Overview  Write a 2–3-page assessment in which you respond to a series of questions about the field of biopsychology and the brain.  Biopsychology, also known as behavioral neuroscience, has become a well-established multidisciplinary study that uses complicated techniques to reveal the relationship between brain functions and human behaviors.  Show More  By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:  • Competency 1: Use information technology and tools to identify information in the domain of biological psychology.  â–ª Describe the different regions of the brain and the associated functions. 
 â–ª Describe the ethical concerns connected to biopsychology research.  
 • Competency 2: Employ critical and creative thinking to evaluate problems, conflicts, and unresolved issues in the study of biological psychology.  
 â–ª Explain the mind-brain problem. 
 â–ª Describe the origin of biopsychology.  
 • Competency 3: Analyze the research methodology and tools typically associated with the study of biological psychology.  
 â–ª Describe scientific methods used by scientists to study the brain.  
 • Competency 6: Communicate effectively in a variety of formats.  â–ª  Write coherently to support a central idea with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a  
 psychology professional.  
 â–ª  Use APA style and format.  
 Context  
 As a branch of psychology, contemporary biopsychology studies the relationships between behavior and (mainly) the brain. Before this central hypothesis was established, the popular mind-brain questions raised in history included "What is the mind?" and "Does the mind control the brain or vice-versa?" Numerous scientists, psychologists, philosophers, and other scholars answered these questions differently and developed a variety of theories to explain their rationale.  
 Show More 
 Action Potential  
 The brain is part of the nervous system. A particularly important aspect of the nervous system is how neurons "fire," or act to transmit information. This process is known as the action potential and is governed by several different factors, including neurotransmitters and electrolytes.  
 Action potentials are subject to several laws. For instance, according to the all-or-none principle, an action potential occurs at full strength or not at all. This theory has been a foundation of the studies  
 of the brain and the theory is widely applied in today's medicine as well as the computer world and the robot industry.  Nature or Nurture?  The relationship between heredity and the environmental influence in shaping behavior has long been the topic of studies. The history of biological psychology development includes the contributions of Descartes, Fritsch, and Hitzig, Helmholtz, Broca, Gall, and Lashley. One of the most exciting scientific discoveries in the twentieth centu.

1. Overview
Write a 2–3-page assessment in which you respond to a series of
questions about the field of biopsychology and the brain.
Biopsychology, also known as behavioral neuroscience, has
become a well-established multidisciplinary study that uses
complicated techniques to reveal the relationship between brain
functions and human behaviors.
Show More
By successfully completing this assessment, you will
demonstrate your proficiency in the following course
competencies and assessment criteria:
•
Competency 1: Use information technology and tools to identify
information in the domain of biological psychology.
â–ª
Describe the different regions of the brain and the associated
functions.


â–ª
Describe the ethical concerns connected to biopsychology
research.


•
Competency 2: Employ critical and creative thinking to evaluate
problems, conflicts, and unresolved issues in the study of
biological psychology.


â–ª
Explain the mind-brain problem.



2. â–ª
Describe the origin of biopsychology.


•
Competency 3: Analyze the research methodology and tools
typically associated with the study of biological psychology.


â–ª
Describe scientific methods used by scientists to study the
brain.


•
Competency 6: Communicate effectively in a variety of
formats.
â–ª
Write coherently to support a central idea with correct
grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a


psychology professional.


â–ª
Use APA style and format.


Context


As a branch of psychology, contemporary biopsychology studies

3. the relationships between behavior and (mainly) the brain.
Before this central hypothesis was established, the popular
mind-brain questions raised in history included "What is the
mind?" and "Does the mind control the brain or vice-versa?"
Numerous scientists, psychologists, philosophers, and other
scholars answered these questions differently and developed a
variety of theories to explain their rationale.


Show More


Action Potential


The brain is part of the nervous system. A particularly
important aspect of the nervous system is how neurons "fire," or
act to transmit information. This process is known as the action
potential and is governed by several different factors, including
neurotransmitters and electrolytes.


Action potentials are subject to several laws. For instance,
according to the all-or-none principle, an action potential occurs
at full strength or not at all. This theory has been a foundation
of the studies


of the brain and the theory is widely applied in today's medicine
as well as the computer world and the robot industry.
Nature or Nurture?
The relationship between heredity and the environmental
influence in shaping behavior has long been the topic of studies.
The history of biological psychology development includes the
contributions of Descartes, Fritsch, and Hitzig, Helmholtz,
Broca, Gall, and Lashley. One of the most exciting scientific
discoveries in the twentieth century was our understanding of
nucleic acid through the structures and functions of DNA and
RNA. The Human Genome Project—a global collaboration of
biotechnology— has greatly advanced our understanding of one

4. of the original questions in biopsychology: Nature or nurture?
Questions To Consider
To deepen your understanding, you are encouraged to consider
the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a
work associate, an interested friend, or a member of the
business community.
•
What are your thoughts on the practice of psychology? Should a
practicing psychologist fall more into the Monism camp or the
Dualism camp? Why? How will one view versus the other
impact how a psychologist implements therapy?


•
Consider the concept of neurotransmission, and then apply this
concept to the following question:


â–ª
Do you expect one day to have a "magic drink" with a mixture
of chemicals that make a consumer "smarter" or


prevent a consumer from neurological or psychological
disorders? Why or why not?


Resources
Suggested Resources


The following optional resources are provided to support you in
completing the assessment or to provide a helpful context. For
additional resources, refer to the Research Resources and
Supplemental Resources in the left navigation menu of your
courseroom.


Capella Multimedia

5. 

Click the links provided below to view the following
multimedia pieces:


•
Brain Regions and Functions
|
Transcript
. Show More


Library Resources


The following e-books or articles from the Capella University
Library are linked directly in this course:


•
Lask, B., & Frampton, I. (Eds.). (2011).
Eating disorders and the brain
. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.


•
Latzer, Y., Merrick, J., & Stein, D. (Eds.).
Understanding eating disorders: Integrating culture, psychology


and biology
. Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers.


•
Fox, J., & Goss, K. (Eds.). (2012).
Eating and its disorders
. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.


Course Library Guide

6. 

A Capella University library guide has been created specifically
for your use in this course. You are encouraged to refer to the
resources in the
PSYC-FP4310 – Biological Psychology Library Guide
to help direct your research.


Bookstore Resources


The resources listed below are relevant to the topics and
assessments in this course and are not required. Unless noted
otherwise, these materials are available for purchase from the
Capella University Bookstore
. When searching the bookstore, be sure to look for the Course
ID with the specific –FP (FlexPath) course designation.


• Garrett, B. (2015). Brain & behavior: An introduction to
biological psychology (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
â–ª
Chapter 1, "What is Biopsychology," the author discusses the
origins of biopsychology and genetic influence
on behavior.
Chapter 2, "Communication Within the Nervous System," the
author explains how neurons communicate with each other.


Chapter 3, "The Functions of the Nervous System," covers the
major structures of the nervous system and some of their
functions.



7. Chapter 4, "The Methods and Ethics of Research," explores why
biopsychology creates ethical concerns.
Assessment Instructions
Write a 2–3-page assessment in which you respond to the
following questions about biopsychology and the brain. Use the
Capella library to research the material and support your
answers. The following questions and statements are the
required headings for your assessment; do not incorporate the
questions into the content of the answers.


1.
What is the origin of biopsychology? Who were some of the
first theorists?


2.
The brain is complicated and sometimes difficult to understand.
Describe the different regions of the brain and the
associated functions.
3.
In addition to brain functions, some believe there is aspect
known as the mind. What is the mind-brain problem?
Where do you fall in this debate (monist or dualist)? Justify
your answer.
4.
What are some methods that scientist use today to study the
brain? What are the benefits of these methods?
5.
What methods of research have been used to gain the knowledge
we have today of the brain?
6.
What are some of the ethical concerns in connection with
research in biopsychology and the brain in particular?

8. Additional Requirements
•
Written Communication: Written communication should be free
of errors that detract from the overall message.
¨
•
APA Formatting: Resources and citations should be formatted
according to APA (6th edition) style and formatting.
•
Font and Font Size: Times New Roman, 12-point font, and
double spaced. Use Microsoft Word to complete the
¨
assessment.
¨
•
Length: Write a minimum of 2 pages, excluding the title page
and reference page (150–300 words per question).
¨
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