Brain & Behaviour Flashcards
What is the purpose of an MRI scans when studying the brain and behaviour?
MRI scans provided detailed images of the brain’s structure, helping to study its anatomy without the need for surgery. They’re useful for trackng structual changes in the brain over time and relating these channges to behaviour.
What was the aim of Maguire’s research on London taxi drivers?
Maguire aimed to investigate whether the hippocampus, a brain region involved in spatial memory, differs in soze based on extensive navigation experience, such as that of London taxi drivers.
What did Maguire’s study on taxi drivers find about the hippocampus?
Maguire found that the posterior hippocampus in taxi drivers was significantly larger than in the control group, while the anterior hippocampus was smaller. This suggests that navigation experience can lead to structural chnages in the hippocampus, supporting brain plasticity.
What is the theory of localisation of function in the brain?
Localisation of function is the idea that specific areas of the brain are responsible for particular cognitive functions, such as speech porduction (Brocas’s area) and language comprehension (Wernick’s area).
How does Maguire’s study support the theory of localisation of function?
Maguire’s study supports the theory by showing that the hippocampus, which is responsible for spatial memory, can change in size and function based on experience, such as extensive navigation, highlighting brain regions specialsed for specific functions.
What is neuroplasticity?
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to reorganise and from new neural connections in response to learning, experience, or injury. This includes dentretic branching and neural pruning to enhance efficiency.
What was the aim of Draganski’s research on neuroplactisity?
Draganski aimed to investigate whether learning a new skill, such as juggling, could include structural chnages in the brain.
What did Draganski’s study find about neuroplasticity?
Draganski found that participants who learned juggling showed an increase in grey matter in areas of the brain associated with motor and visual coordination. However, these changes were reversed after participant stopped practising, suggesting neuroplasticity can be reversible.
What are neurotransmitters, and how do they affect behaviour?
Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit signals between neurons, affecting behaviours, emotions and cognitive function. Different nerotransmitters, like dopamine and serotonin, regulate motivation, pleasure, mood and calmness.
What was the aim of Fisher’s research on dopamine and romantic love?
Fisher aimed to investigate how dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to reward and motivation, influences the experience of romantic love.
What did Fisher’s study find about dopamine in romantic love?
Fisher found that viewing photos of romantic partners activated brain regions associated with reward and pleasure (caudate nucleus and VTA), suggesting that dopamine plays a key role in the experience of romantic love, driving attraction and motivation.
How do Fisher’s findings on dopamine suggest romantic love is similar to addiction?
Fisher’s findings suggest that romantic love shares neural pathways with addiction, as both involve brain areas rich in dopamine receptors, which are linked to reward and motivation, reinforcing attachment and desire.
