Biological Psychology

Question: Discuss about theBiological Psychology. Answer: Introduction Neurobiology of language refers to the study of neurological brain mechanisms that regulate language comprehension and production of language. On the other hand, language comprehension refers to process by which the brain understands what people speak and write. Language comprehension is important biological psychology since it hold and defines the capabilities, process, skills and the required knowledge to understand spoken and written language (John, 2007). The controversy arose in the language acquisition process during language comprehension. Many theorists indicate that acquisition of language arises from abstract sense of impression. Regel, S. and Friederici, A. (2011) study implies that language acquisition is through sensory processing of brain during language comprehension. Behavioral theorist in contrast shows that acquisition arises through successful use of signs. The aim of this essay is to provide critical study of brain comprehension of non-literal language. Non-literal or figurative language broadly refers to the psychological imaging of non-literal expression such as idioms, metaphors and proverbs. The critical aspect of non-literal language comprehension involve semantic phenomenon. According to John, C. (2007), left angular in the middle and frontal gyri that is directly related to dorsomedial prefrontal is the part involve in processing of non-literal expression. There are clear differences in brain processing of literal and non-literal languages expression. Non literal expressions are processed in the left brain hemisphere in contrast to literal language that is processed right brain hemisphere. Processing of spatial information is directly similar to processing of non-literal expression in the left brain hemisphere. Processing of spatial information involve recording of expressions and information that pertains to someones environment and this is similar to the processing of non-literal expression that take place in the left hemis phere of brain (Brandon 2008). There are several studies that have been carried out to understand the brain structure as used in comprehension of non-literal language. David, M. (2002) study methods such as standardized neuropsychological test and electrophysiology have been used to study brain structures used in comprehension of non-literal languages. Neuroimaging methods are grouped into functional imagine and structural imagine methods. Structural imaging studies the brain structures with respect to study of diseases like tumor or brain injury. Functional neuroimaging on the other hand, is used to determine the different brain parts with their relationship to comprehension of figurative expressions. Research by Mark T, et al (2005), functional imaging therefore, seeks to diagnose diseases such as brain lesions and cognitive psychology. Some of the functional neuroimaging methods include electroencephalography, functional magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography and behavioral studies (Mark et al 2005).Critical examination of brain imaging methods gives understanding of brain functions and brain lesions. Neuroimaging methods have both advantages and disadvantages. David, M. (2002) evaluated electroencephalography (EEG) method to monitors and record images of brain electrical activities caused by ionic current during language expression processing at certain time duration. According Hagoort (2003), ever-related potential (ERP) can be used to study responses that are connected to brain processing and functioning in relationship to neural processing of language expressions. Firstly electroencephalography has advantages that include are ability to visualize brain activities directly during processes through direct study of brain electrical changes. According to Edward and Oksana (2014), the most important disadvantage of EEG is the difficulty in determining the source of electrical activities in brain processes. Functional magnetic resonance imaging is method used to measure brain processing of language expression through detection of blood flow changes. fMRI therefore shows functional changes that occurs in the psychological brain activities leading to understanding of non-literal expressions. Research by Poldrack, A. (2008) shows that fMRI also is advantageous due to the fact that it does not use X-rays when scanning the brain processes and therefore safer to use as compares to other neuroimaging technologies. The clear disadvantage of fMRI according Haller, S. and Bartsch, A. (2009) is expensive and fact that it capture image linearly when patient is still Positron emission tomography (PET) is another imaging method that provides images of metabolic processes of the brain. This implies that PET provides three dimensional scan images during diagnosis of brain disease that are causing impairment of brain processes. Research by Roivainen, A. et al (2004), shows that PET provides advantage in biochemical examination of patients brain and diseases detection that are related to brain functioning and non-literal expressions. According to Health Quality (2010), disadvantage of PET is the possibility of radioactive risk during imaging procedures. Brandon (2008), neuroimaging methods have significant differences and similarity with behavioral study of brain. Neuroimaging applies various brain methods to study and image functions or structures of brain. Behavioral brain study the other side, applies different biological principles to study psychological brain processes. Kaan, E. (2007) stated that neuroimaging methods such as EEG, fMRI and PET enable visualization of non-literal expressions comprehension and the impairment of these brain process directly increasing chance to view brain lesion. In contrast, behavioral studies concentrate on neurons, hormones and other biological processes that occur in brain as evidence for non-literal language impairments. Both neuroimaging method and behavioral study of brain lesions consider neurological activities to provide evidence of abnormalities in brain comprehension of expressions. Neuroimaging study neural activities that occur when brain comprehend figurative language similar to beh avioral study that reveal biological process in neurons (Health Quality 2010). Positron emission tomography according to Heinke, W. and Schwarzbauer, C. (2002) functions with radioactive tracers chemicals introduced into bloodstream. This implies that positron radioisotopes that are labeled radioactive atoms, the radiotracer compound follow blood to the brain. The patient has radioactive injected into bloodstream that can be risk for expectant mothers and other patients. A similar study by Dixon and Adam et al (2015), indicate that breastfeeding mothers and pregnant mothers are not suitable for PET scanning since babies and infants are highly responsive to radiations. Townsend, D. and Bailey, L. (2005) also conducted research on PET and indicated that during natural radioactive decay, point to the possibility of radioactive exposure. Some patients are allergic to radiotracers and may risk the patients health. Under some instances radiotracers are introduced into a vein (IV) or the radioactive material is breathed in through the nose. On weighing the various neuroimaging approaches, fMRI proves to be the approach I will use for this type of research is neuroimaging method particularly fMRI technique. Firstly, fMRI is safe to use since it does not use X-rays to capture images as compared to other neuroimaging methods. This is particularly important for studying non-literal language that requires image view without radioactive rays. Rjntjes et al 2012 study shows that fMRI is suitable for patients such as breastfeeding and pregnant women due to the minimal use of radiation. Thirdly, it is easy to visualize processes taking place in the brain hemisphere since the methods can capture images deep inside the body depending on the blood flow. In conclusion, non-literal language comprehension occurs in the brain during neuron processing. Many studies have been done to understand brain structures and functions with respect to processing of both literal and figurative languages. Behavioral study and neuroimaging methods offer the best alternative ways to study and understand neural pathways followed by language expression. Brain imaging methods offers opportunity to visualize the brain neural processing activities when the brain comprehends figurative language. EEG, PET and fMRI are some of the neuroimaging methods used in brain research. Finally, PET is a brain scaning technology that can expose patient to radiation thereby posing risk to use in expectant and breastfeeding mothers. Reference Brandon K (2008), Brain scanner and what you are. Wired News. CondeNet. Dixon, A. and Adam A et al (2015), Grainger Allisons diagnostic radiology. Philadelphia, AP: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone. David, M. (2002), The origin of EEG. International society for the history of neuroscience (ISHN). Edward, F. and Oksana, Z, (2014), In Electroencephalography. 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