Biological Psychology Notes - Written by an A* Psychology Student

Considers MECHANISMS WITHIN THE BODY and
how they affect behaviour

E.G. BRAIN STRUCTURE, NEUROTRANSMISSION,
HORMONES
BIOLOGICAL
LIMBIC SYSTEM Hypothalamus, basal ganglia and prefrontal cortex are linked with aggression

PREFRONTAL CORTEX Linked with aggression and impulsivity
THEORIES
NEUROTRANSMISSION Suggests drug addiction occurs due to altered neurotransmission

HORMONES Suggests testosterone is linked with competitive aggression
Suggests aggression is a result of evolutionary adaptation that had a purpose in our
EVOLUTION ancestral past

RAINE ET AL (1997) Found that NGRIs had subtle brain damage to areas of the brain associated with impulse control STUDIES
OLDS AND MILNER (1954) Found a pleasure centre in the brains of rats

DOWNER (1961) Removed an amygdala in monkeys
Found that lack of aggression is linked with absence of amygdala

BRENDGEN ET AL (2005) Found that physical aggression is linked with genetic factors (nature) and social aggression is
linked with environmental factors (nurture)
METHODS
CORRELATION BRAIN SCANS



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