Biological (Hormone/Pheromone Effect on Behavior) Studies

Question 1

McGaugh and Cahill

Answer 1

Aim:
- determine the role of adrenaline on formation of emotional memories

Procedure:
- subjects divided into 2 groups and shown 12 slides with similar stories, but that had different emotional impacts
- used propranolol (beta-blocker) to stop heart from responding with fight-or-flight and limiting stress response and adrenaline
- first story was about a woman and son visiting father in hospital
- second story was the child involved in a car accident and having to go to hospital
- half of each group’s participants were given placebo and half given propranolol pill before story
- returned after one week and given a free recall test

Results and Conclusions:
- those with the more emotionally arousing story had better recall
- those who received propranolol in emotional story condition performed the same as those with non-emotional story (did not show heightened memory as those with adrenaline response)
- suggests that adrenaline can improve memory as the increased alertness led to more accurate storage of story

Strengths and Limitations:
- establishes cause-and-effect relationship
- artificial, lacks ecological validity
- has been applied to treatment of PTSD

Question 2

Wedekind

Answer 2

Aim:
- determine if one’s MHC (Major Histocompatibility Complex) would affect attractiveness and mate choice (more varied MHC genes results in stronger immune system)

Procedure:
- 49 females, 44 males
- had MHC analyzed prior
- men asked to wear a t-shirt for two nights in a row with no external fragrant products
- women smelled shirts, 3 from MHC similar men and 3 dissimilar and asked to rank on pleasantness, sexiness, and intensity

Results and Conclusions:
- women scored different MHC shirts as more pleasant
- reversed for those using contraceptives, possibly because bodies were mimicking pregnancy and therefore did not need to select a mate