What are your thoughts on the practice of psychology?
December 27, 2019 Comments Off on What are your thoughts on the practice of psychology? Assignment Assignment help

Competency 1: Analyze the research methods used in the study of biological psychology.
Explain the origins of biopsychology and the first theorists of biopsychology.
Describe scientific methods used by scientists to study the brain.
Competency 2: Apply psychological theories to topics in biological psychology.
Explain the mind–brain problem.
Describe the ethical concerns connected to biopsychology research.
Competency 4: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for professionals in the field of psychology.
Write in a manner that is concise, logically organized, and utilizes correct punctuation, spelling, grammar, and mechanics.
Use APA format and style.
Competency Map
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Context
As a branch of psychology, contemporary biopsychology studies the relationships between behavior and (mainly) the brain. Before this central hypothesis was established, the popular mind–brain questions raised in history included “What is the mind?” and “Does the mind control the brain or vice-versa?” Numerous scientists, psychologists, philosophers, and other scholars answered these questions differently and developed a variety of theories to explain their rationale.

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Action Potential
The brain is a part of the nervous system. A particularly important aspect of the nervous system is how neurons fire or act to transmit information. This process is known as the action potential and is governed by several different factors, including neurotransmitters and electrolytes.

Action potentials are subject to several laws. For instance, according to the all-or-none principle, an action potential occurs at full strength or not at all. This theory has been a foundation of the studies of the brain and is widely applied in today’s medicine as well as the computer world and the robot industry.

Nature or Nurture?
The relationship between heredity and the environmental influence in shaping behavior has long been the topic of studies. The history of biological psychology development includes the contributions of Descartes, Fritsch, and Hitzig, Helmholtz, Broca, Gall, and Lashley. One of the most exciting scientific discoveries in the twentieth century was our understanding of nucleic acid through the structures and functions of DNA and RNA. The Human Genome Project—a global collaboration of biotechnology— has greatly advanced our understanding of one of the original questions in biopsychology: Nature or nurture?

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Questions to Consider
To deepen your understanding, you are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of your professional community.

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What are your thoughts on the practice of psychology? Should a practicing psychologist fall more into the monism camp or the dualism camp? Why? How will one view versus the other impact how a psychologist implements therapy?
Consider the concept of neurotransmission, and then apply this concept to the following question:
Do you expect one day to have a magic drink with a mixture of chemicals that make a consumer smarter or prevent a consumer from neurological or psychological disorders? Why or why not?
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Resources
APA Resources
Because this is a psychology course, you need to format this assessment according to APA guidelines. Additional resources about APA can be found in the Research Resources in the left navigation menu of your courseroom. Use the resources to guide your work as needed.

American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
This resource is available from the Capella University Bookstore.
Required Resources
The following resource is required to complete the assessment.

Assessment 1 Proposal Template [DOCX]
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Suggested Resources
The resources provided here are optional and support the assessment. They provide helpful information about the topics. You may use other resources of your choice to prepare for this assessment; however, you will need to ensure that they are appropriate, credible, and valid. The PSYC-FP4310 – Biological Psychology Library Guide can help direct your research. The Supplemental Resources and Research Resources, both linked from the left navigation menu in your courseroom, provide additional resources to help support you.

Biopsychology Origin and Theory
The following resources examine the origins of and theories about biopsychology.

Garrett, B., & Hough, G. (2018). Brain & behavior: An introduction to behavioral neuroscience (5th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Available from the bookstore.
Chapter 1, “What is Behavioral Neuroscience?,” pages 1–19.
The author discusses the origins of biopsychology and genetic influence on behavior.
Chapter 2, “Communication Within the Nervous System,” pages 20–47.
The author explains how neurons communicate with each other.
Chapter 3, “The Organization and Functions of the Nervous System,” pages 48–83.
These pages cover the major structures of the nervous system and some of their functions.
Freton, M., Lemogne, C., Bergouignan, L., Delaveau, P., Lehéricy, S., & Fossati, P. (2014). The eye of the self: Precuneus volume and visual perspective during autobiographical memory retrieval. Brain Structure and Function, 219(3), 959–968.
This resource describes the complex interaction between brain structure and function during memory retrieval.
Brain Research Methods and Ethical Concerns
The following resources examine the use of selected brain research methods.

Garrett, B., & Hough, G. (2018). Brain & behavior: An introduction to behavioral neuroscience (5th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Available from the bookstore.
Chapter 4, “The Methods and Ethics of Research,” pages 84–115.
This chapter explores why biopsychology creates ethical concerns.
Andrews-Hanna, J. R., Saxe, R., & Yarkoni, T. (2014). Contributions of episodic retrieval and mentalizing to autobiographical thought: Evidence from functional neuroimaging, resting-state connectivity, and fMRI meta-analyses. NeuroImage, 91 (Supplement C), 324–335.
The following resource is an example of an ethical concern. Search the Capella University Library and Google Scholar to find additional topics concerning ethical considerations in brain research.

Weijer, C., Peterson, A., Webster, F., Graham, M., Cruse, D., Fernández-Espejo, D., . . . Owen, A. M. (2014). Ethics of neuroimaging after serious brain injury. BMC Medical Ethics, 15, 1–13.
Additional Resources for Further Exploration
Brain Structure
The following resources examine the brain structure.

Brain Regions and Functions.
Johnson, K. A., & Becker, J. A. (n.d.). The whole brain atlas. Retrieved from http://www.med.harvard.edu/aanlib/home.htm
This resource provides images of the structures of the brain, both normal and suffering from a disease.
Assessment Instructions
You are a consultant who is interested in a request for proposal (RFP) from a nearby school district that is seeking individuals or groups to design a training and professional development in-service day about the brain and mind from a biopsychological perspective for their educators. Part 1 of the RFP includes the following three sections for respondents to address. Use the Assessment 1 Proposal Template (linked in the Resources) to prepare Part 1 of the proposal, which covers the points below. You will complete additional parts of the RFP in subsequent assessments.

I. Introduction
What is the origin of biopsychology? Who were some of the first theorists that you will cover in your training?
The brain is complicated and sometimes difficult to understand. Describe the different regions of the brain and the associated functions.
II. Scientific Approach and Rationale for Training
In addition to brain functions, some believe there is an aspect known as the mind. What is the mind–brain problem? Where do you fall in this debate (monist or dualist)? Explain why you are a monist or dualist.
What are some methods that scientist uses today to study the brain? What are the benefits of these methods?
III. Application of Understanding the Brain
What methods of research have been used to gain the knowledge we have today of the brain?
What are some of the ethical concerns in connection with research in biopsychology and the brain in particular?

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