Untitled Flashcards Set

### 1. Garrison et al. (1995) – PTSD in Adolescents After Hurricane Andrew

- Method: Conducted a survey-based study using structured interviews with adolescents exposed to Hurricane Andrew.

- Findings: Identified higher rates of PTSD among adolescents, particularly among African American youths and those with prior trauma exposure.

- Exam Relevance: Pertinent to the biological approach, illustrating how environmental stressors can influence mental health. Useful for discussing risk factors and resilience in psychological disorders.

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### 2. Urry et al. (2006) – Emotion Regulation and Brain Activity

- Method: Utilized functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to observe brain activity during cognitive reappraisal tasks.

- Findings: Demonstrated that effective emotion regulation is associated with increased activity in the prefrontal cortex and decreased activity in the amygdala.

- Exam Relevance: Aligns with the biological approach, showcasing the neural mechanisms underlying emotion regulation. Relevant for discussions on brain imaging techniques and neurotransmission.

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### 3. Hitchcock et al. (2015) – Hippocampal Connectivity in PTSD

- Method: Employed resting-state fMRI to assess hippocampal connectivity in individuals with PTSD.

- Findings: Found that PTSD is associated with disrupted hippocampal connectivity, particularly affecting memory and threat detection areas.

- Exam Relevance: Supports the biological approach, emphasizing the impact of trauma on brain function and connectivity. Useful for exploring neuroplasticity and memory processes.

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### 4. Gilbertson et al. (2002) – Hippocampal Volume and PTSD Risk

- Method: Conducted a twin study using structural MRI to compare hippocampal volumes in identical twins, where one twin had experienced combat and developed PTSD, and the other had not.

- Findings: Revealed that smaller hippocampal volume may be a pre-existing risk factor for developing PTSD, rather than a consequence of trauma.

- Exam Relevance: Pertinent to the biological approach, contributing to the nature vs. nurture debate in psychological disorders. Highlights the role of genetic predisposition and brain structure in mental health.

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### 5. Irish et al. (2011) – Autobiographical Memory in Dementia

- Method: Utilized neuropsychological assessments involving memory recall tasks to evaluate autobiographical memory performance in individuals with various forms of dementia.

- Findings: Discovered that different types of dementia affect autobiographical memory retrieval differently, with semantic dementia patients showing better recent memory than distant memory, and Alzheimer's patients exhibiting the opposite pattern.

- Exam Relevance: Fits within the cognitive approach, offering insights into how neurodegenerative diseases impact memory processes. Useful for discussions on memory systems and brain-behavior relationships.

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### 6. Luby et al. (2014) – Poverty and Brain Development in Children

- Method: Conducted a longitudinal study employing MRI scans to track brain development in children over time, correlating findings with socioeconomic data and caregiving environments.

- Findings: Found that poverty-related stress is linked to reduced gray matter in areas related to emotion regulation and decision-making. Supportive parenting could mitigate some negative effects.

- Exam Relevance: Bridges the biological and sociocultural approaches, demonstrating how environmental factors like poverty influence brain development and mental health outcomes. Relevant for exploring environmental influences on psychological functioning.

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These studies provide empirical evidence for various psychological concepts and are instrumental in illustrating how different research methods contribute to our understanding of behavior and mental processes.