IB Psych Bio Studies

HM: What does it study?

Localization

Lapidus et al: What does it study?

Neurotransmitters & Antagonist

Crocket et al: What did it study?

Neurotransmitter & Agonist & Neuron

Draganski et al: What does it study?

Neuroplasticity & Neural Networks & Neural Pruning

Draganski et al: Aim

To investigate whether structural changes in the brain would occur in response to practicing a simple juggling routine

Draganski et al: Procedures

Experiment: Participants were separated into two groups, juggling and non juggling groups: where they learned a routine and both groups went under 3 MRIs (1 at the start, 2 after 3 months, 3 after 6 months)

Draganksi et al: Results

No significant difference in the structures of both participant groups brains but the juggler groups showed significantly more brain matter at the 3 month mark and even at the 6 month mark when they hadn’t practiced for 3 months.

Draganski et al: Conclusion

Grey matter grows in the brain in response to environmental demands and shrinks in the absence of stimulation

Crocket et al: Aim

To investigate the effects of serotonin on prosocial behavior

Crocket et al: Procedures

Experiment: Participants separated into two groups, placebo and the other given Citalopram (SSRI), Participants were then given moral dillemmas based on the trolley problem where one must chose to kill one to save five or vice versa but in an impersonal way and in a personal scenario.

Crocket et al: Results

The impersonal scenario was unaffected by Citalopram but in the personal scenario the Citalopram made pts less likely to interfere.

Crocket et al: Conclusion

Citalopram reduces the acceptability of personal harm and this in a way promotes prosocial behavior. Increased serotonin in the brain may cause one to be more opposed to harming others

Lapidus et al: Aim

To test the safety and effectiveness of using ketamine to treat depression

Lapidus et al: Procedures

Experiment: Participants were allocated into two conditions, one being a placebo and the other was actually given ketamine (administered intranasally) Pts self reported their depression using a MADRS one day after treatment

Lapidus et al: Results

After 24hrs, pts of the ketamine group had a significant decrease in their depression symptoms, no reported side-effects

Lapidus et al: Conclusion

Ketamine could be a safe and effective way to treat depression as it is faster acting than the leading SSRI.

HM: Aim

To investigate the effects of HM’s surgery

HM: Procedure

Case Study: Using triangulation she tested his IQ, directly observed him and interviewed him, as well as tested him cognitively

HM: Results

HM could not acquire new long term memories suggesting the hippocampus that was removed was important for the transfer of info from short-term to long-term memory. however he retained his procedural memories

HM: Conclusion

The study supports the multi-store memory model while also suggesting that the Hippocampus was crucial in the transfer of episodic memories from short-term to long-term while also suggesting that another brain part handled procedural memori

Scheele et al (2012): What did it study?

Hormones: Oxytocin on human fidelity

Scheele et al (2012): Aim

To investigate the role of oxytocin in promoting fidelity in humans.

Scheele et al: Procedures

86 Heterosexual men (some in relationships and some single), oxytocin or placebo administered intranasally. Pts were given two tasks: they were asked to walk towards an attractive female until they felt uncomfortable and were shown series of photos with 4 types- positive social picture (pretty lady), positive non-social picture (landscape), Negative social pictures (gore), negative non-social pictures (dirt) and then were asked to pull a joystick if they liked the pic, push if they did not.

Scheele et al: Results

Stop distance paradigm: oxytocin caused only taken men to keep greater distance from attractive female.

Approach/avoidance task showed only that pos. social pic (pretty lady) was affected my oxytocin.

Scheele et al: Conclusion

Oxytocin causes men in a relationship to keep a greater distance from attractive women who are not their partner, thus promotes fidelity.

Hare et al (2017): What did it study?

Pheromones

Hare et al: Aim

To investigate whether androstadienone(AND) and estratraenol (EST) signal gender and affect mate perception.

Hare et al: Procedure

Pts were asked to complete two computer task on two days. One day they were exposed to the putative pheromone (AND and EST) masked with clove oil and the other day exposed to the control scent. First task was pts where shown 5 faces and asked to indicate the gender of them. Second they were asked to rate photographs of individuals of the opposite sex 1-10.

Hare et al: Results

There was no difference in gender assigned and attractiveness ratings between both conditions

Hare et al: Conclusion

The two chemicals do not act as signals of gender and attractiveness, thus not human pheromones

Linenfeld et al (1998): What did it study?

Genetic Similarity (kinship study)

Linenfeld et al: Aim

To determine if there is a potential genetic link for eating disorders.

Linenfeld et al: Procedures

Pts were made up of women living with anorexia or bulimia and a control group, 1st degree relatives interviewed. Direct interviews such as eating disorder family history and blind best-estimate diagnostic procedures were used.

Linenfeld et al: Results

Relatives of anorexia and bulimia pts had increased risks of ed’s (not a diagnosis)

Linenfeld et al: Conclusion

May be a common familial vulnerability for anorexia and bulimia

Makhanova et al (2021): What did it study?

One gene

Makhanova et al: Aim

To examine where CD38 is associated with cognitions and perceptions that help couples strengthen their bond during the newlywed period.

Makhanova et al: Procedures

Correlations study, pts were sent questionnaires or online surveys, and were asked to complete them independently prior to a lab session 3-months after wedding. During lab session, the couples engaged in a series of problem-solving tests together and a dna saliva sample was taken. The couples then completed a survey every night for 2 weeks and then finally responded to several of the sam questionnaires again every 4 months for 3 years, including measures of relationship success.

Makhanova et al: Results

Participants with CC profiles showed more gratitude, trust, and marital satisfaction than those with an AA or AC.

Makhanova et al: Conclusion

The variation of CD38 gene were associated with bonding-relevant cognitions and overall martial satisfaction over the course of the first 3 years.

Buss (1989): What did it study?

Evolution: Choice of mates

Buss: Aim

To investigate the cross-cultural similarities and differences in mate preferences in males and females

Buss: Procedure

Survey on what age they would prefer to get married, age gap between self and spouse and number of children as well as a section of 18 characteristics that required them to rate those characteristics in desirability

Buss: Results

Females rate financial prospects higher than males and like a mate older than them. Males rate physical attractiveness higher than females and like a mate younger than them.

Buss: Conclusion

Gender differences in mate preference were consistent across all cultures and fit well into evolutionary explanation of attractiveness: men like fertility and women like maximizing resources available for self and offspring.