History of Biological Psychology
Fritch and Hitzig
Darwin
Rene Descartes
Paul Broca
Von Helmoltz
Galvani
Looked at the brain of stroke victims who could not speak (aphasia)
Concluded that a portion of the left cerebral cortex is necessary for speech functions
Disporved Descates using frog legs isolated from body
Dualist
Viewed hydraulic pressure within nerves as the basis for movement
Believed mind and body interacted with the physical body through the pineal body
Applied electrical stimuli to a dog's cortex
Found that this created a reaction on the opposite side of the body (contralateral)
Identified primary motor cortex - region of cerebral cortex
Activates muscles on the opposite side of the body
Created a Mathematical formula for the conservation of energy
Invented ophthalmoscope
Developed theories on colour vision and blindness
Believed that you could study all aspects of physiology
Measured the speed of conduction through nerves (90ft per second)
Natural Selection
Functionalism
Characteristics serve some useful function
Explains the process by which adaptive characteristics are acquired
Mutations - accidental changes in chromosomes of sperms or eggs that join together to form new organisms (provides genetic variability)v
Characteristics that allow an organism to reproduce more successfully are passed on to offspring
A consequence is this will become more prevalent in future generations
Evolution is this gradual change in physiology as a result of natural selection
Adverse effects of this could be death of organism
Selective Advantage a characteristic of an organism which allows it to reproduce more successfully