Physiological

Question 1

Physiological assumption

Answer 1

• Behaviour is caused by physiological processes in the brain and nervous system
• Damage to certain areas of the brain can affect behaviour (e.g. damage to left hemisphere could lead to language deficiency says Sperry’s lateralisation of function)

Question 2

What is the following an assumption of?

“Damage to certain parts of the brain can affect behaviour”

Answer 2

Physiological

Question 3

Give a similarity between two physiological studies.

Answer 3

Maguire and Dement & Kleitman both use specialised tech

• M: MRI scan to measure volume of grey matter in pt’s hippocampus to compare between taxi drivers and non.t.d
• D&K: EEG machine to measure levels of electrical activity in pt’s brains and evaluate stage of sleep

Question 4

Give a difference between two physiological studies.

Answer 4

Maguire and Dement & Kleitman collected different types of data

• M: quant. only through MRI
• D&K: both quant. (through counting stages of sleep) and qual. (through asking pts for dream descriptions)

Question 5

Give a similarity and a difference between two physiological studies.

Answer 5

Maguire and Dement & Kleitman both use specialised tech

• M: MRI scan to measure volume of grey matter in pt’s hippocampus to compare between taxi drivers and non.t.d
• D&K: EEG machine to measure levels of electrical activity in pt’s brains and evaluate stage of sleep

Maguire and Dement & Kleitman collected different types of data

• M: quant. only through MRI
• D&K: both quant. (through counting stages of sleep) and qual. (through asking pts for dream descriptions)

Question 6

Give a similarity between the Maguire study and the Dement & Kleitman study in the physiological approach.

Answer 6

Both use specialised tech

• M: MRI scan to measure volume of grey matter in pt’s hippocampus to compare between taxi drivers and non.t.d
• D&K: EEG machine to measure levels of electrical activity in pt’s brains and evaluate stage of sleep

Question 7

Give a difference between the Maguire study and the Dement & Kleitman study in the physiological approach.

Answer 7

collected different types of data

• M: quant. only through MRI
• D&K: both quant. (through counting stages of sleep) and qual. (through asking pts for dream descriptions)

Question 8

Give 2 brief strengths of the physiological approach using an example from a physiological study.

Answer 8

• Scientific equipment makes results less prone to human error (e.g. D&K use EEG to record REM rather than observing visually) so results are more reliable and consistent
• Useful applications (e.g. drug therapy) to help those suffering from physical brain trauma (e.g. M suggests brain plasticity allows brain to change after exposure to experience as healing process)

Question 9

Explain how scientific equipment is a strength of the physiological approach (using P.E.C).

Answer 9

One strength of the physiological approach is that it uses sophisticated equipment and specialised technology to gather data in a way that leaves less room for human error. For Example, in Dement & Kleitman’s study, an EEG machine was used to record brain activity and evaluate the stage of sleep that participants were in, rather than this being evaluated by human’s visual observation with the eyes. Due to the specialised technology or EEG machines, it meant results were more reliable as the machine would measure brain activity in exactly the same way each time.

Question 10

Explain how useful applications is a strength of the physiological approach (using P.E.C).

Answer 10

One strength of the physiological approach is that it provides useful insights and applications, such as drug therapy, to help those suffering from physical brain trauma. For example, Maguire’s research incorporates the concept of brain plasticity and flexibility, showing that experiences can have an effect on the structure of our brains. We can therefore suggest that when parts of the brain become damaged, we could expose people to certain experiences in order for the brain to re-programme itself or allow processing of information that may have been previously lost.

Question 11

Give two strengths of the physiological approach.

Answer 11

One strength of the physiological approach is that it uses sophisticated equipment and specialised technology to gather data in a way that leaves less room for human error. For Example, in Dement & Kleitman’s study, an EEG machine was used to record brain activity and evaluate the stage of sleep that participants were in, rather than this being evaluated by human’s visual observation with the eyes. Due to the specialised technology or EEG machines, it meant results were more reliable as the machine would measure brain activity in exactly the same way each time.

One strength of the physiological approach is that it provides useful insights and applications, such as drug therapy, to help those suffering from physical brain trauma. For example, Maguire’s research incorporates the concept of brain plasticity and flexibility, showing that experiences can have an effect on the structure of our brains. We can therefore suggest that when parts of the brain become damaged, we could expose people to certain experiences in order for the brain to re-programme itself or allow processing of information that may have been previously lost.

Question 12

Give 3 brief limitations of the physiological approach using an example from a physiological study.

Answer 12

• Lab experiments lack ecological validity (e.g. D&K test using electrodes and forbid stimulants) so results can’t be generalised
• Hard to test large samples bc of sophisticated equipment (D&K only tested 9 pt.s bc of EEG usage; M used 16 taxi drivers) unrepresentative samples; no generalisation
• Reductionist as ignores affect of other processes (e.g. D&K suggest dreaming bc. of REM stages but Freud believes affect from psychodynamic)

Question 13

Explain how use of lab experiments is a weakness of the physiological approach (using P.E.C).

Answer 13

A weakness of the physiological approach is that it is based on lab experiments, so the approach can lack ecological validity as we are not testing the affect of physiological attributes in real life. For example, participants in Dement & Kleitman’s study were not allowed to consume stimulants such as alcohol or caffeine on the day of experimentation and had to sleep with electrodes attached to their heads for the EEG machine, all of which is unlikely to be part of their usual routines in day-to-day life. This is a weakness because we cannot generalise our results to suggest physiological processes affect our behaviour in real life situations.

Question 14

Explain how use of sophisticated equipment is a weakness of the physiological approach (using P.E.C).

Answer 14

A weakness of the physiological approach is that due to the use of sophisticated equipment on participants, it is often hard to test large samples in research to support physiological theories. For example, Dement & Kleitman’s research, which used an EEG machine, only tested 9 participants for electrical activity during sleep, and in Maguire’s study only 16 taxi drivers were used owing to the use of MRI scans measuring volume of grey matter in the hippocampus. This is a weakness as not only are such equipments time-consuming and expensive, but it is difficult to suggest physiological processes will affect other people’s behaviour in the same way due to unrepresentative samples, so results cannot be generalised. This limits the usefulness and applications of physiological psychology.

Question 15

Explain how reductionism is a weakness of the physiological approach (using P.E.C).

Answer 15

A weakness of the physiological approach is that it is reductionist in that it ignores the possible influence of other psychological approaches, such as social or nurture, and assumes behaviour can only be the result of physiological attributes. For example, in Dement & Kleitman’s study, researchers would argue that stages of sleep and dreaming are defined by the brain’s electrical activity and eye movement in REM sleep. However, this ignores the possible influence of approaches such as the psychodynamic, whereby Freudian theory would argue that sleep and dreaming is based entirely around wish fulfilment and psychosexual desires. This is a weakness as it ignores how behaviour in real life can be affected by approaches other than the physiological, thus perhaps we need to be more holistic in our approach to psychology, incorporating other approach’s ideas and theories to gain a more valid and well-rounded view.

Question 16

Give two limitations of the physiological approach.

Answer 16

A weakness of the physiological approach is that it is based on lab experiments, so the approach can lack ecological validity as we are not testing the affect of physiological attributes in real life. For example, participants in Dement & Kleitman’s study were not allowed to consume stimulants such as alcohol or caffeine on the day of experimentation and had to sleep with electrodes attached to their heads for the EEG machine, all of which is unlikely to be part of their usual routines in day-to-day life. This is a weakness because we cannot generalise our results to suggest physiological processes affect our behaviour in real life situations.

A weakness of the physiological approach is that it is reductionist in that it ignores the possible influence of other psychological approaches, such as social or nurture, and assumes behaviour can only be the result of physiological attributes. For example, in Dement & Kleitman’s study, researchers would argue that stages of sleep and dreaming are defined by the brain’s electrical activity and eye movement in REM sleep. However, this ignores the possible influence of approaches such as the psychodynamic, whereby Freudian theory would argue that sleep and dreaming is based entirely around wish fulfilment and psychosexual desires. This is a weakness as it ignores how behaviour in real life can be affected by approaches other than the physiological, thus perhaps we need to be more holistic in our approach to psychology, incorporating other approach’s ideas and theories to gain a more valid and well-rounded view.

Question 17

Give three limitations of the physiological approach.

Answer 17

A weakness of the physiological approach is that due to the use of sophisticated equipment on participants, it is often hard to test large samples in research to support physiological theories. For example, Dement & Kleitman’s research, which used an EEG machine, only tested 9 participants for electrical activity during sleep, and in Maguire’s study only 16 taxi drivers were used owing to the use of MRI scans measuring volume of grey matter in the hippocampus. This is a weakness as not only are such equipments time-consuming and expensive, but it is difficult to suggest physiological processes will affect other people’s behaviour in the same way due to unrepresentative samples, so results cannot be generalised. This limits the usefulness and applications of physiological psychology.

A weakness of the physiological approach is that it is based on lab experiments, so the approach can lack ecological validity as we are not testing the affect of physiological attributes in real life. For example, participants in Dement & Kleitman’s study were not allowed to consume stimulants such as alcohol or caffeine on the day of experimentation and had to sleep with electrodes attached to their heads for the EEG machine, all of which is unlikely to be part of their usual routines in day-to-day life. This is a weakness because we cannot generalise our results to suggest physiological processes affect our behaviour in real life situations.

A weakness of the physiological approach is that it is reductionist in that it ignores the possible influence of other psychological approaches, such as social or nurture, and assumes behaviour can only be the result of physiological attributes. For example, in Dement & Kleitman’s study, researchers would argue that stages of sleep and dreaming are defined by the brain’s electrical activity and eye movement in REM sleep. However, this ignores the possible influence of approaches such as the psychodynamic, whereby Freudian theory would argue that sleep and dreaming is based entirely around wish fulfilment and psychosexual desires. This is a weakness as it ignores how behaviour in real life can be affected by approaches other than the physiological, thus perhaps we need to be more holistic in our approach to psychology, incorporating other approach’s ideas and theories to gain a more valid and well-rounded view.

Question 18

Give two strengths and two limitations of the physiological approach.

Answer 18

One strength of the physiological approach is that it uses sophisticated equipment and specialised technology to gather data in a way that leaves less room for human error. For Example, in Dement & Kleitman’s study, an EEG machine was used to record brain activity and evaluate the stage of sleep that participants were in, rather than this being evaluated by human’s visual observation with the eyes. Due to the specialised technology or EEG machines, it meant results were more reliable as the machine would measure brain activity in exactly the same way each time.

One strength of the physiological approach is that it provides useful insights and applications, such as drug therapy, to help those suffering from physical brain trauma. For example, Maguire’s research incorporates the concept of brain plasticity and flexibility, showing that experiences can have an effect on the structure of our brains. We can therefore suggest that when parts of the brain become damaged, we could expose people to certain experiences in order for the brain to re-programme itself or allow processing of information that may have been previously lost.

A weakness of the physiological approach is that it is based on lab experiments, so the approach can lack ecological validity as we are not testing the affect of physiological attributes in real life. For example, participants in Dement & Kleitman’s study were not allowed to consume stimulants such as alcohol or caffeine on the day of experimentation and had to sleep with electrodes attached to their heads for the EEG machine, all of which is unlikely to be part of their usual routines in day-to-day life. This is a weakness because we cannot generalise our results to suggest physiological processes affect our behaviour in real life situations.

A weakness of the physiological approach is that it is reductionist in that it ignores the possible influence of other psychological approaches, such as social or nurture, and assumes behaviour can only be the result of physiological attributes. For example, in Dement & Kleitman’s study, researchers would argue that stages of sleep and dreaming are defined by the brain’s electrical activity and eye movement in REM sleep. However, this ignores the possible influence of approaches such as the psychodynamic, whereby Freudian theory would argue that sleep and dreaming is based entirely around wish fulfilment and psychosexual desires. This is a weakness as it ignores how behaviour in real life can be affected by approaches other than the physiological, thus perhaps we need to be more holistic in our approach to psychology, incorporating other approach’s ideas and theories to gain a more valid and well-rounded view.

Question 19

Discuss strenghts and weaknesses of the physiological approach.

Answer 19

One strength of the physiological approach is that it uses sophisticated equipment and specialised technology to gather data in a way that leaves less room for human error. For Example, in Dement & Kleitman’s study, an EEG machine was used to record brain activity and evaluate the stage of sleep that participants were in, rather than this being evaluated by human’s visual observation with the eyes. Due to the specialised technology or EEG machines, it meant results were more reliable as the machine would measure brain activity in exactly the same way each time.

One strength of the physiological approach is that it provides useful insights and applications, such as drug therapy, to help those suffering from physical brain trauma. For example, Maguire’s research incorporates the concept of brain plasticity and flexibility, showing that experiences can have an effect on the structure of our brains. We can therefore suggest that when parts of the brain become damaged, we could expose people to certain experiences in order for the brain to re-programme itself or allow processing of information that may have been previously lost.

A weakness of the physiological approach is that due to the use of sophisticated equipment on participants, it is often hard to test large samples in research to support physiological theories. For example, Dement & Kleitman’s research, which used an EEG machine, only tested 9 participants for electrical activity during sleep, and in Maguire’s study only 16 taxi drivers were used owing to the use of MRI scans measuring volume of grey matter in the hippocampus. This is a weakness as not only are such equipments time-consuming and expensive, but it is difficult to suggest physiological processes will affect other people’s behaviour in the same way due to unrepresentative samples, so results cannot be generalised. This limits the usefulness and applications of physiological psychology.

A weakness of the physiological approach is that it is based on lab experiments, so the approach can lack ecological validity as we are not testing the affect of physiological attributes in real life. For example, participants in Dement & Kleitman’s study were not allowed to consume stimulants such as alcohol or caffeine on the day of experimentation and had to sleep with electrodes attached to their heads for the EEG machine, all of which is unlikely to be part of their usual routines in day-to-day life. This is a weakness because we cannot generalise our results to suggest physiological processes affect our behaviour in real life situations.

A weakness of the physiological approach is that it is reductionist in that it ignores the possible influence of other psychological approaches, such as social or nurture, and assumes behaviour can only be the result of physiological attributes. For example, in Dement & Kleitman’s study, researchers would argue that stages of sleep and dreaming are defined by the brain’s electrical activity and eye movement in REM sleep. However, this ignores the possible influence of approaches such as the psychodynamic, whereby Freudian theory would argue that sleep and dreaming is based entirely around wish fulfilment and psychosexual desires. This is a weakness as it ignores how behaviour in real life can be affected by approaches other than the physiological, thus perhaps we need to be more holistic in our approach to psychology, incorporating other approach’s ideas and theories to gain a more valid and well-rounded view.

Question 20

Describe how the physiological approach could explain structural changes in the brain.

Answer 20

The physiological approach could explain structural changes of the brain through the idea of brain plasticity. This means that the structure of parts of the brain can change in order to process information in response to experience and skills needed in life. Maguire showed how taxi drivers had a larger posterior hippocampus compared to non-taxi-drivers. This shows how the structure of the brain changes to accommodate experiences, as those who need excellent spatial navigational skills (also referred to as cognitive map ability) develop a larger posterior hippocampus. The right posterior hippocampus also gets larger the longer this skill is used, as Maguire found a positive correlation between time spent as a taxi driver and size of the right posterior hippocampus.

Question 21

Describe how the physiological approach could explain spatial memory.

Answer 21

The physiological approach could explain spatial memory through the idea of brain plasticity. This concept suggests that the structure and size of certain areas of the brain may change/alter as necessary in order to adapt with new skills and experiences of an individual. Maguire’s study illustrates this, as through the use of an MRI scan she measured the shape and size of volume of grey matter in the hippocampus of taxi drivers with a much larger posterior hippocampus. Maguire concluded this was due to taxi drivers developing high priority on their spatial navigational skills (also referred to as cognitive mapping skills), thus due to brain plasticity the volume of grey matter in this area of the brain increased due to their increased use of this skills.