“PLEASE CONSULT A NEUROLOGIST, MEDICAL DOCTOR”
Behavioral Neuroscience (also called Biological Psychology, Biopsychology, or Psychobiology) is the scientific study of how the brain and nervous system influence behavior, thoughts, and emotions.
It asks a core question:
How do biological processes produce psychological experience and behavior?
What It Studies
Behavioral neuroscience examines how structures like the:
“PLEASE CONSULT A NEUROLOGIST, MEDICAL DOCTOR”
- Amygdala, fear, threat detection, emotional memory
- Hippocampus, memory formation
- Prefrontal cortex, decision-making, impulse control
- Hypothalamus, hormones, hunger, stress regulation
affect:
- Emotion
- Motivation
- Learning & memory
- Addiction
- Aggression
- Sexual behavior
- Stress responses
- Mental disorders
Core Areas
1. Brain Structures & Function
How different brain regions coordinate behavior.
2. Neurotransmitters
Chemical messengers like:
“PLEASE CONSULT A NEUROLOGIST, MEDICAL DOCTOR”
- Dopamine (reward, motivation)
- Serotonin (mood regulation)
- GABA (inhibition, anxiety control)
3. Hormones & Behavior
“PLEASE CONSULT A NEUROLOGIST, MEDICAL DOCTOR”
How cortisol, testosterone, oxytocin, etc., influence mood and social bonding.
4. Genetics & Epigenetics
“PLEASE CONSULT A NEUROLOGIST, MEDICAL DOCTOR”
How genes and environmental stress shape neural development.
5. Psychopathology
Biological underpinnings of disorders such as:
- Depression
- Schizophrenia
- PTSD
- Substance use disorders
Methods Used
“PLEASE CONSULT A NEUROLOGIST, MEDICAL DOCTOR”
- Brain imaging (fMRI, PET scans)
- EEG recordings
- Lesion studies
- Animal research
- Pharmacological manipulation
How It Differs From Related Fields
- Neuroscience: broader (includes cellular/molecular focus)
- Cognitive neuroscience: focuses specifically on thinking processes
- Behavioral neuroscience: specifically links brain biology to observable behavior
- Shervan K Shahhian
LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 