physiological psychology: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowAcademic/Technical
Quick answer
What does “physiological psychology” mean?
The branch of psychology that studies the biological bases of behavior and mental processes, focusing on how bodily systems (especially the nervous and endocrine systems) influence psychological functions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The branch of psychology that studies the biological bases of behavior and mental processes, focusing on how bodily systems (especially the nervous and endocrine systems) influence psychological functions.
A scientific discipline that investigates the relationship between physiological processes (e.g., brain activity, hormones, genetics) and psychological phenomena such as perception, emotion, learning, and cognition. It often involves experimental methods to examine neural mechanisms underlying behavior.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling follows regional conventions: 'behaviour' (UK) vs. 'behavior' (US) in related texts.
Connotations
Equally technical and academic in both varieties. Slightly more historical usage in the UK, where 'biological psychology' is now often preferred.
Frequency
More frequent in academic psychology and neuroscience texts than in general discourse. Comparable frequency in UK and US academic settings.
Grammar
How to Use “physiological psychology” in a Sentence
[Subject] studies physiological psychology.[Researcher] applies physiological psychology to [problem].[Course] covers physiological psychology.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “physiological psychology” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The module will cover how to physiologically psychologise behaviour in lab settings.
- Researchers aim to physiologically psychology the stress response.
American English
- The lab seeks to physiologically psychology addiction mechanisms.
- They attempted to physiologically psychology the neural correlates of fear.
adverb
British English
- The study was conducted physiologically-psychologically.
- They analysed the results physiologically-psychologically.
American English
- The team thinks physiologically-psychologically about motivation.
- She interprets dreams physiologically-psychologically.
adjective
British English
- The physiological-psychology approach dominated the conference.
- Her research has a strong physiological-psychology foundation.
American English
- He takes a physiological-psychology perspective on learning.
- The physiological-psychology data were compelling.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used, except in biotech or pharmaceutical contexts discussing drug effects on behavior.
Academic
Primary context. Used in psychology, neuroscience, and biology departments, course titles, research papers, and textbooks.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Common in scientific literature, research methodologies, and academic discussions about brain-behavior relationships.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “physiological psychology”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “physiological psychology”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “physiological psychology”
- Misspelling as 'physcological psychology' or 'physiological phsychology'.
- Using it to refer to general health psychology or sports psychology.
- Confusing it with 'physiological' as in bodily functions unrelated to psychology.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. Physiological psychology is a subfield of psychology focusing on biological bases of behavior, often using animal models. Neuroscience is broader, encompassing molecular, cellular, and systems-level study of the nervous system, not exclusively focused on psychology.
Common methods include brain imaging (fMRI, PET), electrophysiology (EEG, single-neuron recording), lesion studies, pharmacological interventions, and genetic manipulations in controlled experiments.
Historical figures include Karl Lashley, Donald Hebb, and Roger Sperry. Their work on brain localization, neural networks, and split-brain studies laid foundations for the field.
It provides a scientific, biological understanding of mental processes and disorders, leading to advances in treating conditions like depression, schizophrenia, and Parkinson's disease through medications and other interventions.
The branch of psychology that studies the biological bases of behavior and mental processes, focusing on how bodily systems (especially the nervous and endocrine systems) influence psychological functions.
Physiological psychology is usually academic/technical in register.
Physiological psychology: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɪz.i.əˌlɒdʒ.ɪ.kəl saɪˈkɒl.ə.dʒi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɪz.i.əˌlɑː.dʒɪ.kəl saɪˈkɑː.lə.dʒi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: PHYSIO (body) + LOGICAL (study of) + PSYCHOLOGY (mind) = studying how the body affects the mind.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MIND IS A BIOLOGICAL MACHINE (implying mental processes can be explained by physical systems).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a key focus of physiological psychology?