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The term “biological model” can refer to a mathematical model of a biological system, a specific organism studied to generate data applicable to other organisms, or a theory explaining mental illness. Mathematical models allow for testing and altering variables, while model organisms provide data for other organisms. The biological model of mental illness emerged in the 19th century, shifting the approach to treatment from blame to medical treatment.
The term “biological model” is used in many different ways, but the meaning of the term is usually clear from the context. In one sense, it is a mathematical model of a biological system, while in another it refers to a specific organism that can be studied extensively with the goal of generating data that can be applied to other organisms. This term is also used in reference to a particular theory of the origins of mental illness and psychological distress that originated in the 19th century when understanding of the brain advanced considerably.
In the sense of a mathematical model, a biological model can be constructed to gain a deeper understanding of an organism, ecosystem, genetic lineage, or a wide variety of other topics in biology. Using math, people can set up and test a model. Many topics can be studied within mathematics. For example, population growth and population dynamics are things that lend themselves very well to mathematical modeling.
Modeling biological systems with mathematics also allows people to alter parameters and variables to see what would happen if alterations occurred in the real world. For example, a group of scientists working on a pest control project might take a mathematical model of the pests in question and then start adding variables like insecticide use, genetic manipulation of the population to create sterility, and other things to see which approach would likely be more effective when it comes to insect control.
A model organism can provide data that may be applicable to other organisms. The laboratory mouse is a classic symbol, studied with the aim of learning more about the nature of other mammals, especially humans. Fruit flies are also commonly used, as is Escherichia coli, a bacterium that has been extensively studied in laboratories around the world. These biological models are chosen for similarities between them and other organisms, or for traits such as rapid reproduction or easy-to-manipulate genomes.
In the medical world, the biological model is a theory to explain how mental illness emerges and to provide insight into potential treatments. People who support this model believe that psychological problems can be explained by physical and chemical problems within the brain and central nervous system, such as abnormal levels of neurotransmitters or abnormalities in brain structure. This would make psychological conditions as treatable as other diseases.
This model was adopted in the 19th century and radically changed the approach to treating the mentally ill. Historically, people with mental illnesses have been blamed for their illness and held accountable for it; under this model, medical professionals recognized that their psychological problems were not their fault and could be treated. This marked a radical change from confinement, isolation and abandonment in asylums and other facilities built to house the mentally ill.
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