of higher animal depends
upon physical processes in the central nervous system. Changes in complex behaviour must
there fore be associated with changes in the physical state f the brain. The organization of
nervous system ,which is to large extent determined by genitics,but which can be modified
by experience ,sets limitson what can be percievedand learned.
The understanding of brain behaviour relationship is aidedmost by the study of
behaviours that can be clearly defined and that are likely to be related to brain process that
can be irectly or indirectly observed. Behaviours that can be selectively affected byfocal
brain lesions or by specific pharmocological agents are there fore most often chossen for
neuro psychological study.
The mostb mjaor methods are ,
➢ Introspection
➢ The black box approach
➢ Abltion
➢ Stimulation
➢ Neurochemical manipulation
➢ Electro physiological study
➢ Conceptual analysis
INTROSPECTION
At times, patient’s observations of their own mental that may be not only helpful but
nessesory.it is concievable that people’s insights in to their own mental processes may be
of importance delincaing brain mechanisms.even in normal persons introspection is not
always valid.in brain damaged patients it may be even less relable.this is a particularly true
when be language centers have been disconnected from the region of the brain that
processes the informations in the patients is asked about.
BEHAVIOUR
UNIT–I: BRAIN AND BEHAVIOUR
TOPIC: Major Methods And Concepts
, MAJOR METHODS AND CONCEPTS
The attempt to relate behaviour to the brain rests on the assemptions thatall behaviours is
mediated bt physical processes and that the complex behaviour of higher animal depends
upon physical processes in the central nervous system. Changes in complex behaviour must
there fore be associated with changes in the physical state f the brain. The organization of
nervous system ,which is to large extent determined by genitics,but which can be modified
by experience ,sets limitson what can be percievedand learned.
The understanding of brain behaviour relationship is aidedmost by the study of
behaviours that can be clearly defined and that are likely to be related to brain process that
can be irectly or indirectly observed. Behaviours that can be selectively affected byfocal
brain lesions or by specific pharmocological agents are there fore most often chossen for
neuro psychological study.
The mostb mjaor methods are ,
➢ Introspection
➢ The black box approach
➢ Abltion
➢ Stimulation
➢ Neurochemical manipulation
➢ Electro physiological study
➢ Conceptual analysis
INTROSPECTION
At times, patient’s observations of their own mental that may be not only helpful but
nessesory.it is concievable that people’s insights in to their own mental processes may be
of importance delincaing brain mechanisms.even in normal persons introspection is not
always valid.in brain damaged patients it may be even less relable.this is a particularly true
when be language centers have been disconnected from the region of the brain that
processes the informations in the patients is asked about.
