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Research Design. Behavioral Pharmacology. Experimental Research Design. Experimental control is essential in behavioral pharmacology research. Independent Variables Dependent Variables The type of experimental design may depends on the type of dependent variable being measured. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Research DesignResearch Design
Behavioral PharmacologyBehavioral Pharmacology
Experimental Research DesignExperimental Research Design
Experimental control is essential in Experimental control is essential in behavioral pharmacology research.behavioral pharmacology research.– Independent VariablesIndependent Variables– Dependent VariablesDependent Variables
The type of experimental design may The type of experimental design may depends on the type of dependent depends on the type of dependent variable being measured. variable being measured. – Within Subjects DesignsWithin Subjects Designs– Between Subjects DesignsBetween Subjects Designs
Experimental DesignExperimental Design
Importance of Placebo ControlsImportance of Placebo Controls– Placebo EffectsPlacebo Effects
Three-Groups DesignsThree-Groups Designs
Studying Drugs & BehaviorStudying Drugs & Behavior
PsychopharmacologyPsychopharmacology– psychology + pharmacologypsychology + pharmacology
OROR
– psychiatry + pharmacologypsychiatry + pharmacology
Behavioral PharmacologyBehavioral Pharmacology– behavior + pharmacologybehavior + pharmacology
Psychopharmacology OR Psychopharmacology OR Behavioral PharmacologyBehavioral Pharmacology
The distinction is not always clear.The distinction is not always clear.
The term “psychopharmacology” was The term “psychopharmacology” was coined a few decades before the science coined a few decades before the science of behavior analysis was developed.of behavior analysis was developed.– Some people distinguish these specializations Some people distinguish these specializations
based on the accepted methodology to study based on the accepted methodology to study drug effects. (i.e., a broader range of methods drug effects. (i.e., a broader range of methods in psychopharmacology.)in psychopharmacology.)
– Others distinguish them based on emphasis Others distinguish them based on emphasis of research questions.of research questions.
– Others don’t distinguish them at all.Others don’t distinguish them at all.
Behavioral PharmacologyBehavioral Pharmacology
A specialization of behavioral science A specialization of behavioral science that applies the methods and concepts that applies the methods and concepts of behavior analysis to explain the of behavior analysis to explain the behavioral effects of drugs.behavioral effects of drugs.– Behavior Analysis is a unique natural Behavior Analysis is a unique natural
science approach to study behavior and a science approach to study behavior and a philosophy of science that was popularized philosophy of science that was popularized by B.F. Skinner.by B.F. Skinner.
Science of Behavior AnalysisScience of Behavior Analysis
Environmental events are emphasized Environmental events are emphasized because:because:– such variables clearly influence behaviorsuch variables clearly influence behavior– they are directly observablethey are directly observable– we have the technology to study themwe have the technology to study them– they are subject to direct manipulationthey are subject to direct manipulation
Behavior AnalysisBehavior Analysis
a natural science emphasizing effects of a natural science emphasizing effects of environmental variables on behaviorenvironmental variables on behaviorconcerned with behavior in its own right, concerned with behavior in its own right, not as an indication of events at another not as an indication of events at another level of analysislevel of analysisa proven practical approach to deal with a a proven practical approach to deal with a wide variety of behavioral problems wide variety of behavioral problems (including drug use and abuse)(including drug use and abuse)
Behaviorism in the Early 20Behaviorism in the Early 20thth Century Century
Ivan PavlovIvan Pavlov– Respondent conditioningRespondent conditioning– Some of Pavlov’s early work examined drug Some of Pavlov’s early work examined drug
effects on respondent conditioning.effects on respondent conditioning.– This work preceded the formal development of This work preceded the formal development of
Behavioral Pharmacology.Behavioral Pharmacology.
John WatsonJohn Watson– Introduced BehaviorismIntroduced Behaviorism– First to put forth a strong natural science First to put forth a strong natural science
approach for psychologyapproach for psychology– Attempted to explain behavior primarily in Attempted to explain behavior primarily in
terms of respondent conditioningterms of respondent conditioning– Methodological Behaviorism (deals only with Methodological Behaviorism (deals only with
publicly observable events)publicly observable events)
Radical BehaviorismRadical BehaviorismPhilosophical Position Adopted and Philosophical Position Adopted and Promoted by B.F. SkinnerPromoted by B.F. Skinner– conceptualizes behavior as involving both conceptualizes behavior as involving both
public and private eventspublic and private events– assigns no special status to private eventsassigns no special status to private events– Private events (e.g., thoughts, feelings) do Private events (e.g., thoughts, feelings) do
not cause overt behavior:not cause overt behavior:they are stimuli that function similar to directly they are stimuli that function similar to directly observable stimuli observable stimuli
they are difficult to studythey are difficult to study
Experimental Analysis of BehaviorExperimental Analysis of BehaviorEssential features of EAB ResearchEssential features of EAB Research
JEAB (founded in 1958) continues to be an important JEAB (founded in 1958) continues to be an important outlet for EAB researchoutlet for EAB research
Uses of EAB in Behavioral Uses of EAB in Behavioral PharmacologyPharmacology
Main AssumptionsMain Assumptions– Behavior is important in its own right.Behavior is important in its own right.– An intensive study of a few subjects is a fruitful An intensive study of a few subjects is a fruitful
research strategy.research strategy.– Graphic analysis of data is desirable.Graphic analysis of data is desirable.– Direct and repeated measures are invaluable.Direct and repeated measures are invaluable.– Variable data are best dealt with by isolating and Variable data are best dealt with by isolating and
controlling responsible extraneous variables.controlling responsible extraneous variables.– Studies of nonhuman subjects under controlled Studies of nonhuman subjects under controlled
experimental conditions can be of great value to experimental conditions can be of great value to understand variables that control human behavior.understand variables that control human behavior.
Historical Landmarks in Behavioral PharmacologyHistorical Landmarks in Behavioral Pharmacology
Research Areas in Behavioral Research Areas in Behavioral PharmacologyPharmacology
Behavioral LociBehavioral Loci– what aspects of behavior are altered by the drug (e.g., what aspects of behavior are altered by the drug (e.g.,
reaction time)reaction time)
Behavioral Mechanisms of ActionBehavioral Mechanisms of Action– the stimulus functions of the drug; the effects of the the stimulus functions of the drug; the effects of the
drug on the capacity of other stimuli to control drug on the capacity of other stimuli to control behaviorbehavior
Variables that Modulate Drug’s Behavioral Variables that Modulate Drug’s Behavioral Effects Effects – e.g., other stimuli, alternative reinforcers etc…e.g., other stimuli, alternative reinforcers etc…
Measuring Psychoactive Drug Measuring Psychoactive Drug Effects on BehaviorEffects on Behavior
Levels of ArousalLevels of Arousal– EEG activity and SleepEEG activity and Sleep– Arousal and Mood StatesArousal and Mood States– Arousal and ActivityArousal and Activity
Measuring Performance in HumansMeasuring Performance in Humans
PerceptionPerception– Psychophysical measures of thresholdPsychophysical measures of threshold
absolute and differential thresholdsabsolute and differential thresholdscritical frequency at fusion testcritical frequency at fusion test
Cognitive Performance and Intellectual Cognitive Performance and Intellectual FunctioningFunctioning– vigilance, attention, learning & memory tasksvigilance, attention, learning & memory tasks
mental arithmeticmental arithmeticdigit symbol substitution testdigit symbol substitution test
Motor PerformanceMotor Performance– reaction time, hand-eye coordinationreaction time, hand-eye coordination
e.g. pursuit rotor teste.g. pursuit rotor test
Measuring Behavior in NonhumansMeasuring Behavior in Nonhumans
Unconditioned BehaviorUnconditioned Behavior– Spontaneous motor activity Spontaneous motor activity
measured in an open field apparatusmeasured in an open field apparatus
– Stereotypic behaviorsStereotypic behaviors
Measuring Behavior in NonhumansMeasuring Behavior in Nonhumans
Respondent ConditioningRespondent Conditioning– Conditioned Place PreferenceConditioned Place Preference– Conditioned Taste AversionConditioned Taste Aversion
Measuring Behavior in NonhumansMeasuring Behavior in Nonhumans
Operant ConditioningOperant Conditioning– emphasis on antecedents, responses, emphasis on antecedents, responses,
consequences, and contingencies of consequences, and contingencies of reinforcementreinforcement
– the process of modifying some characteristic the process of modifying some characteristic of behavior by altering its consequencesof behavior by altering its consequences
Schedules of ReinforcementSchedules of ReinforcementRatio Schedules vs. Interval SchedulesRatio Schedules vs. Interval Schedules– Some drugs have been shown to exhibit “rate Some drugs have been shown to exhibit “rate
dependency”dependency”– e.g., Stimulants increase responding under FI e.g., Stimulants increase responding under FI
schedules but suppress responding under FR schedules but suppress responding under FR schedulesschedules
Escape-Avoidance TasksEscape-Avoidance Tasks– Some drugs (e.g., anxiolytics) block avoidance Some drugs (e.g., anxiolytics) block avoidance
behavior without affecting escape behavior.behavior without affecting escape behavior.
Punishment SchedulesPunishment Schedules– Responding maintained by appetitive rewards (e.g., Responding maintained by appetitive rewards (e.g.,
food) may be suppressed by punishing stimuli (e.g., food) may be suppressed by punishing stimuli (e.g., electric shocks). electric shocks).
– Some drugs increase behavior that has been Some drugs increase behavior that has been suppressed by punishment (e.g., CNS depressants)suppressed by punishment (e.g., CNS depressants)
Other Common Operant Procedures Other Common Operant Procedures in Behavioral Pharmacologyin Behavioral Pharmacology
Drug DiscriminationDrug Discrimination– analyzing drugs according to analyzing drugs according to
their stimulus propertiestheir stimulus properties– tool for classifying novel drugs tool for classifying novel drugs – determining neurochemical determining neurochemical
mechanisms of drug actionmechanisms of drug action
Drug Self-AdministrationDrug Self-Administration– analyzing drugs for reinforcing analyzing drugs for reinforcing
propertiesproperties– common model to assess common model to assess
abuse liabilityabuse liability
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