Methodology: Biological approaches

psych sl ib

MRI

Uses a large magnet and radio waves to scan the brain, producing images of brain structures

fMRI

measures oxygenated blood flow in the brain i.e. brain activity

Study for MRI (Maguire 2000)

Maguire:

• quasi experiment (researchers are comparing the sata of taxi drivers and non-taxi drivers. Researchers have no control of the IV bc naturally occuring)

• Participants: 16 right handed taxi driver ad 50 non taxi drivers (Matched pair design via age, gender and heandedness)

• Aim: Investigate the extensive use of the area of the brain responsible for spatial awareness causes structural changes in the brain

• Procedure: Scans were carried out and analysed by one experienced individual who was blind to whether they were taxi drivers or not

• Results:Posterior hippocampi of taxi drivers was significantly larger relative to those of control particiapnts. There was no difference between the gorups in terms of the overall volume of the hippocampus but there was a significant redistribution of grey matter from the anterior to the posterior hippocamplus in the brains of taxi drivers

• Conclusion: Brain changes structure in response to environmental demands

• Strengths linked to MRI: MRI was used which is a scientific method

• Limitations linked to MRI: MRI scanner is not ecologically valid, bc it does not present the natural environment of the participants

• How it deponstrates techniques used to study the brain in relation to behaviour: It used MRI scans to study the brain structure , creating a detailed 3D image of its composition and implying the different effects of environemtnal stimula. The MRI scans provided the researchers with vast amounts of quatitative data relating to the volume and size of the hippocampus enabling them to assume a correlation between nagivational experience and structural changes un the brain in terms of plasticity. Use of MRI scans helped navigate structure of the hippocampi, which would not be able to be seen using other technologies such as an EEG or a PET scan

Study for fMRI (Fisher et al 2005)

• Aim: To determine the neural mechanisms associated with romantic love

• Sample method: volunteer sampling

• Particiapnts: 10 women and 7 men

• Procedure: Each participant underwent fMRI testing while looking at photographs of their loved ones. First they viewed a picture for 30 secs, then they were asked to count back from a given number. Then participants viewed a picture of emotionally neutral acquaintances for 30 secs and counted back from 20.

• Results: When looking at pics of loved ones there was an activation in the dopamin-rich neural systems of the brain, primarily VTA

• Conclusion: Multiple reqard regions are activated using dopamin during feelings of romantic love