Behavioral Neuroscience
Introduction
Behavioral neuroscience, also known as biological psychology, biopsychology, or psychobiology, is the application of the principles of biology to the study of physiological, genetic, and developmental mechanisms of behavior in humans and non-human animals. It typically investigates at the level of neurons, neurotransmitters, brain circuitry and the basic biological processes that underlie normal and abnormal behavior. Often, experiments in behavioral neuroscience involve non-human animal models such as rats and mice.
History
Behavioral neuroscience as a scientific discipline emerged from a variety of scientific and philosophical traditions in the 18th and 19th centuries. In philosophy, people like René Descartes proposed physical models to explain animal and human behavior. Descartes, for example, suggested that the pineal gland, a midline unpaired structure in the brain of many organisms, was the point of contact between mind and body. Descartes also argued that the behavior of animals, and of humans at their most primitive, could be explained entirely in terms of physical mechanisms.
Techniques
Behavioral neuroscientists use a variety of techniques to discern the relationship of brain function to behavior. These include psychophysical and behavioral tasks, genetic studies, pharmacological perturbation, electrical stimulation of brain structures, and recording the electrical activity of brain cells. More recently, neuroscientists have also begun to use neuroimaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) to visualize brain activity.
Research Areas
Behavioral neuroscience research has broadened our understanding of how the brain controls behavior, memory and emotion, and how changes in specific brain areas can lead to neurobehavioral disorders such as Parkinson's disease, addiction, depression, schizophrenia and autism.
Memory and Learning
One of the major areas of research within behavioral neuroscience is the study of memory and learning. This includes the study of different types of memory and their underlying neural substrates, as well as how memories are formed, stored, and recalled. For example, research has shown that the hippocampus is critical for the formation of new memories, a process known as memory consolidation.
Emotion
Another major area of research in behavioral neuroscience is the study of emotion. This includes research into the neural mechanisms underlying emotions, as well as the role of emotions in health and disease. For example, research has shown that the amygdala plays a key role in the processing of emotional information, particularly fear-related stimuli.
Neurobehavioral Disorders
Behavioral neuroscience also includes the study of neurobehavioral disorders. This includes research into the genetic, developmental, and environmental factors that contribute to disorders such as autism, ADHD, depression, and schizophrenia, as well as the development of new treatments for these disorders.