RESEARCH IN BEHAVIOURAL NEUROSCIENCES:Animal Subjects, Experimental Method

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Neurological Basis of Behavior (PSY - 610)

Lesson 04

RESEARCH IN BEHAVIOURAL NEUROSCIENCES

Objectives:

This would familiarize the student with:

· Research in behavioural neurosciences, research areas, animal vs. human subjects, applied vs. pure

research in these areas.

· Scientific method, research issues and focus on scientific research critical concerns. Answer such

questions "Does scientific research justify everything?"

Research is intensively ongoing and rigorously reviewed in this discipline. Not just are the

methodologies scrutinized and critically evaluated but also ethical concerns while working with humans

or animals are a priority. The research findings are continuously replicated tested for authenticity, as is it

is easy to understand keeping in view the importance of brain.

Animal Subjects

Biopsychological research is carried out on laboratory animals such as mice, rats, cats dogs,

chimpanzees, birds. These are all part of the subject population used in the varied specializations. Major

findings have emerged out of research with animals such as self stimulation, learning, feeding). The

question frequently asked is why do we need animals to study and talk about the human brain? First of

all, we must remember that it is impossible to carry out experimental manipulations on human brains.

We cannot create or bring about the changes in humans as we can in animals. Secondly, findings of

research on animals have provided impetus for therapy in neuromuscular disorder, neurochemicals

modulation, pain, brain opioids, drug addiction, aggression and fear. The series of experiments carried

out by Harlow and Harlow and their research group on young rhesus monkey and chimpanzees from the

University of Wisconsin primate Center provided a great insight into the biological need for attachment

and the drastic consequences of not having early bonding and attachment opportunities. Furthermore,

· In using simpler organism and animals, we can isolate brain structures and study even the

microcellular processes to identify brain-behavior relationships.

· We can also use naturalistic experiments or observation while controlling variables such as stimuli,

responses, environment and behavior to study animals in the open field or laboratory conditions.

Experiments on animals also have the following benefits:

1. These provide us with controls of genetic progenies (can identify genetic propagation of

abnormalities), and continue our studies longitudinally, rats live much shorter lives than human.

2. We can study and compare brains of different species mice, rats, cats, dogs, rhesus monkeys to

see continuity of behavior-brain connections.

3. Brain structures and areas similar across animals, therefore we can extrapolate or generalize to a

great extent the biological processes, the difference being that the human brain has the most

evolved cerebral cortex.

4. Brain manipulation in animals opens up avenues of investigation for humans. The Developmental

neurobiology findings are based on studies carried on rhesus monkeys early brain development

(Pasko Rakic and colleagues).

Whether we work with animals or humans, all research in the Neurosciences is scientific and

strongly based in the method of science.

Neurological Basis of Behavior (PSY - 610)

Scientific Method

Scientific method is a process of thinking and working. The scientific method is inherently simple yet

has given complex discoveries. It involves both experimental as well as non experimental work

(naturalistic studies). This method uses rules of logical thinking, critical review and testing of the

theories developed. It is said that the Scientific method is circular in nature. It begins with observation

and ends with observation, with several stages of hypothesis formulation and testing.

The Process:

a) The Hypothetico-deductive method begins with a speculation or a theory; we operationally define its

concepts, give logically deduced measurable behavioural outcomes, and test them. This testing takes

us back into the loop of evaluating the theory with evidence (this is similar to Sherlock Holmes

method).

b) Empirico-inductive is the method which places greater reliance on experience and observation.

Darwin used this method for gathering data on development of his theory of Evolution. Each

individual case is studied carefully and then on the basis similarities and differences are seen,

generalizations for theories and general populations are derived.

Experiment is a well regulated procedure where all variables are controlled and only the variable of

interest is allowed to vary and measurements carried out (assumption is you know your variables and

their relationships and the possible outcomes). Even before the outcomes you are required to predict

what you expect. The more you know your variables, the better you would be able to predict the

outcomes, (need to study before forming hypothesis).

Experimental Method

Is the method which aims to reduce random variability and help us control all variables, letting only one

variable of interest stand out for measurement? This uses various experimental designs which can give

us control in different ways:

a) Between groups design (Group A vs. Group B, Drug A vs. Drug B)

b) Within group design (We may have the same subject run through several conditions for comparison

i.e. Drug A, Drug B, control condition, the best possible match for him is the subject himself).

Controls This is the condition in which we don't introduce any variables, but keep them as close to

normal as possible. Why do we need them? They provide a template for comparison, a base where no

change was introduced otherwise how we would be sure of our results and the how we know what was

the normal with which we could compare.

Experimental design: As an example we have the following experiment which was actually run

and successfully published.

Experimental group

4 rat pup born to mother on the same day

Two males two females

Handled everyday

Injected memory drug twice a day

Run into mazes

Neurological Basis of Behavior (PSY - 610)

Control group

4 rat pups born same day to Mother A same litter

2 males, 2 females

Handled everyday (avoid confounding)

Injected saline twice (a the same time experimental subjects injected with memory drug)

Run into mazes

Difference in the errors and time taken would be noted and run for statistical analysis.

Research Issues:

1. Confounding: We may have too many variables that may be operating which we are not aware of

and which affect our results, these may be the age, gender, inheritance, learning, experience etc.

2. Experimenter bias: We look for data to support our hypothesis even with animals, thus the results

we see may actually be our own expectation of what we wanted to see, this is true of all behavior

especially drug experiments.

3. Use Double Blind: In it neither the experimenter nor the subject knows which the experimental

condition is or the control especially in drug studies/learning studies.

4. Placebo effect: This is a well known effect where we may get a drug like response when injected

with saline or distilled water. These work from expectations, and has actually demonstrated changes

in neurochemicals.

Single case versus Group studies

We may take many detailed measures of one subject over a longer period of variables of interest where

as in group studies many subjects are measured simultaneously. Scientist A (400 mice) scientist B (4

rats) and both could get the same results (only methodology is different).

Replication

It is important to show that your findings are not just a one time chance experience. It is very important

that data and studies are replicated to authenticate findings. The repeat of all conditions should give the

same results.

Quasi Experimental Studies

Studies of groups of subjects (usually humans) when we cannot change or control all the conditions

such as drugs taken before/ age of onset of a disease etc.

Pure Research versus Applied research

Pure research is motivated by the curiosity of researcher to understand why brain has its own opiates

may be pure research. Further, for knowledge acquisition and theory building we need to understand the

basic principles of the functioning and relationship of variables. These can eventually form the base for

applied research. Applied research is focused on results which would bring benefit in terms of

treatment or drugs (either monetarily or otherwise). This does not concern or consider it necessary to

understand and build theories, only the end result is important. This is also more funding oriented as

more available for applied research to benefit humankind.

Should research focus on the future or the past while working on the present as behavior occurs or has

occurred. Why do we need to go to the past? Should we be able to predict and understand the future

outcomes or do we explain what is past? There is a continuity of the past, present and the future, we

understand the past to predict and control the future behaviors.

Neurological Basis of Behavior (PSY - 610)

Why should we study the abnormal behaviors or should we just study normal behaviors, Both ends of

the continuum are tied, the normal is one end and the abnormal is the other. Understanding why deficits

occur can give us a good idea of what functions were performed by brain areas ( like a car when it has

broken down--then we understand how each part contributes to its working.

There is a strict formal code of ethics for research and laboratory work with animals and human

subjects. Each laboratory has to justify the use of animals and ensure ethical issues are taken care of to

the teams which can visit at random (this happens in the advanced countries)

Moniz's psychosurgery technique of frontal lobotomy to treat patients with behavior and other disorders

was developed out of surgery on one chimpanzee. No side effects? He did not pursue it further, also did

not do any between and within species comparison. At that time it seemed a revolutionary procedure

(and till about the mid 1970's) this was a procedure of choice.

There was a serious lack of scientific and social responsibility, in experiments such as drug experiments

using psychoactive drug in human subjects without the subjects being aware of the effects or without

having the choice to say no.

Best advice for a budding psychologists and scientist is to question and be skeptic. This is the best

way to do research to learn and to be a scientist.

References:

Kalat J.W (1998) Biological Psychology Brooks/ Cole Publishing

Carlson N.R. (2005) Foundations of Physiological Psychology ( 5th Edition) Allyn and Bacon,

Boston

Pinel, John P.J. (2003) Biopsychology (5th edition) Allyn and Bacon Singapore

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