IB Psych - BLOA ERQ Exam

Studies for Techniques

Draganski (2004)

Maguire (2000)

Studies for Localization

HM: Milner (1966)

Maguire (2000)

Studies for Neuroplasticity

Draganski (2004)

Maguire (2000)

Studies for Neurotransmission

Rogers & Kesner (2003)

Anotova et al. (2011)

Studies for Hormones

Newcomer et al. (1999) - Cortisol

Meaney et al. (1988) - Cortisol

Studies for Pheromones

Zhou et al. (2014)

Wedekind (1995)

Studies for Genetic Similarity

Kendler et al. (2006)

Weissman et al. (2005)

Studies for Genes and Behavior

Kendler et al. (2006)

Caspi et al. (2003)

Studies for Evolution

Wedekind et al. (1995)

Ronay and von Hippel (2011)

Maguire (2000)

Quasi-Experiment, matched pairs design

London Taxi Drivers —> looking for relationship between number of years driving a taxi and the anatomy of the brain

Draganski 2004

experimental design

Seeing whether juggling had an effect on brains 

HM: Milner 1966

longitudinal case study, used method triangulation

studied the role of the hippocampus on memory formation —> hippocampus removed from HM

Neuroplasticity

the ability of the brain to change its neural structures in order to adapt to change

Long-Term potentiation

argument that the repetition of a task results in neuroplasticity and increase in neural density

Neural Pruning

a result of discontinued behavior → extra neurons and synaptic connections are eliminated

Retrograde Amnesia

the inability to recall events, facts, or info from before

Anterograde Amnesia

the inability to form new memories

Hippocampus

crucial for forming and storing new memories, particularly episodic memories, spatial navigation, and emotional regulation

Antonova et al 2011

Repeated measure design

participants injected with scopolamine or placebo to see the role of acetylcholine in spatial memories during VR game

Acetylcholine

Neurotransmitter that plays a role in memory, learning, attention, arousal, and involuntary muscle movement

Newcomer et al 1999

double-blind, matched-pairs design

Cortisol → Aimed to investigate whether high levels of the stress hormones cortisol interfere with verbal declarative memory

Rogers and Kesner 2003

lab experiment, independent groups design

Aimed to determine the role of acetylcholine in the formation of spacial memory, memory formation and retrieval using rats in a maze

Neurotransmission

the process of transferring signals from one neuron to another across a synapse using chemical messengers called neurotransmitters

Scopolamine

blocks the acetylcholine receptor sites and inhibits any response

Meaney et al 1988

Experimental design

Cortisol → aimed to determine the effect of glucocorticoids on memory using rats that were either taken or not taken from mothers

glucocorticoids

stress hormones

Zhou et al 2014

experimental

aimed to investigate the effect of pheromones on behavior, specifically whether sex hormones influence human sexual perception of gender using stick figures

Andostadienone (AND)

a human steroid present in male semen and sweat → heightens sympathetic arousal, alters levels of cortisol, promotes positive mood state in females → found to activate the hypothalamus in heterosexual females and homosexual males

Estratetraenol (EST)

the female equivalent of AND → a human steroid present in females that activates the hypothalamus in heterosexual males

Wedekind 1995

double blind lab experiment

Smelly T-Shirt Study

aimed to determine whether one’s MHC would affect mate choice by making women rank the smells of shirts

Major Histocompatability Complex (MHC)

a group of genes that play a role in the immune system → makes molecules that enable the immune system to recognize pathogens → inherit MHC alleles from both parents and are expressed equally

Kendler et al 2006

Longitudinal twin study, quasi-experimental design

Aim ed to determine the role that genetics played in MDD by interviewing sets of twins 

Major Depressive disorder (MDD)

a common mental health condition characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest or pleasure in activities

Weissman et al 2005

longitudinal, family study

aimed to study the potential genetic nature of MDD by examining the transmission of depression across three generations

Family Studies

researchers look at the incidence of a behavior over a numb er of generations → usually limited to 3 generations 

Caspi et al 2003

aimed to determine whether there is evidence for a gene-environment interaction for a mutation of the serotonin transporter gene, 5-HTT → gene mutation and epigenetics

Diathesis-Stress Theories

predict that an individual’s reaction to stressful events depends on their genetic makeup → interaction with environment may cause certain genes to be expressed

5-HTT

a serotonin transporter gene involved in the reuptake of serotonin in brain synapses

Ronay and von Hipple 2010

aimed to determine if men wouldd take greater risks in the presence of an attractive female, than in the presence of a male → wanted to see if testosterone played a role in this behavior → used skateboarders

Testosterone

a primary male sex hormone that plays a crucial role in psychological processes → responsible for the development and maintenance of male sexual characteristics, including muscle mass, bone density, and reproductive organs