PSYCH 3240 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Neurosurgery, Ethology, Endangerment
23 Aug 2016
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Document Summary
Despite its disagreeable external appearance, the human brain is an amazingly intricate network of neurons. Thinking creatively is the cornerstone of any science. Clinical considerations are woven through the fabric of biopsychology. Much of what biopsychologists learn about the functioning of the normal brain comes from studying the diseased or damaged brain. Much of what biopsychologists discover has relevance for the treatment of brain disorders. Thinking of the environmental pressures that likely led to the evolution of our brains and behavior often leads to important biopsychological insights. An important component is the comparative approach (trying to understand biological phenomena by comparing them in different species). The evolutionary approach has proven to be one of the cornerstones of modern biopsychological inquiry. In the last two decades, research has clearly demonstrated that the adult brain is not a static network of neurons: it is a plastic (changeable) organ that continuously grows and changes in response to the individual"s genes and experiences.
