Topic 2: Pre-Brain Development Key Study Flashcards
What is the aim of the Barkley-Levenson and Galván (2014) study?
- To investigate whether adolescents attach more value to rewards than adults. - To identify the neural development of the expected value in the brain of adolescents.
How many adults were in the sample?
19
How many adolescents were used in the sample?
22
How were the participants obtained for the sample?
Via posters and internet advertisements. (Volunteer sampling method)
What is the experimental method used?
Quasi experiment in lab conditions.
What is the IV of the study?
Adult or Adolescent
What is the DV of the study?
differences in neural activation and behavioural responses to a gambling task.
What was the procedure of the intake session?
Participants underwent a mock fMRI to become familiarised with the task. Each was given $20 for completing the session and was told this would be ‘playing money’. They were told they could win $20 more, but there was a possibility of losing $20.
In reality, each of them would receive $5-$10 to ensure that participants did not have to return the
money.
What did the researchers have to do before the task in the intake session began?
- Collect participants’ sources and amount of income per month.
- Obtain informed and parental consent.
What is the house money effect?
People are more likely to spend money if it is not their own but won.
Describe the procedure of the real fMRI session.
It took place a week later.
- Participants were presented with a series of gambles (50% win and 50% loss on a spinner)
- Each was given 144 trials, and participants decided whether they wanted to accept or not.
- They were told that one of the trials they accepted would be selected at the end of the scan and played for real money.
As the expected value increased, where in the brain was there more activation for adolescents?
The ventral striatum (Was high in activation even when groups of participants were matched for income and despite matched behaviour with adults.)
In what trials did both groups make similar choices?
In the gain only or loss only trials.
In both groups, what did a higher EV do?
Increased the likelihood of accepting a gamble but it had more a influence on the response of adolescents.
What were adolescents more focused on?
The higher amount to win rather than the smallest amount to lose.
What are two conclusions from this study?
- Adolescents place greater value on rewards than adults.
- Neural representations of value in adolescents are linked to increased risk-taking behaviour.
