Brain Plasticity Flashcards
What has research into Brain plasticity shown?
Research has shown that the brain is able to adapt and change with new situations
What did Kuhns 2014 research into plasticity involve?
He asked participants to play supermario for 30 mins everyday for 2 months and then compared their brains with people who had not been playing the game
What were the results of Kuhns experiment ?
Those in the supermario group had more grey matter in the hippocampus and cerebellum.
What is the cerebellum involved with?
The cerebellum is involved in co-ordination and movement
What was involved in Davidsons 2004 study into brain plasticity ?
He asked participants to mediate. One half were students who don’t usually meditate and the other half were Tibetan monks that do it regularly
- He fitted them with electrical sensors to detect the levels of gamma waves
What were the results from Davidson’s study?
The Tibet monks showed to have higher amounts of gamma wave activity
Strengths of Kuhns study?
- The IV was controlled so theres more valid results
- Has real world application as it can be given to doctors etc
Weaknesses of Kuhns study?
- Although the study was longitudinal the effects may not have lasted so were short terms
- No control over daily life e.g their jobs ( Maguires Taxi drivers ) and age
Strengths of Davidsons study?
Has real world application - Shows the benefits of meditation groups
Weaknesses of Davidsons study?
- We don’t know how the mediation was controlled
- Both have different experiences and upbringings
What did Kempermans study include?
He compared the neural connections between rats raised in complex environments to those raised in a cage
What were the findings of Kempermans study?
There were more neuton connections in the complex environment group,especially in the hippocampus
What did Maguries Taxi Driver study include?
The brains of experienced London Taxi drivers were compared with non-taxi drivers
What did Maguire find?
Found the longer the taxi driver had been driving,the larger their posterior hippocampus,this is thought to be involved in navigation and spatial awareness
