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Biological Psychology: A Cybernetic Science
Psychology as Cybernetics Two Views Biological Psychology: A Cybernetic Science by F J McGuigan, Prentics Hall. Englewood Cliffs,New Jersey91994 (ISBN 0 13 146655 0). 599 pages. Illus. f49.95.
The main purpose of this most interesting, informative and wellwritten text is to study the way in which sensory, neural and muscular systems interact to generate behaviour. The author presents a biological explication for the nature of cognitive processes and human behaviour and applies a cybernetic model (a science of control and communication through circuits), to areas of biological psychology. The areas addressed include motivated and emotional behaviour, learning and memory, language and laterality, ageing and pathological conditions with such clinical applications as psychiatric disorders, sleep disorders, cardiovascular disease and motor diseases. The book is divided into five parts. Part 1(threechapters) introduces the reader to the perspective of biological psychology and part 2 (five chapters) present the various systems in the body and how they may be studied). Part 3 (five chapters) then moves on to address normal biopsychological function, including an excellent chapter on the psychophysiology of ageing. Part 4 (two chapters) explores pathological conditions and clinical applications. Finally the single chapter in part 5 is of a more philosophical and postulatory style addressing sociological and global issues through science and technology. As such sociological and philosophical issues are addressed from a biological science perspective. Although the title suggests that the text would be of more relevance to psychologisb, there is a great deal of physiology in the text. As such it is useful for other health professionals particularly physiotherapy undergraduate studenta for both their physiology and psychology courses. The concepts and implications this subject area presented in the book assist the reader in understanding the nature of the mind-body interaction and the global relevance of biological science. The purpose and outline of each
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generates a particular kind of mental imagery peculiar to itself. For example, in gross simplification, the ‘body image’ of posture and movement is generated by the chapter are given at the beginning sensorimotor brain and body and explanatory notes in t h e locomotor systems acting in margins. There are lists of key terms continuous unity, the range of and recommended further reading ‘emotional’ body images are texts at the end of each chapter as generated by viscera and limbic well as a good reference section at systems, the ‘internal speech’ of the end of the book. Additionally the language-based thinking and clear language, writing style and symbolic imagery is a cooperative content make the book particularly venture between left hemisphere readable. This makes the book an prefrontal lobe/ Brocflernicke brain areas and tongue, mouth and excellent text for students. The particular approach of the text vocal cord structures. Each of the may make it more of a recommended mental imagery systems of the reading text for students rather than special senses are generated’ by essential reading. It is very specific body orgadbrain area reasonably priced and I certainly activity in endless interaction. McGuigan rejects the conventional recommend library copies of the text and recommend it to anyone with an neuroscientist view that mental functions are generated solely by the interest in the area. Nicola Adarns PhD 6Sc MCSP brain and located there as a far too narrow interpretation of t h e available evidence. In his view, the research findings of behavioural psychologists, including himself, Ultimate Holism Biological psychology is the science clearly shows that mindlbrain that studies observable and re- activity, however abstruee,is always cordable behavioural responses to ammpanied by overt (observable),or covert (detectable by instrumentagiven situations. The subtitle clearly states the tion, as in s u b v d i s i n g EMG traces standpoint of the author. The central while thinking) body system acticoncept is that the behaviour of all vity. Mental life is a continuous, life forms, from cells to ourselves, cau interactive, braidbody production be understood and accounted for by and the ‘mind’, as mental process, ‘is cybernetics, which is the science of located extensively throughout the communication and control systems body and not just within the skull’. using principles of negative Take away the body and the brain feedback, aliticipatory feedback, will fall into futile mental silence. This fascinating book is extremely f d o r w a r d , and 80 on. This involves specialised arrays of sensons, signals, well organised and researched. In monitors, and effectors acting and broad outline it covers cybernetics, reacting around homeostatic pre-set the biology of mental processes, the norms that may be reset and main brain and body systems, a n d emotional modified by controlled positive motivational feedback. All organisms possess behaviours, psychophysiology of an infinite variety of interacting ageing, congnitive psychology. circuitry systems. Animals use clinical psychology, psychotherapy, bioelectric, nerve impulse and and sociological issues ranging from hormonal circuitry to link their body drugs, genetic engineering, t o systems together into an interactive warfare. I recommend it as a valuable whole. As the ultimate holistic addition to department and student approach, this is it. McGuigan is uncompromisingly library bookshelf. Its behavioural materialist concerning mind, con- science approach is challenging, sciousness and emotion. ‘Mind’ is informative, and relevant to holisconsidered as an umbrella term that tic clinical thinking and therapy. stands for a range of physiologically Chapter 8 alone, on methods of based mental processes that are external body and brain monitoring. generated a s outcomes of particular is a goldmine of ideas for budding brain and body circuitry inter- researchers. Bob Charman FCSP DipTP actions. Each brainmody system
The main purpose of this most interesting, informative and wellwritten text is to study the way in which sensory, neural and muscular systems interact to generate behaviour. The author presents a biological explication for the nature of cognitive processes and human behaviour and applies a cybernetic model (a science of control and communication through circuits), to areas of biological psychology. The areas addressed include motivated and emotional behaviour, learning and memory, language and laterality, ageing and pathological conditions with such clinical applications as psychiatric disorders, sleep disorders, cardiovascular disease and motor diseases. The book is divided into five parts. Part 1(threechapters) introduces the reader to the perspective of biological psychology and part 2 (five chapters) present the various systems in the body and how they may be studied). Part 3 (five chapters) then moves on to address normal biopsychological function, including an excellent chapter on the psychophysiology of ageing. Part 4 (two chapters) explores pathological conditions and clinical applications. Finally the single chapter in part 5 is of a more philosophical and postulatory style addressing sociological and global issues through science and technology. As such sociological and philosophical issues are addressed from a biological science perspective. Although the title suggests that the text would be of more relevance to psychologisb, there is a great deal of physiology in the text. As such it is useful for other health professionals particularly physiotherapy undergraduate studenta for both their physiology and psychology courses. The concepts and implications this subject area presented in the book assist the reader in understanding the nature of the mind-body interaction and the global relevance of biological science. The purpose and outline of each
-
generates a particular kind of mental imagery peculiar to itself. For example, in gross simplification, the ‘body image’ of posture and movement is generated by the chapter are given at the beginning sensorimotor brain and body and explanatory notes in t h e locomotor systems acting in margins. There are lists of key terms continuous unity, the range of and recommended further reading ‘emotional’ body images are texts at the end of each chapter as generated by viscera and limbic well as a good reference section at systems, the ‘internal speech’ of the end of the book. Additionally the language-based thinking and clear language, writing style and symbolic imagery is a cooperative content make the book particularly venture between left hemisphere readable. This makes the book an prefrontal lobe/ Brocflernicke brain areas and tongue, mouth and excellent text for students. The particular approach of the text vocal cord structures. Each of the may make it more of a recommended mental imagery systems of the reading text for students rather than special senses are generated’ by essential reading. It is very specific body orgadbrain area reasonably priced and I certainly activity in endless interaction. McGuigan rejects the conventional recommend library copies of the text and recommend it to anyone with an neuroscientist view that mental functions are generated solely by the interest in the area. Nicola Adarns PhD 6Sc MCSP brain and located there as a far too narrow interpretation of t h e available evidence. In his view, the research findings of behavioural psychologists, including himself, Ultimate Holism Biological psychology is the science clearly shows that mindlbrain that studies observable and re- activity, however abstruee,is always cordable behavioural responses to ammpanied by overt (observable),or covert (detectable by instrumentagiven situations. The subtitle clearly states the tion, as in s u b v d i s i n g EMG traces standpoint of the author. The central while thinking) body system acticoncept is that the behaviour of all vity. Mental life is a continuous, life forms, from cells to ourselves, cau interactive, braidbody production be understood and accounted for by and the ‘mind’, as mental process, ‘is cybernetics, which is the science of located extensively throughout the communication and control systems body and not just within the skull’. using principles of negative Take away the body and the brain feedback, aliticipatory feedback, will fall into futile mental silence. This fascinating book is extremely f d o r w a r d , and 80 on. This involves specialised arrays of sensons, signals, well organised and researched. In monitors, and effectors acting and broad outline it covers cybernetics, reacting around homeostatic pre-set the biology of mental processes, the norms that may be reset and main brain and body systems, a n d emotional modified by controlled positive motivational feedback. All organisms possess behaviours, psychophysiology of an infinite variety of interacting ageing, congnitive psychology. circuitry systems. Animals use clinical psychology, psychotherapy, bioelectric, nerve impulse and and sociological issues ranging from hormonal circuitry to link their body drugs, genetic engineering, t o systems together into an interactive warfare. I recommend it as a valuable whole. As the ultimate holistic addition to department and student approach, this is it. McGuigan is uncompromisingly library bookshelf. Its behavioural materialist concerning mind, con- science approach is challenging, sciousness and emotion. ‘Mind’ is informative, and relevant to holisconsidered as an umbrella term that tic clinical thinking and therapy. stands for a range of physiologically Chapter 8 alone, on methods of based mental processes that are external body and brain monitoring. generated a s outcomes of particular is a goldmine of ideas for budding brain and body circuitry inter- researchers. Bob Charman FCSP DipTP actions. Each brainmody system