biological approach reading quiz review 2025 ib psychology

Describe the view of the biological approach

the biological approach argues that there are physiological origins of many behaviors and that human beings should also be studied in terms of their biology.

Interactionist approach

the interactionist approach uses the different approaches – biological, cognitive, and sociocultural – to get a richer understanding of behavior.

Reductionist approach

A reductionist approach analyzes a complex behavior by studying the simplest, most basic mechanisms that are believed to be responsible for the behavior.

what is the difference between the interactionist approach and the reductionist approach?

The interactionist approach uses the different approaches to get a richer understanding of behavior while reductionist analyzes a complex most basic mechanisms that are believed to be responsible for the behavior.

what are the different approaches?

socialcultural, biological, and cognitive

What are some assumptions of the biological approach to understanding behavior?

some assumptions are that behaviors can be inherited, that animal research can provide insight into human behaviors may be reduced to biological origin

Why is the brain important to study for psychology?

The brain is important to study in psychology to understand how the brain matures over a lifetime & adapts to an environment. 

How was the brain studied before modern techniques? 

Before modern techniques the brain was studied through the use of case studies of brain damage for example.

How does an MRI study help the brain?

It gives a three dimensional picture of the brain structures & determine brain damage.

How does a pet scan help study the brain?

it is used to observe metabolic processes in the brain by detecting gamma rays emitted indirectly by a tracer. 

What does an FMRI do to study the brain?

Shows the actual brain activity and indicates which areas of the brain are active when engaged in a behavior or cognitive process.

what is the aim of Baumgartner Et Al (2008)’s study?

investigate the role of oxytocin in trust relationships.

Define Oxytocin.

oxytocin is released during labor and facilitates birth, breast feeding and maternal behavior. Its is also related to sexual arousal and bonding in couples.

What is the procedure of Baumgartner.

In Baumgartners procedure, participants were placed in an fMRI scanner and asked to make investment decisions in a trust game. Sometimes their trust was broken by the other player, and sometimes they received feedback from a computer. Researchers gave participants oxytocin via nasal spray and the others a placebo to see how it affected their reactions to betrayal.

What is the results of the Baumgartner study?

the study showed that oxytocin reduced activity in the AMYGDALA and made participants more likely to continue trusting even after betrayal. 

What brain imaging technique was used in Baumgartner.

They used an fmri which shows the behavior of the brain engaging in a behavior.

How does the study of HM show localization of function?

It has a good example of how a specific part of the brain, like the hippocampus, has a specific function. 

What is the cerebral cortex and the limbic system?

Cerebral cortex- the largest part of the brain that helps thoughts and actions function.

Limbic system- referred to as the emotional brain. the limbic system is a major part of psychological research.

How does Maguire Et Al illustrate neuroplasticity?

by showing that our brain changes in response to stimuli

What is long-term potentiation and synaptic pruning?

Long term potentiation- when synapses become stronger through repeated use. 

Synaptic pruning- when a synapses is not used or is under-stimulated 

Thalamus

relay station for all but smell

Basal Ganglia-associated with movement and reward and implicit memory

Cerebellum

processes sensory input, coordinates movement output, and balance, enables non verbal learning and implicit memory.

Hippocampus

processes conscious explicit memories

Hypothalamus

regulating drives like feeding and furnacing, homeostasis for example. 

Pituatory Gland

controlled by the hypothalamus. regulates endocrine gland and hormones.

What was the aim of Eugene Pauly (squire, 1992, 2002) study?

to fully understand why EP could not draw a map of his house but go to the bathroom.

What was the procedure of Eugene Pauly, Squire?

squire and his team examined how brain damage to his medial temporal lobes affected his memory. He could not form new declarative memories but still learned new habits.Researchers tested him with tasks like walking in the same route daily and word exercises. they used method triangulation like MRI scan, interviews, psychometric testing, and observed him. 

What was the results of Eugene Pauly, Squire?

The results showed severe damage to his amygdala and hippocampus and an inability to form new declarative memories. Demonstrated procedural memory, supported by the basal ganglia, was intact and separate from declarative memory, showing the different memory systems. 

Aim of Draganski

to see whether learning new skill like juggling would affect the brains of the participants

Procedure of Draganski

participants with no prior juggling experience where split into two groups. One group was taught how to juggle and practiced regularly for several months, while the other group did not learn juggling. MRIs were taken before and after learning and practicing, and after stopping practice to see how juggling affected brain structure. 

Results of Draganski?

there was no change throughout the study in the non-juggling sample. The participants who learned to juggle developed increased grey matter in the mid temporal area. When they stopped practicing, some of the increase decreased showing that the changes are reversible. Demonstrates neuroplasticity, meaning the brain can physically change in response to learning new skills.