Biological Plan

What is Crockett (2010) about? What is the key term?

Neurotransmission
Aim: To investigate the effect of serotonin on prosocial behavior
Design: Lab experiment, repeated measures
Participants + Sampling Method: 30 healthy volunteers, opp.
Procedure + Results:
1. Opportunity sampling method
2. Administer the pill to participants double-blind
3. The trolly problem is told to the participants and in each trial they are either given a person scenario (push someone else/yourself onto the tracks) or an impersonal scenario (pull the lever to kill one man)

Results:
SSRI increases prosocial behavior
Counterbalance (two scenarios) decreases priming
Serotonin up, thoughts of inflicting harm on someone down

Crockett (2004) Criticisms

Placebo/SSRI: To properly work, an SSRI takes time (months), otherwise the SSRI has no influence.
Double Blind: No one knows what condition they are under.

What is Caspi (2003) about? What is the key term?

Genes
Aim: To investigate the relationship between the short variant and a depression diagnosis.
Design: Correlation
Participants + Sampling Method: 847 Caucasians, opportunity
Procedure + Results:
1. Opportunity sample
2. Semi-structured interview (ICA: DSM-IV for depression)
3. Structured interview (for inter-rater reliability)
4. Structured interview (short/long genotype identification (saliva, blood, skin) of those with diagnosed depression)

Results: Strong correlation between depression diagnosis and short variation.

What is Cutler (1998) about? What is the key term?

Pheromones
Aim: Will a synthesized pheromone increase sexual activity?
Design: Field experiment, independent samples
Participants + Sampling Method: Hetrosexual men (ages 25-42), purposive
Procedure + Results:
1. Purposive sampling method
2. Participants in the control group were given an alcohol-based aftershave for 6 weeks. Participants in the experimental group were given a pheromone-based aftershave for 6 weeks. Both groups were given a daily structured interview regarding sexual activity.
3. ICA

Results:
Synthesized pheromones increase sexual activity.

What is Weaver (2004) about? What are the key terms?

Genes, animal research
Aim: To investigate the negative feedback loop and its epigenetic relationship to the GR gene.
Design: Quasi-experiment, Independent samples
Subjects + Sampling Method: Rat pups & mothers, purposive
Procedure + Results:
1. Purposive sampling method
2. Stress profile/genetic test
3. Assign pups to mothers

Results:
A genetic test indicated that the GR gene was activated. The stress profile verifies the negative feedback loop.

Localization: Hypothalamus.

What does the Negative Feedback Loop do?

Stops cortisol production when it reaches a maximum level.

What is Maguire (2000) about? What are the key terms?

Localizations, technology
Aim: To investigate if the brain structure of a London taxi driver is different from the average brain.
Design: Quasi experiment, independent samples & correlation
Participants + Sampling Method: 16 right-handed male taxi drivers, 50 right-handed males who were not taxi drivers, purposive
Procedure + Results:
1. Purposive sampling method
2. Participants were given an MRI scan
3. Comparison of two groups

Results:

Taxi Drives: increased grey matter in the posterior hippocampus

Non-Taxi Drivers: increased grey matter in the anterior hippocampus

Taxi Drives who had been driving for longer: Denser posterior hippocampus

Taxi Drivers who had been driving for fewer years: Denser anterior hippocampus

How could Maguire (2000) be improved?

With the spatial resolution of the MRI/fMRI increasing within the last few years, Maguire (2000) could be redone with employing the modern fMRI to increase the accuracy and information of the results.

What is Carlson (1998) about? What is the key term?

Hormones
Aim: To investigate the effect of neglect upon behavior
Design: Natural experiment, independent samples.
Participants + Sampling Method: 60 Romanian children aged under 3 years, purposive
Procedure + Results:
1. Purposive sample
2. Administer stress profile
3. Measure the dependent variable.

Results: Deglect influenced cortisol levels of both groups differently in the morning, noon, and afternoon.
Deductive: HPA axis was impaired, rocking/clasping (fight or flight), hippocampus impaired.

(Pair with Harlow (1950))

What is Moyzis (2010) about? What is the key term?

Evolution/Genetic Drift
Aim: To what extent is the DRD4 gene mutation related to migration?
Design: Correlation
Participants + Sampling Method: Random sample
Procedure + Results:
1. Random sample
2. Genetic Test
3. ICA

Results: Chart with the % (NA: 40%, SA: 80%, EU: 20%, A: N/A). Positive correlation between location (distance) and mutation (% of individuals)

GR Gene

Creates the negative feedback loop. Influenced by the mother's behavior

Epigenetics

Environmental influence on genes.

DRD4 Gene

a mutation in which they do not receive as much dopamine in a normal situation (dendrite issue, loss of focus).

Genetic Drift

Evolution. The movement of a mutation due to isolation.

General criticism for a genetics study

It is reductionistic to pinpoint one gene as the cause of a behavior.