Biological Approach

Question 1

What is the definition of localisation?

Answer 1

The idea that a given function is localised in specific areas of the brain. This essentially means that certain brain structures or brain regions are the genesis of particular behaviours, cognitions and emotions.

Question 2

What is the hippocampus and what does it do?

Answer 2

It is part of the limbic system (lies in the centre of the brain and is associated with emotion, memory and motivation), known to be impacted in emotional regulation and long-term memory.

Question 3

What is the amygdala and what does it do?

Answer 3

It is part of the limbic system, associated with the emotion of fear as well as memory.

Question 4

What is the hypothalamus and what does it do?

Answer 4

It is part of the limbic system,helps to regulate the autonomic nervous system and communicates with the endocrine system.

Question 5

What are the limitations of the model of localisation?

Answer 5

Lashley claimed that intact areas of the cortex could take over responsibility for specific cognitive functions following brain injury. This therefore casts doubt on theories about the localisation of functions, suggesting that functions are not localised to just one region as other regions can take over specific functions following brain injury.

Question 6

What is strict localisation?

Answer 6

The idea that there is a clear correspondence between psychological functions and brain areas, and that all functions can be clearly mapped onto the brain.

Question 6

What is weak localisation?

Answer 6

The idea that one brain area may be responsible for a function, but not exclusively, and other areas may also take over the function.

Question 7

What are widely distributed functions?

Answer 7

They are functions that cannot be localised anywhere in the brain.

Question 8

What is neuroplasticity?

Answer 8

The ability for the brain’s physiology to change over time. This is often due to environmental inputs; however, it can be due to innate genetic causes as well:

• occurs at the beginning of life when the immature brain organises itself.
• occurs in cases of brain injury, to compensate for lost functions or to maximise remaining functions.
• occurs throughout adulthood, whenever something new is learned or memorised.

Question 9

What are neurotransmitters?

Answer 9

A chemical substance of any group released by neurons (nerve cells) to stimulate neighbouring neurons or muscle or gland cells, thus allowing impulses to be passed from one cell to the next throughout the nervous system.

Question 9

What is acetylcholine?

Answer 9

Causes muscles to contract, activates pain responses and regulates endocrine and REM sleep functions.

Question 10

What is dopamine?

Answer 10

A chemical released by neurons (nerve cells) to send signals to other nerve cells. The brain includes several distinct dopamine pathways, one of which plays a major role in the motivational component of reward-motivated behaviour.

Question 11

What techniques are used to study the brain?

Answer 11

Computerised axial tomography (CAT);
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI);
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI);
Positron emission tomography (PET);
Electroencephalography (EEG).

Question 12

What is the full name for fMRI?

Answer 12

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Question 13

What are the 3 main fMRI functions?

Answer 13

• detects changes in oxygen levels in blood flowing through the brain.
• when an area of the brain is active, there is increases blood flow to that area, as more oxygen is needed by active, functioning neurons.
• compiler analyses blood-oxygen levels in area, creates image with colour variations.

Question 14

What are 5 things that fMRI can allow someone to see?

Answer 14

• The brain can be seen three-dimensionally.
• the identification of brain areas that are particularly active during a given task
• the colour variations show level of activity in different areas of the brain when participant is given a task.
• detect brain changes as they occur from moment to moment by taking many pictures rapidly.
• metabolic function.

Question 15

What are 4 advantages of fMRI?

Answer 15

• can take numerous pictures of brain in rapid succession which provides and image of brain activity averaged over seconds making it easy to see the changes.
• highly detailed
• no exposure of radiation
• colour coding enables for an easy interpretation of brain functioning.

Question 16

What are 6 disadvantages of fMRI?

Answer 16

• researcher needs to remain aware of task given to participant
• cannot be used with people who have metallic devices
• can be an issue with claustrophobic people (requires being in a narrow tube).
• lying down for a long time
• noisy/ loud
• expensive

Question 17

What is the full name for MRI?

Answer 17

Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Question 18

What are the 3 main functions of MRI?

Answer 18

• harmless magnetic fields and radio waves to vibrate atoms in the brain’s neurons to produce an image of the brain.
• vibrations detected by huge magnet in chamber surrounding the person, then channeled into a computer.
• computer processes vibration and assembles into a coloured image.

Question 19

What are 5 things that the MRI can allow someone to see?

Answer 19

• produces high-resolution three-dimensional image of brain structure, can also be viewed two-dimensionally.
• coloured images indicate areas of high and low brain activity.
• detect and display extremely small changes in the brain.
• clearly distinguishes between brain cells that are cancerous and non-cancerous.
• anatomical structure.

Question 20

What are 5 advantages of MRI?

Answer 20

• enabled more precision in study (than techniques before MRI) of structure of live, human brain.
• non-invasive
• harmless
• invaluable for determining damage or abnormalities to specific brain areas or structures.
• does not use X-rays or radioactive substances.

Question 21

What are 6 disadvantages of MRI?

Answer 21

• cannot be used with people who have metallic devices
• shows only brain structure, or anatomy - not function
• can be an issue for claustrophobic people
• lying down for a long time
• noisy/ loud
• expensive

Question 22

What are hormones?

Answer 22

They are chemicals released by specific glands in the body to regulate medium-term and long-term changes in the body. They travel with bloody and allow for lesser voluntary control.
They do not influence behaviour; they change the probability that a certain behaviour will occur in response to a certain environmental stimulus.

Question 23

What is oxytocin?

Answer 23

It is release by the pituitary gland. Oxytocin is a hormone that make you feel love and trust. It’s sometimes referred to as the ‘love hormone’. It plays a role in sexual reproduction, childbirth and social bonding.

Question 24

What is vasopressin?

Answer 24

It plays a key role in maintaining osmolality (the concentration of dissolved particles, such as salts and glucose, in the serum) and therefore in maintaining the volume of water in the extra cellular fluid (the fluid space that surrounds cells). It is linked to aggression, pair-bond formation, and stress-responsiveness.

Question 25

What are pheromones?

Answer 25

A chemical messenger that communicates information (such as fertility or sexual attractiveness) from one member of a species to another.

Question 26

What is the main problem with the idea of pheromones in human behaviour?

Answer 26

Conclusions from studies such as Hare et al. (2017) and Cutler, Friedmann, and McCoy (1998) contradict each other so a decisive conclusion cannot be made. These conclusions could have potentially been influenced by research bias (confirmation bias).

Question 27

What are genes?

Answer 27

A segment of DNA in a particular location on a chromosome that acted by directing the synthesis of proteins.

Question 28

What is the link between genes and behaviour?

Answer 28

The nature-nurture debate in its classic form asks whether it is biological or environmental factors that primarily affect behaviour.

Question 29

What is genetic similarity?

Answer 29

Referred to as relatedness. The greater the genetic similarities between two individuals or a group of individuals the higher the degree of relatedness.

Question 30

What is the degrees of relatedness between monozygotic twins?

Answer 30

They are identical twins (fertilisation of one egg with one sperm, with the egg splitting after) - sharing 100% of DNA

Question 31

What is the degree os relatedness between dizygotic twins?

Answer 31

(Fertilisation of two eggs by two seperate sperm) - sharing 50% of DNA.

Question 32

What is the degree of relatedness for siblings?

Answer 32

They share 50% of DNA.

Question 33

What is the degree of relatedness between parents and children?

Answer 33

They share 50% of DNA.

Question 34

What is the degree of relatedness between parents and adopted children.

Answer 34

They share 0% of DNA.

Question 35

What are some examples of evolutionary explanations for behaviour?

Answer 35

Mate selection theory and disgust.

Question 36

What is mate selection theory?

Answer 36

The idea that people are more attracted to people with bodies built for childbearing or providing. The primary goal is reproduction.

Question 37

What is disgust?

Answer 37

It is one of the basic emotions; a feeling of revulsion caused by something unpleasant. In Curtis et al. (2004), it is used to support that disgust functions as a way to prevent diseases (this links to survival of the fittest).

Question 38

What are 7 values of using animal models?

Answer 38

• similar structure/ functions to humans (can learn more about pour body without bringing harm to other humans.
• can benefit in saving lives.
• biological similarity
• less time to conduct research on some animals compared to humans because they have a shorter lifespan.
• can custom mice (have shorter lifespan than humans and can breed certain characteristics).
• can be generalised to humans to a certain extent.
• mice are easier to observe behaviour compared to other animals.

Question 39

What are 2 disadvantages of using animal models?

Answer 39

1. Though genetically similar, humans beings’ genetic code differ from animal species which makes the extent of generalisations limited.
2. Although biological elements may be similar, environmental inputs for animals and humans are quite different and given that the environment has a major impact on biology, this is a confounding variable that limits generalisation.

Question 40

Can animal models provide insight into human behaviour?

Answer 40

They can because of the similar functions/ structure, however, since they are not exactly the same as humans there is a certain extent to how much benefit it would provide. There is growing controversy regarding the predictive value of animal models. If research in animals has no predictive value regarding behaviour in humans, animal research in the discipline of psychology would be superfluous.

Question 41

What are 3 ethical considerations of animal research?

Answer 41

1. Mental or physical harm to animals.
2. No use for research as there are other ways to researching the topic making it not beneficial in helping others.
3. Whether the sum of the knowledge gained from these animals is greater than the loss of their natural lives.

Question 42

What are the 3 principle R’s to ethics in animal research?

Answer 42

Replacement, reduction, and refinement alternatives.

Question 43

What does replacement alternatives mean?

Answer 43

It refers to methods which avoid or replace the use of animals.

Question 44

What does reduction alternatives mean?

Answer 44

It refers to any strategy that will result in fewer animals being used to obtain sufficient data to answer the research question, or in maximising the information obtained per animal and thus potentially limiting or avoiding the subsequent use of additional animals, without compromising animal welfare.

Question 45

What does refinement alternatives mean?

Answer 45

It refers to the modification of husbandry (the care, cultivation, and breeding) or experimental procedures to minimise pain and distress, and to enhance the welfare of animals used in science from the time it is born until its death.