Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION

The opening section of the chapter provides the reader with an introduction to the concept of consciousness which implies awareness of our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Consciousness is illustrated via discussion of the changes in consciousness evident in humans whose brain hemispheres are separated in a surgical procedure. The split-brain procedure involves cutting the corpus callosum, a band of axons that interconnect the two hemispheres (language in the left, odor on the right) can be demonstrated in a split-brain patient. The second section of the chapter provides a discussion of the nature of physiological psychology. The biological roots of physiological psychology are traced back to the work of Descartes(Dualism), Muller(Doctrine of specific Nerve Energies) and Darwin(Evolution). The third section of Chapter 1 deals with the issues involved in using animals in experimental research. The advantages of animal research are presented and contrasted with the disproportionate concern of animal rights activists in their objections to animal research. The fourth section of the chapter discusses careers in neuroscience. The section notes that the persons trained in these area work in a variety of settings including university, industry, and government. The final section of Chapter 1 deals with specific student strategies that will improve learning of the material presented in the textbook.

After completing the chapter, each student should be able to:

• Contrast the monistic and dualistic views of the mind-body problem
• Explain why consciousness is not a general property of all parts of the brain.
• Compare and contrast the processes of generalization and reduction
• Explain the concept of specific nerve energies.
• Illustrate how ablation can be used to determine brain function.
• Describe the central features of Darwin’s theory of evolution including:
• Natural selection
• Selective advantage
• Mutation
• Explain why animal rights activists oppose the use of animals in physiological research.
• Describe five advances in disease treatment resulting from animal research.
• Outline the careers available to physiological psychologists.
• Understand how neurology and experimental neuropsychology relate to physiological psychology.