Biological

Question 1

Scientific methods to collect data

Answer 1

Uses highly scientific methods to collect data. Studies into brain functioning use sophisticated imaging and recording techniques such as fMRI’s and EEG’s. As a result, data collected is precise and objective and not open to interpretation or bias. Therefore is supports psychology as a science.

Question 2

Clinical case studies

Answer 2

However, they have previously relied heavily on clinical case studies. HM’s case study enhanced our understanding of the hippocampus and cerebral function within the brain. Although his epilepsy was cured, he was left with severe anterograde amnesia. This showed that the hippocampus is involved in memory. This therefore shows the dangers that can come from these studies to researchwe know little about.

Question 3

Psychosurgery application.

Answer 3

There has been useful application to the development of psychosurgery. FMRI scans are used to show the functions of the brain, allowing scientists to develop their understanding of the location of the different processes involved in different emotions or behaviours. This knowledge has allowed surgeries to become more accurate and effective, such as cingulotomies.

Question 4

Reductionist

Answer 4

However, it is a reductionist approach to understanding behaviour. It ignores cognitive processes and diminishes life experiences. This makes us limit explaining behaviour to either nature or nurture. This underestimates the complexity of the human mind and behaviour

Question 5

Drug treatment

Answer 5

But simplifying complex phenomena allows individual causal components to receive advanced attention. For example, drug treatments such as SSRI have developed for depression, as it is caused by low levels of serotonin, which can be balanced by SSRI. This allows patients to receive short term recovery which is easy to do

Question 6

Doesn’t remove cause

Answer 6

However, drugs used only treat the symptoms and not the actual cause of the illness. So one may be depressed due to a past experience, which is causing low serotonin levels. In this case it would be better for them to have therapy, and not anti depressants. This shows drugs are often just sticking plasters to behaviour and emotions, and so there are high relapse rates