IB psychology paper 1 Biological approach

brain localization

certain areas of the brain correspond with certain functions

Phineas gage

case study about how brain damage changes behavior (brain localization)

• frontal lobe is connected to personality change (rudeness)

Milner and Scovile

how hippocampus correlates with memory storage (brain localization)

• HM had seizures, removed hippocampus, suffered anterograde and partial retrograde amnesia

• Corkin was the one who found out the amnesia part using MRI

neuroplasticity

the ability of our brains to change structure (neural pathways) based on changes in our environment

dendrites

part of the neuron that sends messages to other neurons

• the more you strengthen connections the faster these connect

cortical remapping

the ability of our brains to reallocate brain functions to other parts

tierney (et al)

case study of a man named MA, who suffered lesion of his frontal lobe but could still speak and use sign language (cortical remapping)

draganski et al

2 groups; one with 3 months of juggling training other with no training (neuroplasticity)

• group with training had greater dendrite branching (more connections)

neurotransmission

sending of electrochemical messages

neurotransmitters

the chemical messengers

Martinez and Kesner

experiment on how the neurotransmitter and agonist and excitatory acetylcholine effects memories; with rats solving a maze

• rats injected with higher acetylcholine did better

Jarowsky (et al)

experiment on how low levels of the neurotransmitter AND hormone noradrenaline influences depressive symptoms

• group with drug suppressing noradrenaline had long term depressive symptoms

Delgado and Moreno

extension to Jarowsky study; found that serotonin has a greater impact on depression; multiple hormones/neurotransmitters play a role.

Maguire (et al)

study on London taxi drivers demonstrating that their hippocampi are larger due to spatial navigation demands, suggesting a link between brain structure and experience.

• can be used for neuroplasticity and neural pruning

wedekind (et al)

study on the influence of genetic factors on mate selection, specifically through body odor and MHC genes.

• use for pheromones and genes

singh (et al)

study on the influence of body shape and waist-to-hip ratio on female attractiveness, highlighting the role of evolutionary psychology in mate selection.