Physiological Psychology 1984. Vol. 12 (1). 3-7 Current Issues The place of Physiological Psychology in Neuroscience DUANE SHUTILESWORTH Kennesaw College, Marietta, Georgia DARRYL NEILL Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia and PAUL ELLEN Georgia State University, Atlanta; Georgia The development of Neuroscience has raised questions about the place of Physiological Psy­ chology in both Psychology and Neuroscience. The present paper addresses the identity crisis of Physiological Psychology by focusing on the concept of the localization of function in the ex­ planation of brain-behavior relationships. The physiological psychologist, dependent upon the reductionistic assumption that behavior can be explained by reduction to some brain event, and the notion that we have a firm understanding of behavioral events and processes, has tumed to Neuroscience for both academic identity and research sustenance. But Neuroscience lacks a molar framework, and the consequence of the flight into Neurosciencehas been the deterrence of integrative theorizing about brain-behavior relationships. Only through areturn to the basic intellectual tradition of our discipline can we negate this trend. By attempting to identify and understand the natural fracture lines of complex adaptive behavioral functions, physiological psychologists can begin to develop the integrative theories that will foster an understanding of brain-behavioral relationships, Doing so hassignificant implications for what we teach, as weIlas for the role we play in the Psychology-Neuroscienceendeavor of the future. In the last decade we have seen the gradual emer­ written by psychologists generally are called "behav­ gence of a new discipline, Neuroscience. The devel­ ioral" or "functional neuroscience" or some other opment of neuroscience as an academic and research phrase to reflect the nonstatic, dynamic, and func­ entity has led to the appearance of a new scientific tional approach to the study of the relationship be­ society, The Society for Neuroscience, with a mem­ tween the nervous system and behavior. In fact, one bership roster of nearly 8,000 individuals in the United of Psychology's most prestigious journals, The Jour­ States and 43 other countries. In recent years we have nal 0/ Comparative and Physiotogical Psychology, witnessed the proliferation of new journals and text­ has recently divided into the Journal 0/ Comparative books bearing the title of "neuroscience." Those Psychology, on the one hand, and Behavioral Neuro­ science, on the other. All of these events point to the This article is based upon papers presented as part of a sym­ conclusion that the subject matter and methodology posium entitled "A question of identity: Physiological psychol­ of what had previously been the province of Physio­ ogy's place in neuroscience," which was held during the 1983 an­ nual meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association in logical Psychology is rapidly becoming considered to Atlanta, Georgia. Symposium participants and the titles of their be an integral aspect of the broader discipline of presentations were: D. Shuttlesworth, "Issues underlying the iden­ Neuroscience. Such developments question the iden­ tity crisis within physiological psychology"; D. Neill, "Physiolog­ tity of Physiological Psychology as a psychological ical psychology's place in neuroscience"; P. Ellen, "Physiological as opposed to neuroscientific endeavor. psychology: Alive and weil within psychology"; and R. Levitt, "Physiological psychology and clinical neuropsychology." Dis­ We feel that physiological psychologists have two cussants were James Kalat and Walter Isaac. Reprint requests may choices by which to respond to these developments. be addressed to any of the three authors. Addresses are: Duane They can passively watch the absorption of Physio­ E. Shuttlesworth, Department of Psychology, Kennesaw College, logical Psychology into various of the specialties of Marietta, Georgia 30061; Paul Ellen, Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303; Darryl Neill, Neuroscience (e.g., psychopharmacology, psycho­ Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia endocrinology, etc.), or they can actively work to 30322. create a new definition of Physiological Psychology- 3 Copyright 1984 Psyehonomie Society, Inc, 4 SHUTTLESWORTH, NEILL, AND ELLEN one which will allow the diseipline to remain an en­ example of the former, we take note of the almost tity in its own right, yet still permit it to remain in compulsiveapplication of schedules of reinforcement elose alliance with Neuroseience. If we remain pas­ to the behavioral analysis of drug effects despite re­ sive observers, Physiological Psychology may be­ peated demonstration that such techniques frequently come an "Introduction to Neuroseience" at the un­ fail to differentiate between different classes of com­ dergraduate level and thus willlikely evolve into a pounds. With regard to the latter alternative, the teaching rather than research endeavor. At the grad­ physiological psychologist devotes much energy to uate level, and at those undergraduate institutions the masteringof the most esoteric techniques of neuro­ with medical schools or biology or anthropology de­ chemical assay, receptor binding, and histochemical partments with a neuroseience component, nonpsy­ traeing. chology departments will progressively invade the Unfortunately for the physiological psychologist, teaching domain of Physiological Psychology. The purely descriptive neurobehavioral studies in 1984 result of such passivity will be the disappearance of are no more adequate than was the purely descriptive Physiological Psychology as an entity with any ac­ biology of the 19th Century, and high-technology ademic weight. methods are only as good as the conceptual thinking The following presents, in our view, a statement behind their use. For many physiological psychol­ that can provide the basis for an understanding of the ogists, these different resolutions to the problem of current state of affairs in which Physiological Psy­ behavioral analysis have resulted in their functional chology finds itself vis-ä-vis Neuroseience. More im­ avoidance of the realm of behavior and the conse­ portantly, it represents a positive approach to the quent retardation of the development of conceptual challenge faeing our diseipline by indicating what schema for relating behavior to brain function. The may become the new role of the physiological psy­ pursuit of neuroseience technology has become the chologist in the scheme of Neuroseience. Our dis­ end rather than the means to the end, and the analy­ cussion delineates the nature of this new role, and sis of behavioral change is being used merely as an suggests some of the effects it will have, not only assay for neural status. upon what the physiological psychologist does, but The neglect of theory by physiological psycholo­ also upon the future development of graduate train­ gists is recognized by nonbehavioral neuroseientists ing in our area. and further fosters the impression that there is not much to behavioral analysis since even its own prac­ The Nature of the Problem titioners tend to avoid it. The attitude held by non­ The identity crisis confronting modern Physiolog­ behavioral neuroscientists that "behavior is easy­ ical Psychology has been brewing ever since Gall and everybody knows about behavior and can analyze it" Spurzheim (Boring, 1949) conceivedof the notion of is thus reinforced. It becomes possible for a neuro­ the corticallocalization of discrete faculties of mind. anatomist, for example, to blithely assert that he or Unfortunately, the crisisis exacerbated by statements she is studying the neural mechanisms of feeding be­ such as the one recently made byKandel (1981, p. 11) havior simply because lesions in a particular part of that "all behavior ineluding higher (cognitive as well the brain alter food intake. as affective) mental functions is localizable to spe­ Moreover, since physiological psychologists have eific regions or constellations of regions within the avoided conceptual development and have concen­ brain. The role of descriptive neuroanatomy is there­ trated their energies on cranking out scores of experi­ fore to provide us with a functional guide to local­ ments, they have made it appear that the causal basis ization within the three-dimensional neural space-a of behavior lies entirely within the operationally de­ map for behavior. On the basis of this map, we can fined independent variables of their studies, that is, use the patient's performance as elieited in a clinical the brain manipulations themselves. For example, examination, to infer where the difficulties are 10­ a change in behavior resulting from alesion may be cated." This statement reflects the view concerning interpreted as indicating that activity in that brain behavior held by most medically or biologically site is the cause of that behavior. Such a simplistic oriented neuroseientists. view ignores the complexities of both brain and be­ Part of the problem of contemporary Physiolog­ havior. By their venture into the world of Neuro­ ical Psychology is that behavior is something simply science, physiological psychologists may have gained taken for granted. In fact, even physiological psy­ increased preeision and control of the various experi­ chologists have tended to by-pass and avoid the sticky mental variables they use, but they have done so at conceptual problems involved in the analysis of be­ the