The 'whole-animal approach' as a heuristic principle in neuroscience research

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Integrative Biology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Neuroscience comprises diverse disciplines with varied theoretical and experimental perspectives.
• A need exists for a unifying conceptual framework to articulate these different viewpoints.
• Current research calls for more integrative approaches in biological and neuropsychiatric studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a 'whole-animal approach' as a conceptual and hermeneutic tool for neuroscience.
• To demonstrate the utility of this approach by examining fear-conditioned response extinction.
• To advocate for an integrated perspective in organizing and connecting basic and clinical neuroscience research.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis and review of existing literature.
• Application of the 'whole-animal approach' framework to historical and contemporary research.
• Case study focusing on the extinction of fear-conditioned responses from Pavlovian studies to present research.

Main Results:

• The 'whole-animal approach' provides a valuable tool for organizing and integrating heterogeneous neuroscience research.
• Examining fear extinction through this lens highlights its potential for synthesizing basic and clinical findings.
• The proposed framework aligns with calls for greater integration in biological and neuropsychiatric research.

Conclusions:

• The 'whole-animal approach' offers a robust framework for unifying diverse neuroscience research.
• This integrative perspective is crucial for advancing both basic and clinical understanding, particularly in areas like fear extinction.
• Adopting such holistic viewpoints is essential for the future of biological and neuropsychiatric research.