IB Psych - Biological Approach SAQ Prompts & Studies

Explain one technique used to study the brain in relation to behavior with reference to one study.

Maguire - MRI

Explain localization of behavior, with reference to one study.

Milner - procedural but no episodic or semantic memories

Explain neuroplasticity, with reference to one study.

Maguire - gray matter changed between trials

Explain the effect of one neurotransmitter on human behavior, with reference to one study.

Antonova - scopolamine is the antagonist of acetylcholine

Explain one ethical consideration in one study of the brain and behavior.

Milner - consent with HM

Explain the use of one research method in one study of the brain and behavior.

Milner - case study with method triangulation

Explain the role of one antagonist with reference to one study.

Antonova - scopolamine is antagonist of acetylcholine

Explain the formation of neural networks with the use of one study.

Draganski - participants formed a neural network in the midtemporal region of the brain

Explain neural pruning with reference to one study.

Draganski - neurons were pruned when participants stopped juggling

Explain the role of one agonist with reference to one study.

Antonova - acetylcholine is agonist for spatial memories

Explain the role of inhibitory or excitatory synapses in one behavior with reference to one study.

Antonova - excitatory agonist is acetylcholine in the formation of spatial memories

Explain the effect of one hormone on human behavior with reference to one study.

Newcomer - cortisol impairs ability to remember a piece of prose

Explain one effect of one potential pheromone in human behavior with reference to one study.

Zhou - androstadienone and estratetraenol makes people horny

Explain the use of one research method in one study of hormones or pheromones.

Newcomer - experiment, clear cause-and-effect relationship established

Explain one ethical consideration in one study of hormones or pheromones.

Newcomer - undue stress/harm, justified by being tested again after 6 days to ensure no long term effects of treatments

Explain the role of one gene in one behaviour with reference to one study.

Caspi - 5-HTT is the gene that controls for the transport of serotonin, short allele mutation increases change for depression if experienced stressful life events

Explain how genetic similarities help psychologists in the study of genes and behavior with reference to one study.

Kendler - more likely to have depression if monozygotic/female twin had depression

Explain one evolutionary explanation of behavior with reference to one study.

Wedekind - mate selection using MHC

Explain one ethical consideration in one study of genes and behavior.

Caspi - undue stress, your family finding out about your gene might lead to some tough questions

Explain the use of one research method in one study of genes and behavior.

Caspi - correlational study, questionnaire

Explain the use of kinship studies or twin studies in the study of inheritance of behaviour, making use of one study.

Kendler - more likely to have depression if monozygotic/female twin had depression

Explain the role of one behavior with reference to one study.

Milner - memory, HM could only recall some types of info