are all psychological processes biological

He claimed that the human body worked on mechanical principles and did not require a soul to execute memory, emotions and sensory impressions. He discovered that the brain and certain genes influence behavior, though behavior was to a great extent mechanical and did not require mental intervention. Ren Descartes is also one of the major biological psychology theorists. Critics of the theory say that Galen, who had not performed human dissection, had inferred its human existence by observing it in animals. However, the theory was challenged in 1543 when Vesalius showed that the human brain does not actually contain an animated spirit. On the other hand, reasoning occurs at the third ventricles while the memory site is at the brain’s fourth ventricle. These are the first and second ventricles. His ideas contributed to development of biopsychology and were further expanded in the fourth century AD by Nemesius, who developed a hypothesis for the theory.Īccording to Nemesius, mental impressions are formed at the lateral ventricles. Galen knew that the brain had four main ventricles although he did not ascribe their different functions. When required, the spirit would enter body nerves and stimulate muscles to produced behavior (The Wellness Institute, 2005, p. This spirit, believed to provide brain’s substance, was transported to the brain then mixed with air and transformed into an animated spirit that was stored in the ventricles. He believed that the heart was the body’s most important organ because it contained the ‘vital spirit’. Galen ( AD 130–200), a physician of the Roman Empire was one of the first writers to propose a theory of brain function based on the ventricles. In contrast, when moisture exceeds certain limits, this may result in a loss in the rationality of the brain, leading to mental disorders.

For example, Avicenna hypothesized that when we are happy, this acts to heighten breath and as a result, the moisture content of the brain also increases.

In this case, his explanations would almost always provide a link between on the one hand, psychological illnesses and on the other hand, physical illnesses (Rosenzweig, 2002, p. In addition, Avicenna also attempted to offer psychological explanations regarding various somatic illnesses. The Island of Coz, Hippocrates birth place, was reported to have special healing powers that extended beyond the earth. Hippocrates also believed that both mind and physical approaches were required for effective healing. He believed in the mind-body connection to such an extent that he challenged other clinicians to find the spiritual insight to effectively heal and treat impaired individuals. Paracelsus saw physical disorders as weakness within the mind and spirit, relating medicine to biopsychology.

They recognized the need to identify illness and disease as a result of the above connection. Each of these early practitioners saw man as a combination of interactions between the mind and body. The idea that the mind and body work in unison and that this harmony should be used in psychological treatments dates back to the times and works of Paracelsus, Hippocrates and Avicenna. Biopsychology looks at the link between biology and psychological events such as how information travels throughout our bodies (neural impulses, axons and dendrites, among others) and how different neurotransmitters affect sleep, dreams, and other behaviors. Definitionīiological psychology (also referred to as biopsychology) is a branch of psychology that applies the principles of biology to the study of behavior that is, the study of psychology in terms of bodily mechanisms (Rosenzweig, Breedlove & Watson 2002, p. It will further depict the relationship between biological psychology and other psychology fields and finally describe key biopsychology assumptions. This paper will attempt to analyze biological psychology by defining it, examining its historical development and identifying associated important theorists. Biological psychology is a major branch in psychology that has been prominent since its beginning and remains a key area of research and training in most parts of the world.

Are all psychological processes biological