In this chapter you will learn
 

• The value of theory in science and the relative advantages of experiments and correlational studies
• Some of the ways biopsychologists do research
• Why research in biopsychology creates ethical concerns

With a baseline of brain anatomy and organization, this chapter discusses the techniques used to study the brain and nervous system. The chapter starts with a discussion of what a theory is in science, and describes the different types of studies performed by scientists. Then, different investigative techniques are explained, including histological preparations, immunological staining, electroencephalography and evoked potentials, electrophysiology, and brain imaging. Special emphasis is placed on the various imaging studies and when each should be used.  Genetic engineering is discussed as a research technique and a therapeutic treatment. The chapter finishes with an important discussion of the ethics of research on both humans and animals, making the clear point that research helps cure diseases and develop treatments for fatal disorders and is highly regulated, but still generates considerable controversy. An “In the News” segment discusses the NIH’s decision to block all new grants on chimpanzee research until the investigators can justify their use over other animal models. The chapter ends with a discussion of stem cell research and gene therapy, which have received both good and bad press.