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Question 1

localization

Answer 1

Study 1: Tan Study
Aim: To understand the functions of the brain associated with language production
Procedure:
- Case study looking at the brain of a patient with damage to their frontal lobe that caused them, throughout their life, to be of normal intelligence but only be able to say “Tan”
- Used a series of autopsies and brain scans posthumously
Results:
- Identified damage localized to Broca’s area (left frontal lobe)
Findings:
- Found that some functions, specifically language production, are localized to specific regions of the brain
Evaluative points:
- Researchers later found that the lesion impacted more than just Broca’s area

Question 2

Neuroplasticity (neural pruning and neural networks)

Answer 2

Study 1: Juggling study
Aim: To determine whether or not the human brain can really change structure to compensate for environmental demands
Procedure:
- Participants split into 2 groups - jugglers and non-jugglers
- Neither group had prior experience with juggling
- Both groups scanned with an MRI every 3 months for 6 months
- The jugglers spent the first 3 months learning how to juggle and practicing. Then, they spent the next 3 not practicing
- The non-jugglers never learned how to juggle
Results
- At the 3 month point, jugglers had substantially more gray matter in some parts of their brain associated with
- At the 6 month point, jugglers lost some gray matter but still had more than baseline
Findings:
- Our brains do structurally change in response to new practices/env demands, however, they can change back when demands change back – supports neuroplasticity

Question 3

Neurotransmitters and their effect on behavior
-Synapse (excitatory & inhibitory)
-Agonists & antagonist
-Neurons

Answer 3

Study 1: SSRI Study (inhibitory agonist)
(increases the effect
Aim: To observe the effect of serotonin on prosocial behavior

Procedure:
- Using a repeated measures design, half of the group was given an SSRI (serotonin reuptake inhibitor) and half the group was not. Then, participants were given a series of moral dilemmas that involved choosing between a utilitarian outcome and a harmful action (either personally killing someone, or indirectly killing someone through pulling a lever)

Results:
- People who had taken the SSRI (and thus had more serotonin) were not affected if they received the scenario with impersonal harm (i.e. they were equally likely to press the lever or not) but they were much less likely to directly kill someone if it meant saving 5 other people.

Findings:
- Thus, researchers concluded that serotonin reduces how acceptable personally harming people is and promotes prosocial behavior
- Make people more averse to harming people

Evaluative point:
- A weakness in the methodology of this study is that participants may have known that they were in the SSRI condition because citalopram induces slight nausea.

Study 2: VR and Acetylcholine Study (excitatory antagonist)
Antagonist which reduces the impact of a inhibitory neurotransmitter (acylhcholin)
Aim: To investigate if blocking acetylcholine receptors in the brain can effect spatial memory tasks in humans

Procedure:
- Participants were either injected with scopolamine or a placebo. The participants were then put into an fMRI where they were scanned while playing the “Arena task” which is a complex virtual reality game where the researchers are observing how well the participants are able to create spatial memories.
- The participants need to navigate around and “arena” with the goal of reaching a pole. Once learning where the pole is located, the screen would go blank, and the participants were told to actively rehearse how to get to the pole. Repeated 3-4 weeks later with opposite treatment.
Results:
- participants who were injected with scopolamine demonstrated a significant reduction in activation of hippocampus, playing a key role in the encoding of spatial memories in humans.

Question 4

Hormones and behavior

Answer 4

Study 2: Oxytocin and Ethnocentrism Study (Dutch Males)
Aim: to determine the role of oxytocin in human ethnocentrism
Procedure:
- a sample of Dutch males were administered either oxytocin or a placebo and then given a series of moral-choice dilemmas (like the trolly problem). The people in these trolley problems were either Dutch males or members out outgroups (middle eastern or germen people)

Results:
- The participants under the influence of oxytocin were less likely to sacrifice an ingroup target but not more likely to sacrifice an outgroup target.
Findings:
- Oxytocin influences interpersonal relationships by causing in-group favoritism but not out-group derogation.

Evaluation:
- Culture plays a significant role in the findings of this study because its sample is specifically Dutch males. The culture of Dutch males and their tendencies towards in-group favoritism and out-group derogation may not mirror the tendences of groups that include other cultures.

Question 5

Pheromones and behavior

Answer 5

Study 1: Aftershave Study
Aim: To determine if synthesized male pheromones increase sociosexual behavior of men
Procedure:
- Men volunteered through the local press to see if a pheromone would “increase romance in their lives”
- Participants were divided into two groups (double-blind) and were asked to use their aftershave for a few weeks and record their sexual behavior
- After two weeks half of the participants had a pheromone added to their aftershave
Results
- More men in the pheromone group had increases in all sociosexual behaviors except formal dates and masturbation
Pheromone impacted behaviors where willingness of a female participant was important

Question 6

Genetic similarities (twin and kinship studies)

Answer 6

Twin Intelligence Study:
Aim: To determine the genetic heritability of intelligence
Procedure:
- Meta-analysis of 111 studies on IQ correlations between relatives.
- Applied the Falconer model to their data to show variation of intelligence as a result of genetic inheritance
- MZ twins reared together are expected to have a higher correlation than MZ twins reared apart due to the exposure to a common environment
Results:
- There was an imperfect but significant correlation with twins even when reared together
- Ultimately suggests that intelligence is 54% inherited
Evaluative points:
- Assumption that the only similarity between twins reared apart is their genes is limited
○ Same face, same treatment
○ Same culture
Same formative years

Question 7

Evolutionary explanations for behavior

Answer 7

Study 1: Buss
Buss - crosscultural survey - personal relationships
Aim: to test for gender differences in mate selection
Procedure:
- questionnaire about personal characteristics, desired age of marriage and age differences between spouses, and rating how important certain characteristics are.
Results:
- females valued financial capacity and ambition and older men, while men liked youth and attractiveness.
Findings:
this supports evolutionary theory, since younger females would potentially have higher reproductive capacity while financially capable men would be able to raise children better.