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⭐case studies psychology > biological > Flashcards

biological Flashcards

1
Q

maguire et al (2000)
aim

A
  • investigate whether neuroplasticity occurs in London taxi drivers who need to memorize the area to get their license
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2
Q

maguire et al (2000)
procedure

A
  • a sample of 16 healthy right handed london taxi drivers
  • had their brains scanned using an MRI
  • their brains were compared with non taxi drivers with the same characteristics
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3
Q

maguire et al (2000)
results

A
  • the posterior (rear) of the hippocampus was significantly bigger in taxi drivers
  • the anterior (front) of the hippocampus was larger in the control group
  • positive correlation between years of experience being a taxi driver and the size of the posterior hippocampus
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4
Q

maguire et al (2000)
conclusion

A
  • hippocampus is the region of the brain associated with memory
  • posterior hippocampus is related to spatial memory and navigation
  • taxi drivers have a mental map which causes the increase
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5
Q

maguire et al (2000)
evaluation

A
  • supports neuroplasticity and localization of function
  • can be easily replicated, lab setting
  • statistical analysis of data
  • no ethical concerns
  • controlled, age, gender, occupation etc
  • people that have a larger posterior hippocampus more likely to do a job involving navigation
  • not generalizable, women, ethnicities, other occupations
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6
Q

draganski et al (2004)
aim

A
  • investigate whether structural and functional changes happen in the brain after learning a new motor skill
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7
Q

draganski et al (2004)
procedure

A
  • MRI scans, see changes participants learning to juggle
  • randomly allocated 2 groups, juggling and non juggling (control)
  • brains scanned 3 times, before learning, 3 months after learning, 3 months after stopping juggling
  • scans compared to control group of non jugglers
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8
Q

draganski et al (2004)
results

A
  • before learning to juggle 1st scan, no difference
  • group of jugglers second scan, 2 areas of the brain significantly different size than control
  • third scan, difference became smaller
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9
Q

draganski et al (2004)
conclusion

A
  • watching balls and learning to move in response strengthened neural connections in the brain responsible for the activity
  • temporary, rely on continuing the activity or else neural pruning took place
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10
Q

draganski et al (2004)
evaluation

A
  • supports neuroplasticity and localization of function
  • field experiment, juggling occurred in natural conditions
  • random allocation to groups, standardization of measurement, high internal validity
  • well controlled, able to be replicated
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11
Q

harlow (1849)
aim

A
  • investigate how serious damage to the left frontal lobe impacts behaviour
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12
Q

harlow (1849)
procedure

A

phineas gage was a railroad worker who suffered a severe accident
- metal rod went through his skull almost fully destroying his left frontal lobe
- harlow observed gage’s behaviour after the accident and interviewed people who knew him both before and after

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13
Q

harlow (1849)
results

A
  • gage’s personality changed dramatically due to the brain damage
  • before he was responsible and capable
  • after he was highly emotional and unable to control impulses
  • incapable of following through with plans
  • began to behave inappropriately using vulgar language, acting violent and potentially touching children
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14
Q

harlow (1849)
conclusion

A
  • frontal lobe plays an important role in personality
  • impacts goal setting, self regulation and following social norms
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15
Q

harlow (1849)
evaluation

A
  • supports localization of function
  • not possible to replicate this study so not generalizable
  • gage’s behaviour was inconsistent and there is unclear information
  • don’t know that much information about his personality before the accident so we don’t know how much his personality actually changed
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16
Q

rosenzweig and bennet (1961)
aim

A
  • investigate neuroplasticity in rats
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17
Q

rosenzweig and bennet (1961)
procedure

A
  • rats were randomly placed in one of two different environments
  • one was enriched environment (EE) where rats played with toys, games and a maze
  • other was the deprived environment (DE) where they were alone in a cage with no toys
  • rats either spent 30 or 60 days in their enclosures and were then killed to examine the changes in their brains
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18
Q

rosenzweig and bennet (1961)
results

A
  • rats in the EE had a heavier frontal lobe and thicker cortex in comparison to rats in the DE
  • a thicker cortex means more neural connections
  • frontal lobe is important in decision making and self control
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19
Q

rosenzweig and bennet (1961)
conclusion

A
  • being in a more stimulating environment causes new connections to form which changes brain structure
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20
Q

rosenzweig and bennet (1961)
evaluation

A
  • supports neuroplasticity
  • lab experiment so extraneous variables were controlled
  • cause and effect relationship as rats were randomly chosen for each group
  • questionable if rats apply to humans even though we have genetic similarity
  • ethical issues as the rats were killed
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21
Q

antonova et al (2011)
aim

A
  • investigate the role of the neurotransmitters acetylcholine and scopolamine on spatial memory
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22
Q

antonova et al (2011)
procedure

A
  • participants 20 men, average age 28
  • randomly allocated scopolamine injection or saline injection (placebo)
  • brains scanned using fMRI scans whilst finding their way around a VR maze, mainly looking at the hippocampus
  • after one trial participants returned 1 month later injected with whichever solution they didn’t recieve before and rescanned
  • double blind
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23
Q

antonova et al (2011)
results

A
  • scopolamine reduced activity in the hippocampal area
  • scopolamine injection group made more errors than placebo
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24
Q

antonova et al (2011)
conclusion

A
  • scopolamine decreases acetylcholine action in the brain, acetylcholine is associated with spatial memory
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25
Q

antonova et al (2011)
evaluation

A
  • randomized groups that experienced both conditions, double blind, well controlled
  • cause and effect relationship
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26
Q

walderhaug et al (2007)
aim

A
  • investigate the role of serotonin on mood regulation and impulsivity in men vs women
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27
Q

walderhaug et al (2007)
procedure

A
  • 83 healthy participants, acute tryptophan depletion, decreases serotonin levels in the brain
  • randomized, double blind experiment
  • behavioural measures were taken of impulsivity and mood
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28
Q

walderhaug et al (2007)
results

A
  • men exhibited more impulsive behaviour, did not alter mood
  • women mood worsened, more cautious behaviour, linked with depression
  • women, impacted serotonin transportation in the synapse
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29
Q

walderhaug et al (2007)
conclusion

A
  • women and men appear to respond differently to neurochemical changes
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30
Q

walderhaug et al (2007)
evaluation

A
  • small number of participants
  • results may not be generalizable to a wider range of people
  • able to be replicated
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31
Q

martinez and kesner (1991)
aim

A
  • investigate the role of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in spatial memory formation
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32
Q

martinez and kesner (1991)
procedure

A
  • rats trained to run in a maze
  • randomly divided into groups
  • group 1: injected with scopolamine, blocks acetylcholine receptor sites, reduces availability of acetylcholine
  • group 2: injected with physostigmine, increases availability of acetylcholine
  • group 3: control group, no injections
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33
Q

martinez and kesner (1991)
results

A
  • group 1 rats scopolamine and less acetylcholine, more mistakes and slower in comparison to group 2 physostigmine and more acetylcholine
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34
Q

martinez and kesner (1991)
conclusion

A
  • the neurotransmitter acetylcholine increases spatial memory
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35
Q

martinez and kesner (1991)
evaluation

A
  • able to replicate
  • reliable, well controlled
36
Q

rogers (2011)
aim

A
  • investigate the role that serotonin plays in perceiving emotional intimacy
37
Q

rogers (2011)
procedure

A
  • participants were 40 healthy male adults
  • half the participants received a drink with tryptophan in it which increases levels of serotonin and the other half had a drink without it
  • after participants were given photos of couples and asked to rate how “intimate” and “romantic” the couples seemed
38
Q

rogers (2011)
results

A
  • participants with lower serotonin (did not have tryptophan) rated the couples less intimate and romantic than the other group
39
Q

rogers (2011)
conclusion

A
  • serotonin plays a role in how humans judge the closeness of people’s relationships
  • possible implications of depression as they perceive their relationships as less than they are
40
Q

rogers (2011)
evaluation

A
  • casual relationship between the levels of serotonin and ratings of relationships
  • rating closeness is not something people would do in real life, low ecological validity
  • only in one culture (british) findings should be replicated on a bigger scale
41
Q

carré et al (2016)
aim

A
  • investigate the impact of personality and testosterone on aggressive behaviour
42
Q

carré et al (2016)
procedure

A
  • 100+ healthy male participants randomly allocated 2 groups
  • personality regarding dominance and impulsivity were assessed using questionnaires
  • group 1: testosterone injection
  • group 2: placebo
  • decision making game designed to test aggression after social provocation within the game by a partner (actually the computer)
43
Q

carré et al (2016)
results

A
  • only increase in testosterone was not enough to provoke aggression
  • more aggression = additional testosterone, low impulse control, high dominance
  • just additional testosterone ≠ aggression, need traits
44
Q

carré et al (2016)
conclusion

A
  • increased levels of testosterone are not the only reason for aggressive behaviour but also personality
45
Q

carré et al (2016)
evaluation

A
  • only men
  • double blind, reliable, well controlled
46
Q

albert (1986)
aim

A
  • investigate the impact of testosterone on aggression in alpha male rats
47
Q

albert (1986)
procedure

A
  • identified alpha males by size and strength, measured aggression levels
  • randomly divided alpha male rats into 4 groups
  • group 1: castration
  • group 2: castration, implant empty tubes
  • group 3: castration, implant tubes of testosterone
  • group 4: cut open and sewn up (control)
  • measured change in aggression levels before and after surgery
48
Q

albert (1986)
results

A
  • 1 and 2 rats whose testosterone levels were diminished displayed less aggression
  • 3 and 4 rats testosterone levels remained the same so there was no significant change in behaviour
  • 2 had testosterone replaced after, aggression increased
49
Q

albert (1986)
conclusion

A
  • testosterone plays an important role in aggression and dominance
  • higher testosterone = higher levels of aggression and dominance
50
Q

albert (1986)
evaluation

A
  • well controlled variables, lab experiment, replicability, reliable
  • ethical issues experimenting on animals
51
Q

wedekind et al. (1995)
aim

A
  • investigate whether women prefer male odour with a different MHC than their own
52
Q

wedekind et al. (1995)
procedure

A
  • 44 male students wear the same T-shirt 2 consecutive nights, kept in plastic bag between the nights, remain as odour free as possible
  • mean age 25, all participants classified immune system similarity via a blood test,
  • after wearing shirt, 49 female students asked to rate each shirt/6 for pleasantness and odour intensity, through a hole in a cardboard box
  • 3 shirts MHC similar, 3 shirts MHC dissimilar
53
Q

wedekind et al. (1995)
results

A
  • women more pleasant MHC dissimilar, opposite if on oral contraceptive pill
54
Q

wedekind et al. (1995)
conclusion

A
  • suggests the existence of a human pheromone to assist in the role of mating
  • birth control mimics pregnancy, more likely to look for similar familial to support child vs better immune system for future child dissimilar mate
55
Q

wedekind et al. (1995)
evaluation

A
  • low ecological validity, act on scent?
  • replicable, well controlled
56
Q

doty (2010)

A
  • no scientific definition about what a human pheromone actually is
  • human pheromones have not been chemically isolated
  • shouldn’t assume because it happens in animals it also happens in humans
    -multiple chemicals in the environment at the same time, why would one more from a human influence behaviour in other members of the same species
57
Q

savic et al (2009)
aim

A
  • investigate whether human pheromones exist and how they impact our brains
58
Q

savic et al (2009)
procedure

A
  • researchers exposed participants (24 men and women) to the smell of two chemicals
  • chemicals were almost identically to naturally produced sex hormones, testosterone and estrogen
  • as participants smelled the chemicals their brains were scanned with a PET machine
59
Q

savic et al (2009)
results

A
  • hypothalamus became activated in men when they smelled the female hormone and in women when they smelled the male hormone
  • hypothalamus is linked to sexual behaviour and not normally activated by other smells
60
Q

savic et al (2009)
conclusion

A
  • suggests sex pheromones exist in humans and they influence sexual behaviour
61
Q

savic et al (2009)
evaluation

A
  • well controlled lab experiment showing a causal relationship between the chemicals (IV) and activity in the hypothalamus (DV)
  • small number of participants, needs to be replicated to confirm
  • measured changes in brain activity not actual behaviour
  • would these people act on the brain activity? unknown
62
Q

francis et al (2003)
aim

A
  • investigate how the interaction between genes and the environment impacts how rats nurture their offspring
63
Q

francis et al (2003)
procedure

A
  • mothers separated into groups of either high licking or low licking
  • licking in rats is a sign of care and affection
  • after 12 hours of being born rats with high licking mothers were switched to rats with low licking mothers and vice versa
64
Q

francis et al (2003)
results

A
  • rats raised by high licking mothers were less stressed and grew up to be high licking mothers too even if their biological mother was a low licker
  • lost the methyl groups around high licking causing that gene to be turned on
65
Q

francis et al (2003)
conclusion

A
  • being in a loving environment impacts genes
  • those epigenetic changed genes are passed on to the next generation
66
Q

francis et al (2003)
evaluation

A
  • well controlled experiment
  • use of animals is less unethical, switching human babies in real life?
  • easier to study across generations due to rats and not humans
  • done on rats so not sure generalizable to humans
67
Q

suderman et al (2014)
aim

A
  • investigate the impact of childhood abuse on DNA
68
Q

suderman et al (2014)
procedure

A
  • 45 year old men, blood DNA analyzed
69
Q

suderman et al (2014)
results

A
  • increased methylation of the gene PM20D1 in the sample who suffered abuse
  • associated with control over eating habits, greater prevalence of obesity
70
Q

suderman et al (2014)
conclusion

A
  • environmental trigger (abuse) can contribute to the methylation of PM20D1 which contributes to a persons food intake
  • suggests interactions between genes and environmental influences can predispose a person to behave in a certain way
71
Q

suderman et al (2014)
evaluation

A
  • only 45 year old men, lacks generalizability
  • lots of extraneous variables
72
Q

kendler et al (2006)
aim

A
  • investigate concordance rates of MDD in monozygotic and dizygotic twins
73
Q

kendler et al (2006)
procedure

A
  • swedish national twin registry, 15,000+ complete twin pairs
  • phone interviews over 4 years to diagnose MDD using the DSM-4 or prescription for antidepressants
74
Q

kendler et al (2006)
results

A
  • average concordance rate across all twins 38%
  • no correlation between number of years lived together, suggests heritability
  • monozygotic female 44%, dizygotic female 16%, men lower for both
75
Q

kendler et al (2006)
conclusion

A
  • environmental factors influence MDD as concordance rates for MZ twins would have been higher
  • MZ twins concordance higher than DZ, genes still play a role
  • heritability higher in women than men
76
Q

kendler et al (2006)
evaluation

A
  • large sample size
  • only swedish people, generalizability?
77
Q

mcgue et al (2000)
aim

A
  • investigate the genetic and environmental influences on adolescent addiction to tobacco and marijuana
78
Q

mcgue et al (2000)
procedure

A
  • 626 pairs of twins born in the same year
  • interviewed about their history and experience of tobacco (legal) and marijuana (illegal), drug use, home life and a questionnaire
79
Q

mcgue et al (2000)
results

A
  • slight heritability for marijuana, no significant difference between men or women
  • tobacco 40-60% heritability
  • participants that took drugs regularly, part of family life, parents other members, normal home environment
80
Q

mcgue et al (2000)
conclusion

A
  • environment appeared to be more influential in determining drug use than genetic inheritance
81
Q

mcgue et al (2000)
evaluation

A
  • extraneous variables
  • all born in the same year, generalizability?
82
Q

gottesman and goldsmith (1994)
aim

A
  • find the concordance rate of juvenile delinquency in monozygotic twins vs dizygotic twins
83
Q

gottesman and goldsmith (1994)
procedure

A
  • studied 85 sets of young twins
  • looked at criminal conviction records
84
Q

gottesman and goldsmith (1994)
results

A
  • the concordance rate of juvenile delinquency in MZ twins was 0.91 (91%)
  • when compared to 0.73 (73%) for DZ twins.
  • if one identical twin broke the law, there was a 91% chance the other twin had
  • For DZ twins, this dropped to 73%.
85
Q

gottesman and goldsmith (1994)
conclusion

A
  • suggests genetics is a factor, if behaviour was because of environmental factors, we would expect closer or identical rates of concordance between MZ and DZ twins.
  • they’re higher for MZ twins, we know genetics is a factor but since it’s not 100% for MZ twins, it’s not the only factor.
86
Q

gottesman and goldsmith (1994)
evaluation

A
  • high ecological validity
  • shows nature has a role in criminal activity
  • can’t be sure of the environment they grew up in, extraneous variables

⭐case studies psychology (3 decks)

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