1.1 Goals of This Textbook
BiopsychologyThe study of the relationship between behaviors, mental process, and the nervous system. is the study of the relationship between behavior, mental processes, and biological factors such as the nervous system, biochemistry, hormones, and genetics. NeuroscienceAn overarching term to describe any discipline in biology, psychology, and medicine that deals with the nervous system. is often described as the overarching discipline that covers many areas dealing with the nervous system and behavior and draws from several other disciplines including, but not limited to, biology, psychology, chemistry, physics, genetics, anthropology, medicine, and computer science. This textbook is specifically designed as an introduction to neuroscience, to give readers an appreciation for the discipline and stress the importance of understanding neuroscience within the field of psychology. This textbook has several goals:
To help the reader understand the basic functions of the nervous system, including the anatomy and function of the brain and how cells (neurons) in the nervous system communicate using electrical and chemical signals (action potentials and neurotransmitters).
To impress upon readers the importance of understanding the biological basis of behavior to being a well-rounded and knowledgeable student in the field of psychology. A good understanding of the nervous system can provide better insight into complex behaviors such as addiction, depression, stress, learning, development, aging, and wellness.
To foster an understanding of the mind-body connection. This book will explore questions such as: How can actions and thoughts affect changes in the nervous system and health of the body? For instance, how do chronic stress and anxiety lead to health-related problems like heart disease and mental health problems like depression?
To look at what studying other animals can tell us about the brain, behavior, and the human condition.
To provide examples of research methodology and new technologies used in studying neuroscience.
To demonstrate the importance of neuroscience in modern society around issues from drug addiction to sports injuries. At the end of each chapter is a section called Chapter 1, Section 5 “Contemporary Issues: The Future and Transhumanism”, where we’ll look at some revolutionary changes happening in neuroscience and how they might affect the future of the field.
To provide a multimedia experience within the body of the text. Several short videos stream from the e-book version. Most of these videos are under five minutes, though a few are slightly longer. They were carefully selected because of their relevance to the information in the chapters; their high production value, with animation or illustrations; and their relationship to broader issues.
To introduce the reader to the excellent online resources for learning more about neuroscience and the brain. These multimedia sources will help the reader understand how the nervous system functions, but more importantly, will foster a sense of wonder and fascination with this field. The reader will be introduced to short talks, videos, podcasts, articles, and documentaries by experts from around the world. Links to this content are found at the end of each chapter in a section called Best Online Content.
To make suggestions at the end of each chapter about “popular science” books that relate to the chapter’s subject matter. I enjoy reading books about neuroscience and behavior that are written by experts in the field for a general audience without an extensive background in science. These books provide a way to learn more about topics of interest.
In this chapter, we’ll address a bit of the history of neuroscience from ancient Egypt to modern day, introducing the most important men and women who have contributed to the field. Neuroscience is a broad discipline, so in the next section we’ll look at some of the subdisciplines in biology, zoology, psychology, and medicine, including some of the topics that people in these areas study. Finally, we’ll discuss why understanding biopsychology is important, including what the field can teach us about behavior and the human condition. In Chapter 1, Section 5 “Contemporary Issues: The Future and Transhumanism”, we’ll look into the future to think about what might be coming next in the neurosciences.