Southern New Hampshire University PSYCHOLOGY 300 Milestone 3 Report

This report presents a comprehensive literature review exploring the intricate relationship between biological influences and human behavior. It delves into the neuroanatomical construction of the brain and its impact on emotions, functional expressions, and behavior. The review examines the role of the nervous system, hippocampus, amygdala, and the influence of substances like nicotine on behavior. Technological advancements in biopsychology, such as neuroeconomics and the use of databases, are discussed. The report traces the historical evolution of biopsychology, from Avicenna's early work to Descartes' dualism, highlighting the shift towards a scientific discipline. It analyzes various research designs, including reviews, cohort studies, and cross-sectional studies, while emphasizing ethical considerations like informed consent and participant protection. The report identifies a research gap related to adolescent drug abuse preferences and proposes a qualitative research design using focus groups to investigate the underlying factors influencing these behaviors. The study will involve convenience sampling, informed consent, and ethical considerations, with the aim of understanding how adolescents interpret drug abuse preferences and their impact on behavioral responses.

Running head: PSYCHOLOGY
Milestone project 3
Name of the Student
Southern New Hampshire University
Author Note

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Introduction
Psychological science has been subjected to an unparalleled growth and advancement
in recent years and several disciplines in the domain have expanded and flourished. There is
mounting evidence for the fact that the neuroanatomical construction of the brain plays an
important role in explaining the interaction of the parts of the brain with the entire nervous
system, and its potential impact on emotions, functional expressions, and behavior. (Carare,
Hawkes & Weller, 2014). This assignment will present a literature review that will unravel
the association between biological influences and behavior.
Literature review
According to Südhof (2014) initial stages of brain development are dynamic in the
usual maturation, as genetic mutations bring about defects and distortion of neurotransmitters
are responsible for the onset of learning disabilities and impairment and learning
disabilities. The central and peripheral nervous systems work together for controlling the
control bodily actions, such as, voice control and laughing (Ludlow, 2015). Evidences have
also suggested that the hippocampus plays an important role in memory formation,
specifically long-term memory (Jutras, Fries & Buffalo, 2013). It has also been mentioned by
Spiers and Barry (2015) that damage to hippocampus produces strict and maladaptive
behavior related to, decision-making, memory navigation, exploration, imagination, social
discourse and empathy. It has also been suggested that amygdala, the part of the limbic
system is greatly involved in emotional responses, of which fear is a primary response
(Lozier, Cardinale, VanMeter & Marsh, 2014). In other words, the amygdala is responsible
for decoding emotions, specifically those that are related to threatening stimuli.
Dieter et al. (2015) also suggested that addicts have been found to demonstrate
meaningfully low scores on self-concept subscale related to 'social resonance,' which is

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concomitant with an increased brain activation in the left angular gyrus. These were further
supported by Goldstein (2015) who stated that the nervous system is under the control of
physical substances like nicotine and circumstances such as, peer influence that makes
humans manifest a behavior of fitting in the crowd. Sullivan et al. (2016) also stated that
greater accomplishment with older stage and pubertal period in abstraction, emotion,
attention, general ability, and balance proposes continual functional progress through youth,
conceivably reinforced by concomitantly growing limbic, frontal, and cerebellar system.
Technological advancements have proved beneficial in driving major changes in
behavioral science. In the field of biopsychology, the expansion of technologies have
facilitate better monitoring of behavior, thus helping in better understanding of human
interactions (BOSIO & RIVAa-d, 2013). Several new disciplines, like neuroeconomics have
proved beneficial in revealing the underlying mechanisms that control the reward-seeking
behavior of the brain by integrating contextual information, and matching it with anticipated
individual expectations (Van Duijvenvoorde & Crone, 2013). Over the past decades, in the
words of Kosinski, Stillwell and Graepel (2013) several centers located across the world have
amalgamated huge databases labeling the comprehensive behavior of humans. One of the
most interesting aspects of technology use in biopsychology can be attributed to the role
of Psycograph in analyzing the shape of the human skull and providing a detailed analysis of
the personality of the individual (Carver & McCarty, 2013). Internet based diagnostic tools
and treatment strategies have also proved their efficacy in screening millions of people for
mental health behavioral problems (Crump, McDonnell & Gureckis, 2013). Furthermore,
practitioners and researchers now have innovative ways at their disposal, for collecting and
evaluating psychological data about the physical, mental, and emotional behavior of people
(Andersson & Titov, 2014).

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The initial study of biopsychology dates back to 980-1037 C.E. when Avicenna, a
physician recognized the discipline for the treatment of diseases that involved emotions and
also developed a system for connecting alterations in pulse rate with feelings (Jung, 2013). It
emerged in the form of a scientific discipline much later during the 19th century and
encompassed dualism, which is defined as a collection of views about the association
between physical matter and mind. Descartes had proposed physical model for explaining
human and animal behavior and suggested that pineal gland acted as the point of association
between the body and the mind (Murphy, 2013). In other words, biopsychology has
functioned as a domain for the exchange of information and concepts related to behavioral
science. The unique characteristic of biopsychology is that either independent variables used
in the research are biological, or the dependent variables are biological. Thus, biopsychology
emphasizes on studding the permanently or temporarily altered nervous system, in relation to
some kind of behavioral variable. Therefore, it can be stated that human behavior is a
complex phenomenon and is influenced by the brain and the social relationships that exist in
real time settings. Biological influences are particularly controlled by different regions of the
brain (Pourtois, Schettino & Vuilleumier, 2013). The brain is responsible for providing
conscious awareness and is also involved in the different psychological process that occur in
a human. Hence, the human brain the common feature that allows researchers to explore
similarities between individuals, across cultural boundaries, thus facilitating the assessment
of human behavior.
According to Meyers, Gamst and Guarino (2016) research designs refer to the
systematic approaches that are adopted by researchers for conduction of a scientific study and
encompass the overall organization of identified constituents and consequential data, in a
credible outcome. An analysis of the existing scholarly evidences suggested that Südhof
(2014) presented their findings in the form of a review where they collected evidences from

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available scientific literature and elaborated on the fact that there occurs changes in some
cortical activity during vocal behavior. Owing to the fact that this review a secondary piece of
research, there were no ethical issues, concerning human subjects. However, the study by
Jutras, Fries and Buffalo (2013) involved a primary research where hippocampal activity
measurement in rhesus monkeys formed the foundation of the research design. The
researchers investigated the role of hippocampus in memory formation and visual activity by
exposing the research subjects to 200 novel complex stimuli. Despite the need of adhering to
ethical considerations for preventing undue suffering of animals, none were reviewed by the
researchers. Nonetheless, demonstration of the relationship between aggression by amygdala
and callous emotional traits was done by a cross-sectional case-control study. The research
design comprised of neuroimaging and behavioral testing with the use of 3-T Siemens
magnetic resonance imaging scanner, among community recruited juveniles. Prior approval
was taken from the institutional review board for the research design (Lozier, Cardinale,
VanMeter & Marsh, 2014). In contrast, Carver and McCarty (2013) adopted a cohort research
design, based on results of Experian Marketing Services’ Simmonsw National Consumer
Study (NCS). A plethora of psychographic and personality variables were detected in the
three kinds of gamblers, which made them conclude that online gamblers report greater levels
of risk taking, wish for control, sensation seeking, and self-centeredness. This study also did
not take into consideration any ethical issues of research. In contrast Sullivan et al. (2016)
also adopted a cross-sectional research design and obtained informed consent from the adults
and parents of minor respondents, besides approval from the board, prior to collection of
neuropsychological data, in relation to alcohol use disorder.
Certain ethical issues that should be taken into consideration while conducting
biopsychological research encompass informed consent, debriefing, participant protection,
confidentiality, deception, and withdrawal from research (Fromm, 2013). Outlining the

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participants on the research and obtaining consent has been considered imperative since
several decades. Providing the participants a general idea of the investigation, their reason for
participation, and clarification is also considered vital in research. Over the years, it has been
stated time and gain that the researchers must ensure preventing distress to research
participants, by protecting them from mental and physical harm. Misleading or wrongly
informing participants about the objectives and purpose of the research is another major
aspect (Salman, Ngueng Feze & Joly, 2016). Owing to the fact that recent biopsychology
studies have also focused on animal subjects, reasonable efforts must be taken for avoiding
and minimizing animal infection, discomfort, illness, and pain.
Research design
The major research gap that was noticed is associated with the fact that not many
studies had been conducted in order to determine the drug abuse preference related behavior
among adolescents, as is commonly manifested by them in recent years. Although several
researchers have attempted to explore the neurobiology behind adolescent substance abuse,
they have placed little attention in unraveling the factors that make this target population
display a preference for drug abuse (Koob & Volkow, 2016). The acceptance of drug abuse is
continuously increasing in the present society. According to Patterson, DeBaryshe and
Ramsey (2017) prolonged use of drugs wreaks havoc on the mind and the body, regardless of
the socioeconomic status of the users. Owing to the fact that this aspect of human behavior
has been relatively unexplored, this research gap needs to be addressed. The research
question for the identified topic is as follows:
How do the adolescents interpret drug abuse preferences and their impact on
behavioral responses?

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The research will be a qualitative design that will help in determining the human
characters, attributes and behavior related to the use of drugs, which will be explained
thematically. Owing to the fact that qualitative research designs are based on the perspective
of social constructivism, the research will try to unravel the underlying factors that govern the
socially situated human behavior, through interaction with others (Neuman, 2013). Adoption
of a qualitative approach can also be accredited to the fact that it will delve deeper into the
feelings, behaviors and attitudes of the target population, and will also provide a detailed
picture of why the adolescents behave and act in certain ways, in relation to drug abuse. This
qualitative research will be grounded on the concept of phenomenology that has its roots in
the 20th century (Lewis, 2015). This approach has been widely accepted for providing a
description of human experiences and will also attempt to avert preconceived bias and
assumptions about the understandings and behavior of the adolescents (Bns & Hv, 2013).
Thus, the research design will aim to directly investigate and describe the phenomenon of
drug abuse related behavior among adolescents, as consciously felt by the target population.
The study will be conducted over a time period of six months, across three districts.
Recruitment of participants will be done from the local adolescent clinics and recreational
centers with the help of convenience sampling technique.
In the words of Etikan, Musa and Alkassim (2016) one major advantage of this
sampling technique is that it will encompass relatively lower costs and time for recruiting the
study participants. Furthermore, the subjects will also be easily accessible and within close
proximity. An estimated 50 participants are to be selected for the research. All ethical
considerations shall be maintained by providing detailed written information to the
adolescents and their parents, in sealed envelope. They will be informed about the potential
benefits and purpose of the research, following which their informed consent shall be
obtained. The participants shall also be ensured on maintenance of confidentiality, no

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deception, and ability to withdraw from the research at any point of time. The participants
shall be provided a nominal gift card as a form of remuneration for their participation.
Focus groups will be selected as the mode of data collection. This phase would
encompass gathering valuable information and measuring the variables of importance, in a
systematic manner that will allow answering the proposed research question. Focus groups
have been found to share a range of common features with interviews that are less structured,
but there remains more to this data collection tool. Focus groups although popular in
marketing and health research, have begun to be used in psychology until recently. According
to Cleary, Horsfall and Hayter (2014) one major advantage of this data collection method is
the fact that focus groups will create the provision for interactive research, as opposed to
individual survey responses. Furthermore, their implementation requires little or no costs and
can get completed within few hours. The participants will be divided into five focus groups,
each comprising of ten adolescent respondents, one qualified moderator and one counsellor.
The focus groups will last between 45-90 minutes and all the responses shall be audio
recorded, followed by their verbatim transcription.
A semi-structured format will be followed during the collection of responses since the
focus groups questions can be prepared in advance for allowing the opportunity to internalize
all entails of the discussion. These will also offer the adolescents the freedom of providing
their insights and views in a convenient manner. Following the transcription of the responses,
the discussion will be manually analyzed and coded into themes, obtained from the collected
data (Braun & Clarke, 2014). The themes will be based on certain essential attributes namely,
(i) references to drug abuse for looking and appearing ‘cool’, (ii) references to perceived
changes in behavior due to drug abuse, and (iii) references to drug abuse on social
networking sites and the risks related to them. Hence, the thematic analysis will help in

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presenting information that would link drug abuse among adolescents peer influence and
behavioral changes.
Ethical considerations have been recognized to be critical in research studies. Ethics
are considered as the basic standards or norms of conduct that discriminate between correct
and incorrect. Ethical considerations also prove beneficial in determining the dissimilarity
between satisfactory and improper behavior, on the part of the investigator (Flick, 2014). The
truthfulness, reliability and legitimacy of the research conclusions depend profoundly on
obedience of ethical principles. It has been found that several studies that focus on
investigating varied aspects of biopsychology often fail to assure the readers and the common
public that appropriate guidelines related to issues such as, animal welfare, human rights,
conflicts of interest, compliance with the law, health standards and safety were followed
(LaRossa & Bennett, 2018). Therefore, it can be stated that the consideration of major ethical
issues create a chief impact on the veracity of the research project and affects the provision of
future funding for the project. There are a plethora of effective strategies for protecting
personal information such as, elimination of identifier components, protected data storage
methods, biographical minutiae amendments and aliases. Efforts must also be taken to play
the role of mediators between the respondents and target community. Creating provisions for
an overt data collection method and reducing the probability of exposing the participants to
any kind of vicarious trauma will also be taken into consideration. Furthermore, owing to the
fact that the research will investigate the human behavior, in response to drug abuse among
adolescents, the adolescent respondents shall also be provided with considerable amount of
recovery time during the focus groups.
Conclusion
To conclude, researchers working in the field of biopsychology play an important role
in unravelling the association between the physiological and developmental mechanisms of

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behavior, as manifested by humans and animals. Although this discipline of science gained
momentum during the 18th and 19th centuries, recent attention has been given in drawing an
explanation of the mind-body problem, from a scientific point of view. Owing to the fact that
not much research has been done on investigating drug abuse related behavior, displayed by
adolescents, future research would address this gap and conduct a qualitative study based on
phenomenology for drawing relevant conclusions.

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interventions for common mental disorders. World Psychiatry, 13(1), 4-11.
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