Biological Approach Reading 1

Question 1

Case Studies

Answer 1

in-depth / well detailed analysis of an individual or group. Ex: Phineaus Gauge

Question 2

True Experiment

Answer 2

Internal validity.

participants randomly assigned to exp. or control groups.

participants and experimenters blind to assignment.

control study procedures.

manipulate independent variables.

Question 3

Quasi Experiment

Answer 3

external validity.

describes “real” / naturally occurring events.

non-equivalents groups - existing groups.

non-random assignments

participants not blind.

full control may not be possible.

may not be able to manipulate independent variable.

EX: Maguire

Question 4

Twin / Family Studies

Answer 4

conducted on identical or fraternal twins. allows researched to see links between genes and behavior.

Question 5

Triangulation

Answer 5

methodological. more than 1 research method is used.

Question 6

MRI

Answer 6

Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

uses magnetic field and radio waves to produce computer generated images of soft tissue, and shows brain anatomy.

Question 7

fMRI

Answer 7

Functional MRI

A technique revealing blood flow hence brain activity by comparing successive MRI scans. Show brain function as well as brain anatomy.

Question 8

PET

Answer 8

Positron Emission Tomography.

A visual display of brain activity that detects where radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.

Question 9

CT

Answer 9

Computed tomography

Series of X-ray photographs taken from different angles and combined by computer into a composite representation of a slice of the brain’s structure.

Question 10

EEG

Answer 10

Electroencephalogram

An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity sweeping across the brains surface.
Waves measured by electrodes placed on scalp.

Question 11

Acetylcholine

Answer 11

Learning

Involved in thought, leaning and memory.

Activates muscle action in the body.

Associated with attention and awakening.

Question 12

Serotonin

Answer 12

Mood

Contributes to well-being and happiness.

Helps sleep cycle and digestive system regulation.

Affected by exercise and light exposure.

Question 13

Dopamine

Answer 13

Pleasure

Feelings of pleasure and addiction.

Movement and motivation.

People repeat behaviors that lead to dopamine release.

Question 14

Hypothalamus

Answer 14

Below thalamus.

Directs maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temp).

Helps govern endocrine system through pituitary gland.

Linked to emotion and reward.

Question 15

Hippocampus

Answer 15

In limbic sytem.

Helps process for storage explicit or conscious memories of facts and events.

Question 16

Amygdala

Answer 16

Two lima bean sized neural clusters in limbic system.

Linked to emotion.

Question 17

Parietal Lobe

Answer 17

Lying at the top of the head and toward the rear.

Receives sensory input for touch and body positions.

Question 18

Occipital Lobe

Answer 18

Lying at the back of the head.

Including areas that receive information from the visual fields.

Question 19

Temporal Lobe

Answer 19

Lying roughly above the ears.

Includes auditory areas each receiving information primarily from opposite ear.

Question 20

Frontal Lobe

Answer 20

Lying just behind the forehead.

Involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making plans and judgements.

Question 21

Broca’s Area

Answer 21

Helps control language expression
(area of frontal lobe)

Left Hemisphere

Directs muscle movements involved in speech.

Question 22

Wernicke’s Area

Answer 22

Brain area involved in language comprehension and expression.

Left temporal lobe

Question 23

Localization

Answer 23

Specific parts of the brain are responsible for specific behaviors or cognitive processes.

Question 24

Equipotential

Answer 24

positing that all areas of the brain are equally able to perform a task

Question 25

Plasticity

Answer 25

brain’s ability to alter its own structure following changes within the body or n the external environment

Question 26

Excitatory

Answer 26

when a neurotransmitter increases the likelihood that the neuron will fire an action potential.

Question 27

Inhibitory

Answer 27

When a neurotransmitter decreases the likelihood that the neuron will fire an action potential.

Question 28

Agonist

Answer 28

chemical or drug that binds receptors in the brain and causes a reactions.

Question 29

Antagonist

Answer 29

a chemical or drug that binds to receptors in the brain and prevents a neurotransmitter from having an effect on behavior.

Question 30

Procedural Memory

Answer 30

“knowing how”

is the unconscious memory of skills and how to do things.

Question 31

Semantic Memory

Answer 31

contains general knowledge of facts and people

EX: concepts and schemas not linked to time and place

Question 32

Episodic Memory

Answer 32

Contains the memory of specific events that have occurred at a given time and in a given place.

Question 33

HM

Answer 33

Aim: ways to better understand effects of surgery on damaged parts on brain

Research Method: Case study with method triangulation

Finding: HM could not acquire semantic or episodic knowledge.

Conclusions: the hippocampus has important role in transforming short term memories to long term memories.

Weaknesses: The limitation of case studies is that they cannot be easily replicated.

Question 34

Maguire

Answer 34

Aim: how cognitive processes may lead to neuroplasticity in the hippocampus.
to investigate if there was a relationship b/w the number of years being a London taxi driver and the anatomy of the brain

Research Method: Quasi-Experiment, single-blind procedure, experimental

Conclusions: hippocampus may change in response to environmental demands

Weaknesses: The study was a quasi-experiment, so no cause and effect relationship can be established. The researchers were unable to manipulate the independent variable; it was naturally occurring

Question 35

Draganski

Answer 35

Aim: to see whether learning a new skill (juggling) would have an effect on the brains of the participants

Research Method: experimental, observational

Conclusions: Procedural Memory is likely to show a change in the cerebellum or basal ganglia.
Repeated action can lead to the growth of neural networks - then cessation of that actually lead to neural pruning

Weaknesses: The sample size was very small - so it is possible that by using averages of growth, the data may not be reliable.