Biological Approach

biological approach

biological approach

argues that there are physiological origins of many behaviours and that human beings should also be studied in terms of their biology - biology may affect behaviour and cognition

Techniques used to study the brain

fMRI, MRI,

MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging → gives 3D picture of brain structure

Advantage → non-invasive, minimal harm - high resolution

Limitation → not map what is happening - not a clear cause-and-effect-

Milner (HM) → extent of brain damage

fMRI

functional magnetic resonance imaging → shows brain activity and which area of the brain is active when engaged

• measures changes in blood flow

Advantages → high resolution - non invasive - most frequent-

Sharott

Milner (HM) (mri)

Longitudinal case study.

HM was hit by a cyclist when he was 7 and obtained serious brain injury - had epileptic attacks since 10 – at 27 he had an operation where tissue from the medial lobe and hippocampus were removed.

HM had retrograde amnesia (memory for events before op) and anterograde amnesia (can’t form new memories)

Could not acquire new episodic knowledge (events) or semantic knowledge (about the world) – suggesting that the brain parts that were removed are important from the tranfer of STM to LTM

Corking used MRI to examine the extent of damage done to HM brain - discovered extensive damage to hippocampu s

Sharot (fmri)

Study the potential role of biological factors on flashbulb memories

Participants were placed in an fMRI scanner and presented word cues (including relation to 9/11)

Participants brain activity was observed while they recalled the event

The amygdala was a lot more active when participants recalled the event – connecting to flashbulb memory and emotions

Localization (studies)

Milner (HM) + Sharot

Localization

theory that specific brain parts are responsible for specific behaviors.

HM Milner (localization)

Hippocampus is not the site of permanent storage but rather plays a part in the organization and permanent storage of memories elsewhere in the brain.

Sharot (localization)

Amygdala activation when recalling the attacks it correlation with the flashbulb memory supports the fact that the amygdala is responsible for emotional memory

Neuroplasiticity

brain’s ability to change neural structures to adapt to change

Draganski

Draganski

aim → whether learning a new skill (juggling) would affect the brain

Sample → 24 between ages of 20 and 24 - 21 female , 3 male - all were non-jugglers.

MRI was done to all participants at the start of the study (base rate)

Conditions → juggler or non juggler

• Juggler → asked to practice routine and to notify when mastered

• Non juggler → control?

Procedure →

When jugglers mastered the routine, they had a second MRId one and then were told to stop juggling completely.

A final MRI was done 3 months after.

They analyzed the scans to see if there was difference in grey matter

Results →

No change throughout the non-juggling sample.

At the end of first half, jugglers showed significantly larger amount of grey matter - after 3 months the grey matter in those areas decreased

Evaluation →

learning anew skill does cause changes in the brain (increases volume of grey matter - supports neuroplasticy

Neurotransmittes (on behaviour)

neurotransmitters → chemical messenger to transmit messages between neurons.

acetylcholine → compound which occurs throughout the nervous system which functions as a neurotransmitters

Antonova

Antonova

Aim: to address how neurotransmitters play a role in behaviour

sample: 20 healthy male adults (mean age 28)

Method: repeated measures design

Procedure → double blind procedure ( no one knew who had placebo)

2 condition → injected with scopamine or injected with placebo.

Participants were put into an fMRI and were scanned while playing the Arena task - researchers observed how well participants can create spatial memories

Goal - navigate arena to reach a pole and learn where pole is (screen would be black)

Participants were told to actively rehearse how to get to the pole - when arena appeared again, participant appeared in new area of arena

Participants have to use spatial memory to determine how to get to pole.

6 trials - participants returned after 3-4 weeks

Results →

when injected with scopolamine - there was a reduction in the activation of the hippocampus when compared to placebo

Conclusion→

scopamine could play key role in encoding spatial memories