SAQs bio definition + theory paragraph

technique for studying the brain theory paragraph

Before the invention of modern technology psychologists had to study the brain through case study of participants with brain damages or were either dead.

Thanks to MRI ( magnetic resonance imaging ) psychologysts are now able to study the brain which are non damaged, alive, and in an ethical, non invasive way.

MRIs take different pictures of the brain, thanks to the idrogen present in the brain, and by adding them to each other we are able to make a statistic image of the brain. 

We can wither made 2D or 3D model of it. This image indicates the stucture but not the function of the brain,

localization theory paragraph

Localization is the theory that every part of the brain has a specific function. However, it is important to mention, that they don't act alone, rather they act together as a block, to create behaviours .

A study that tested localization was the case study of HM by Milner.

neural plasticity theory paragraph

 

What is neural plasticity (ability of the brain to adjust itself by making new neural connections).

Allow neuron to compansate from injury to Responde to change in the environment

When neurons fire continually as a result of stimuli from the environement it sprouts new dentrites (dedritic branching) => increasing number of synapses available for behaviour

agonist theory paragraph

Agonist is a chemical that binds into the receptor site on a post synaptic neuron. Cause the neuron to fire.

Neurotransmitters are endogenous agonist, natural chemicals that binds into the receptor cite on the post synaptic neuron leading to a neuron to fire.

Drug can play the same role (lead to an axion potential) and are called exogenous aagonists.

Es. is alchool.

Causes dopamine neurons to fire,

These refiring results into activation of the brains's reward system- nucleus accumbens.

antagonist theory paragraph

What is an antagonist ( chemiacal substance thatfits info a receptor' site on the post synaptic neuron).

 inhibits the neuron to fire and thus behaviour to happen

Used to study neurotransmitters indirectly.

One neurotransmitter is acetylcholine which is believed to play a role in the formation of memory.

It s antagonist is scopolamine 

hormone theory paragraph

One hormone that is believed to play a role in the formation of memories is adrenaline, a hormone produced by the adrenal gland in the pancreas.

It is responsible for the fight or flight mechanism. That is, when we are in danger or see a threat, adrenaline in released through blood in our body increasing the herat rate and breathing rate, preparing us to either fight the threat or run away from that problem.

A study that investugate the role of adrenaline in the formation of emotional memory is Mc Gauth & Cahill (1995).

ethical consideration theory paragraph

One ethica consideration in psychology is informed consent.

This means that the researcher needs to tell the partecipants what the study is going to be about.

In addition, the the researcher has to tell the right of the partecipants to withdraw at any time they want from the study.

Any potential negative effects needs to be explained

In the biological approach there are differet problem with informed consent. First, lots pf studies are done on animals, and id difficult to obtain cnsent on animals.

Moreover, in most of the case studies are done on ill or mentally ill people, which may not fully understand what os going on in the experiment.

Finally, as the biological nature in psychology is complex, is difficult that partecipants fully understand the purpose and procedure of the studies.

neural pruning theory paragraph (!)

• What is neuroplasticity (ability of brain tpo adapt to chanhge in the enviropnment)

• One way is through creating neural networks.

• Another way is through neural pruning  (decreasing in number of synapses as a result of removal of  dendridic branching)

Due to hormones es cortisol or lack of neural pathways or neuron cell death.

pheromones theory paragraph

Pheronmones are chemical substances secreted by an indicisual that influence th behaviour of others of the same species.

Usually pheromones affect sex and mate behaviour.

There is still no clear evidence about the existence of pheromones in humans, but there are studies that show that some pheromones have some effect on humans like on animals.

genetics and behaviour theory paragraph

Thanks to human genome project, not only twin studies but studies about the whole population. And can look at genes affecting behaviour 

Serotin is believed to affect our mood=> thus can be an explanation to depression

The serotonin transporter gene is called 5HTT allelle, and its mutation is believed to be linked to the development of the disorders.

Caspi wanted to stuidy if the mutation of this gene would have an affect on the development of this disorder.

genetic similarities theory paragraph

Genetic similarities in behaviour are often studied using twin studies.

Twin studies compare monozygotic (MZ) twins, who share 100% of their DNA, with dizygotic (DZ) twins, who share approximately 50% of their DNA, similar to regular siblings.

Researchers calculate concordance rates, which is probability that both twins display the same trait or disorder.

If monozygotic twins show a higher concordance rate for a behaviour than dizygotic twins, this suggests that genetic factors may contribute to that behaviour as the twins share more genetic material.