What do I have to know about Biological Psychology?
Biological psychologists are interested in measuring biological, physiological, or genetic variables in an attempt to relate them to psychological or behavioural variables. Because all behaviour is controlled by the central nervous system, biological psychologists seek to understand how the brain functions in order to understand behaviour. Key areas of focus include sensation and perception; motivated behaviour (such as hunger, thirst, and sex); control of movement; learning and memory; sleep and biological rhythms; and emotion. As technical sophistication leads to advancements in research methods, more advanced topics such as language, reasoning, decision making, and consciousness are now being studied. https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontopsychology/chapter/2-1-biological-psychology-structuralism-and-functionalism/
‘The biological approach provides clear predictions that can. This means that explanations can be scientifically tested and support with evidence.’ However.. ‘Bio psychological theories often over-simplify the huge complexity of physical systems and their interaction with the environment.’ https://www.simplypsychology.org/biological-psychology.html
You need to keep this overview in mind as you learn the following key studies:
SAD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Itqn7i3KbAw (short video outline of SAD) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FodtMhRnkRo (short video blog by victim of SAD) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOWgMW9Zjfg (longer/fuller video outline of SAD) 4 simple outlines of SAD and treatments below: https://psychcentral.com/lib/seasonal-affective-disorder#1 https://psychcentral.com/lib/treatment-for-seasonal-affective-disorder#1 https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/treatment/ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20364722#:~:text=Psychotherapy%2C%20also%20called%20talk%20therapy,be%20making%20you%20feel%20worse
Menstrual Cycle as Infradian Rhythm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeSpeLCgb0U
Extension Reading & Watching: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-Education/Understanding-Sleep (Great page for getting notes on the role of the brain in sleep, sleep cycles, the role of genes and neurotransmitters) https://www.simplypsychology.org/sleep-stages.html (Also useful for notes on sleep, from a slightly more psychological focus) http://www.psychology4a.com/biological-rhytms-and-sleep.html (Full chapter on body rhythms) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knSNZACAe6Y&t=481s (Fuller video on body rhythms) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1Ng9jCzjVM (Detailed video assessment of Pacemakers and Zeitgebers)