Biological approach SAQs by question: IB Psychology
Brain and behaviour
Explain one technique used to study the brain in relation to behaviour.
- Brain imaging techniques are useful in the biological approach as they produce
images of the internal structures and activity of different regions.
- An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) uses magnetic resonance to produce an
image of the brain. When placed in an external magnetic field, some atomic nuclei
(eg. hydrogen) can emit energy. These pulses of energy can be detected.
- Since we know that the concentration of hydrogen differs in different types of tissue,
we can use this information to produce a useful image of the structure of the brain.
Corresponding study: Draganski et al. (2004)
Aimed to investigate whether structural changes would occur in response to learning
and practicing a juggling routine. The participants were randomly allocated into two
groups – jugglers and non-jugglers. None of the participants had prior juggling
experience. The juggling group spent three months learning a classic 3 ball juggling
routine. They were told to stop practicing after three months. The control group did
not practice or learn juggling at all. 3 MRI scans were done on both groups – one
before, one after three months and one after six months. After 3 months of practicing,
the juggling group had significantly more grey matter in the mid temporal area of the
cortex in both hemispheres. After 6 months, the differences decreased.
Conclusion:
Therefore, the use of an MRI was effective in investigating the relationship between
learning and brain structure – provides biological evidence. This is because
differences in brain structure could be seen through the MRI.
Explain one example of localization of function.
- Localization of brain function refers to the theory that certain areas of the brain are
responsible for certain psychological functions.
- Localization rests on the first principle of the biological approach – that behaviour is a
product of brain structure. Psychologists investigating localization of brain function
from the biological approach aim to investigate the relationship between brain
processes and structures and human behaviour.
Corresponding study: Draganski et al. (2004)
Aimed to investigate whether structural changes would occur in response to
learning and practicing a juggling routine. The participants were randomly
allocated into two groups – jugglers and non-jugglers. None of the participants had
prior juggling experience. The juggling group spent three months learning a classic 3
ball juggling routine. They were told to stop practicing after three months. The
control group did not practice or learn juggling at all. 3 MRI scans were done on both
groups – one before, one after three months and one after six months. After 3
months of practicing, the juggling group had significantly more grey matter in the mid
temporal area of the cortex in both hemispheres. After 6 months, the differences
decreased.
, Conclusion:
Therefore, the study supports the idea of localization, as learning a juggling routine
appeared to increase the amount of grey matter in the mid temporal area of the
cortex (a specific brain region).
Explain one example of neuroplasticity/neural networks/synaptic pruning
- The brain is a dynamic system that often changes as a result of experience and
environmental demand. This process is referred to as neuroplasticity, describing the
ability of the brain to change over time through the making and breaking of synaptic
connections.
- Neuroplasticity can take on varying degrees, eg. cortical remapping (when certain
brain areas assume the function of other areas eg. due to injury). The ability of
neurons to form connections is known as synaptic plasticity.
- This is what allows the brain to grow and eliminate synapses in order to
accommodate change.
- Unused synapses will decay and eliminate, through a process known as
synaptic/neural pruning. Through these processes, the brain forms neural networks,
referring to the interconnected relationship between different neurons.
Corresponding study: Draganski et al. (2004)
Aimed to investigate whether structural changes would occur in response to
learning and practicing a juggling routine. The participants were randomly
allocated into two groups – jugglers and non-jugglers. None of the participants had
prior juggling experience. The juggling group spent three months learning a classic 3
ball juggling routine. They were told to stop practicing after three months. The
control group did not practice or learn juggling at all. 3 MRI scans were done on both
groups – one before, one after three months and one after six months. After 3
months of practicing, the juggling group had significantly more grey matter in the mid
temporal area of the cortex in both hemispheres. After 6 months, the differences
decreased.
Conclusion:
Therefore, the study supports the process of neuroplasticity (as the brain changed in
response to environmental demand)/supports the formation of neural
networks/supports neural/synaptic pruning (as differences decreased after 6
months).
Explain the role of one neurotransmitter in human behaviour
- Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that undergo neurotransmission. This
describes the process of transferring nerve impulses along neurons through the
body.
- Neurotransmitters are released into synapses via the axon terminal, and are received
by receptors at the post synaptic membrane, allowing information to be transmitted
through neurons as the action potential is carried forward.
- One example of a neurotransmitter is acetylcholine, which plays a role in the
formation of spatial memories
Brain and behaviour
Explain one technique used to study the brain in relation to behaviour.
- Brain imaging techniques are useful in the biological approach as they produce
images of the internal structures and activity of different regions.
- An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) uses magnetic resonance to produce an
image of the brain. When placed in an external magnetic field, some atomic nuclei
(eg. hydrogen) can emit energy. These pulses of energy can be detected.
- Since we know that the concentration of hydrogen differs in different types of tissue,
we can use this information to produce a useful image of the structure of the brain.
Corresponding study: Draganski et al. (2004)
Aimed to investigate whether structural changes would occur in response to learning
and practicing a juggling routine. The participants were randomly allocated into two
groups – jugglers and non-jugglers. None of the participants had prior juggling
experience. The juggling group spent three months learning a classic 3 ball juggling
routine. They were told to stop practicing after three months. The control group did
not practice or learn juggling at all. 3 MRI scans were done on both groups – one
before, one after three months and one after six months. After 3 months of practicing,
the juggling group had significantly more grey matter in the mid temporal area of the
cortex in both hemispheres. After 6 months, the differences decreased.
Conclusion:
Therefore, the use of an MRI was effective in investigating the relationship between
learning and brain structure – provides biological evidence. This is because
differences in brain structure could be seen through the MRI.
Explain one example of localization of function.
- Localization of brain function refers to the theory that certain areas of the brain are
responsible for certain psychological functions.
- Localization rests on the first principle of the biological approach – that behaviour is a
product of brain structure. Psychologists investigating localization of brain function
from the biological approach aim to investigate the relationship between brain
processes and structures and human behaviour.
Corresponding study: Draganski et al. (2004)
Aimed to investigate whether structural changes would occur in response to
learning and practicing a juggling routine. The participants were randomly
allocated into two groups – jugglers and non-jugglers. None of the participants had
prior juggling experience. The juggling group spent three months learning a classic 3
ball juggling routine. They were told to stop practicing after three months. The
control group did not practice or learn juggling at all. 3 MRI scans were done on both
groups – one before, one after three months and one after six months. After 3
months of practicing, the juggling group had significantly more grey matter in the mid
temporal area of the cortex in both hemispheres. After 6 months, the differences
decreased.
, Conclusion:
Therefore, the study supports the idea of localization, as learning a juggling routine
appeared to increase the amount of grey matter in the mid temporal area of the
cortex (a specific brain region).
Explain one example of neuroplasticity/neural networks/synaptic pruning
- The brain is a dynamic system that often changes as a result of experience and
environmental demand. This process is referred to as neuroplasticity, describing the
ability of the brain to change over time through the making and breaking of synaptic
connections.
- Neuroplasticity can take on varying degrees, eg. cortical remapping (when certain
brain areas assume the function of other areas eg. due to injury). The ability of
neurons to form connections is known as synaptic plasticity.
- This is what allows the brain to grow and eliminate synapses in order to
accommodate change.
- Unused synapses will decay and eliminate, through a process known as
synaptic/neural pruning. Through these processes, the brain forms neural networks,
referring to the interconnected relationship between different neurons.
Corresponding study: Draganski et al. (2004)
Aimed to investigate whether structural changes would occur in response to
learning and practicing a juggling routine. The participants were randomly
allocated into two groups – jugglers and non-jugglers. None of the participants had
prior juggling experience. The juggling group spent three months learning a classic 3
ball juggling routine. They were told to stop practicing after three months. The
control group did not practice or learn juggling at all. 3 MRI scans were done on both
groups – one before, one after three months and one after six months. After 3
months of practicing, the juggling group had significantly more grey matter in the mid
temporal area of the cortex in both hemispheres. After 6 months, the differences
decreased.
Conclusion:
Therefore, the study supports the process of neuroplasticity (as the brain changed in
response to environmental demand)/supports the formation of neural
networks/supports neural/synaptic pruning (as differences decreased after 6
months).
Explain the role of one neurotransmitter in human behaviour
- Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that undergo neurotransmission. This
describes the process of transferring nerve impulses along neurons through the
body.
- Neurotransmitters are released into synapses via the axon terminal, and are received
by receptors at the post synaptic membrane, allowing information to be transmitted
through neurons as the action potential is carried forward.
- One example of a neurotransmitter is acetylcholine, which plays a role in the
formation of spatial memories
