Paper 1 - Biological approach

Biological approach SAQ's with corresponding studies and aims.

Techniques used to study the brain in relation to behaviour. For example: fMRI, MRI, EEG, CAT, PET 

Maguire et al (2000)

Aim: to see whether the brains of London taxi drivers would be somehow different as a result of their exceptional knowledge of the city and the many hours that they spend behind the wheel navigating the streets of London

Localisation of function, with examples of localised functions

Eugene Pauly

Aim: further understand how memory works and gain further understanding about how memory is gained, developed and changed

Neuroplasticity, including: neural network, neural pruning, neurones

Maguire et al (2000)

Aim: to see whether the brains of London taxi drivers would be somehow different as a result of their exceptional knowledge of the city and the many hours that they spend behind the wheel navigating the streets of London

Neurotransmitters and their effects on behaviour, including: excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters, synapses, agonists, antagonists

Antonov et al (2011)

Aim: to see if scopolamine affected hippocampal activity in the creation of spatial memory

Ethical considerations in the study of brain and behaviour

Milner et al 1968

Aim: to better understand the effects that the surgery had had on the patient HM

Research method: for brain and behaviour

• Antonov et al - to see if scopolamine affected hippocampal activity in the creation of spatial memory

Hormones and their effects on behaviour

• Mcgaugh and Cahill - to study the roll of emotion in the creation of memories

Pheromones and their effects on behaviour

• Savic et al - investigate wether humans pheromones exist, and how they affected the brain

Ethical considerations in the study of hormones and pheromones

• Mcgaugh and Cahill - to study the roll of emotion in the creation of memories

Research methods used in the study of hormones and pheromones

• Savic et al - investigate wether humans pheromones exist, and how they affected the brain

Genes and their effects on behaviour, highlighting specific gene effects whilst referring to twin and kinship studies

• Caspi et al - to investigate the roll that gene mutation and epi genetics may play in major depressive disorder

Genetic similarity: study genetic similarity (twins, siblings, parents, adoptive children) for one behaviour

• Bouchard and McGue - to test the effect of genetic similarities on the behaviour of intelligence in twins

Evolutionary explanations of behaviour, including environmental and hormonal effects on genes

• Raleigh et al - to explore the relationship between social status and serotonin, a neurotransmitter believed to be associated with depressive symptoms, in vervet monkeys

Ethical considerations in the study of the relationship between genetics and behaviour

• Caspi et al - to investigate the roll that gene mutation and epi genetics may play in major depressive disorder

Research methods in the study of the relationship between genetics and behaviour

• Bouchard and McGue - to test the effect of genetic similarities on the behaviour of intelligence in twins