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Explain how one or more examples of localization of brain function have been determined.
Intro:
Definition: Localization is the idea that every part of the brain controls a different behavior or function
Define terms:
Hippocampus: The part of the brain that transfers short-term memory to a more permanent area of the brain
Body:
Thesis: The study conducted by Milner demonstrates how the localization of different brain functions has been determined
Aim: They aimed to investigate the effects of brain surgery (specifically the removal of the hippocampus) on patient HM
Procedure: A case study that used method triangulation to better understand the effects that the surgery had on HM. Method triangulation is the use of different methods like direct interviews and cognitive tests to observe patient HM
Findings: They found that HM couldn’t acquire new memories and that he couldn’t remember general knowledge about the world.
Conclusion: Concluded that the hippocampus plays a key role in converting short-term memory to long-term memory as HM was able to retain information if he rehearsed it often
Conclusion:
Link (study to question): Milner demonstrates how the localization of brain functions has been determined through the hippocampus. He has shown that by removing the hippocampus, an individual loses short-term memory
Link (to psychology): […]
Explain how one or more examples of neuroplasticity are demonstrated in research
Intro:
Definition: Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to change and grow consistently while making new connections and cutting old ones
Define terms:
Neural Pruning: when extra neurons and synaptic connections break
Grey Matter: Place in the brain where information is processed
Body:
Thesis: The study conducted by Draganski demonstrates how neuroplasticity is demonstrated in research through observations in the brain
Aim: aimed to see whether learning how to juggle would affect the brains of participants
Procedure: Men and women were split into 2 groups: a control group (no juggling) and another group (learned a 3 ball juggling routine and were asked to notify the researchers when they learned it). The juggling group’s brains were scanned 3 times (before, after, and after 3 months)
Findings:
1st scans: there was no difference in the amount of grey matter
2nd scans: jugglers had a larger amount of grey matter in both hemispheres
3rd scan: amount of grey matter decreased
Conclusion: concluded that juggling relies more on visual memory rather than procedural memory
Conclusion:
Link (study to question): provides evidence that the more a person performs an activity, the more neural connections are formed, creating physical change in brain structureÂ
when you don’t perform the activity, neural pruning occurs, neurons and synapses are eliminated and you forget
Link (to psychology): Study shows the brain's response to learning, and emphasizes the specificity of neural changes that are linked to visual memory (acquiring a motor skill like juggling)
Helps to understand neuroplasticity and the relationship between learning, memory, and brain structure which gives us connections between our brain and our behavior
Explain how one or more hormones affect human behavior.
Intro:
Definition: Hormones are chemical substances that act like messenger molecules throughout our bloodstream for longer-lasting changes
Define terms:
Testosterone: the primary male hormone responsible for regulating male sex characteristics
Body:
Thesis: The study conducted by Ronay von Hippel demonstrates how testosterone affects human behavior
Aim: to determine if men would take greater risks in the presence of an attractive female rather than the presence of a male
Procedure: took 96 mal skateboarders and had them perform an easy trick and a difficult 10 times in front of a male experimenter. They were then asked to perform the same tricks 10 more times in front of a female experimenter
Findings: Found that the men were 43% more likely to take the risk in front of the female experimenter. They also found that their testosterone levels had increased by 39% since performing the trick in front of the male experimenter
Conclusion: testosterone influenced more risk-taking behavior
Conclusion:
Link (study to question): Ronay von hippel shows how testosterone affects human behavior by showing how an increase in testosterone increases risk-taking behaviors in males
Link (to psychology): highlights the impact of testosterone on young men and under which circumstances their testosterone levels increase
Explain how pheromones might affect human behavior?
Intro:
Definition: Pheromones are chemical substances that are secreted by an individual outside of their body to be received by another individual of the same species
Define terms:
MHC: The Major Histocompatibility Complex is a group of genes that help the immune system recognize foreign substances
Body:
Thesis: The study conducted by Wedekind demonstrates how pheromones might affect human behavior
Aim: To see whether women find the body odor of men with different levels of MHC more or less attractive
Procedure: The experiment consisted of 49 females and 44 males from the same university. The males were tested for levels of MHC and then were told to wear the same cotton t-shirt for 2 days (without any scented products). The women were then asked to rate the males’ scents on a scale of 1-10
Findings: Women preferred the scent of men with MHC genotypes different from their own.
Effect was strongest for women who were in the fertile phase of their menstrual cycle and not using oral contraceptives
Conclusion: Concluded that humans prefer mates with dissimilar MHC levels from ourselves
Conclusion:
Link (to psychology): The more diverse the MHC genes of the parents, the stronger the immune system of the offspring → explains why women preferred scent of men with different MHC genotypesÂ
Explain how genes can influence human behavior
Intro:
Definition: Genes are units of heredity and a region of DNA that encodes a specific trait of function
Define terms:
Epigenetics: The study of how your behavior can cause changes that affect your DNA
Body:
Thesis: The study conducted by Kaminski demonstrates how genes can influence human behavior
Aim: to investigate the role of epigenetic differences on the difference in behaviors between identical twins
Procedure: consisted of 2 identical twins that were assessed in their different environments to measure distinctions in behaviors
Findings: significant differences in DNA methylation patterns between the twins with discordant risk-taking behaviors
One twin showed signs of anxiety and the other twin had a more typical personality profile
Conclusion: concluded that epigenetic modifications, genetic factors, and environmental factors contribute to the development of individual personality traits
Conclusion:
Link (study to question): In conclusion, Kaminski utilizes epigenetics to show that genes can influence behaviors through different DNA methylation patterns
Link (to psychology): has provided evidence of the influence of epigenetics on personality traits and has helped us understand the factors that create individual differences in personality
Explain how genetic similarities in twin and/or kinship studies are used to study genes and human behavior
Intro:
Definition: Genetic similarity studies measure how similar people’s genetics are, especially in twins
Define terms:
Monozygotic: 100% identical genes
Dizygotic: up to 50% identical genes; fraternal
Body:
Thesis: The study conducted by Gottesman and Goldsmith demonstrates how genetic similarity studies are used to study genes and human behavior
Aim: To investigate the concordance rates of juvenile delinquencies and adult criminal conviction, in monozygotic twins compared to dizygotic twins.
Procedure: researchers used longitudinal studies to observe the behavior of sets of twins at different ages throughout their livesÂ
Findings:
Children: The concordance rates of juvenile delinquency in MZ twins was 91% when compared to 73% for DZ twins (meaning that if 1 identical twin broke the law, there was a 91% chance the other twin had as well
Adults: the concordance rate of adult delinquency in MZ twins was 52% while it was 23% in DZ twins
Conclusion: genetics is a factor because the environment for both types of twins was 100% shared, IF behavior was because of environmental factors, there would most likely be closer or identical rates of concordance between MZ and DZ twins
Conclusion:
Link (study to question): […]
Link (to psychology): allowed researchers to find that genetics is a factor in the concordance of twins because both twins share the same environment. This further explains the relation of environmental factors to genetics
How can evolution explain one or more human behaviors.
Intro:
Definition: Evolution is the study of human behavior today as a result of many psychological adaptations so our ancestors could survive their environments
Define terms:
Natural selection: Organisms with better traits for the environment pass on those traits, those without die off
Body:
Thesis: The study conducted by Curtis demonstrates how evolution impacted the human feeling of disgust
Aim: To investigate whether there are patterns in peoples disgust responses regarding evolution
Procedure: survey was placed on BBC science website, and respondents were asked to rate 20 pics on a disgust scale (1-5 (5 = worst)), between 20 photos, there were 7 pairs: one depicting a disease-salient stimulus and another matched to be as similar as possible, but without disease relevance, a final q was asked on the website asking responders to which who they would least like to share a toothbrush with
Findings: the 7 disease-salient images were rated as more disgusting by females than males; feelings of disgust decreased with age; response to toothbrush q: most said postman (59.3%), least said spouse/partner (1.8%)
Conclusion: Suggests that the evolution of disgust was done to prevent one from diseasesÂ
Conclusion:
Link (study to question): Cutis et al concluded that women having a higher level of disgust protects the next generation
Link (to psychology): Highlighted the importance of how evolution has influenced certain traits and behaviors over time to increase the longevity of one’s survivalÂ
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