Nour Khalifa
Study Guide- Biological Approach
TOPICS STUDY DESCRIPTION KEY TERMS
Localization Case of HM Background Localization of
Technology (1997) (Corkin et • HM suffered epileptic function: it is the
al) seizures after a head injury concept that
at age 9 different areas of
• Doctors performed surgery the brain preform
to stop seizures different functions
• They didn’t know that the
hippocampus was in charge MRI scans: 3D,
of memory when they Structural, uses
removed it, it was an Magnetic field and
accidental case which later radio waves to map
showed the connection activity of hydrogen
• Tissue from temporal lobe molecules
and hippocampus was
removed
• HM suffered anterograde
amnesia
• He was suffering from an
inability to form new
memories however he
could recall old memories
• He was studied using MRI
o It was not the start of
brain localization (it
began with William
wunt),
Aim
• To determine the extent of
HM’s amnesia and to
understand what this
meant for his daily life
• Identify the function of the
hippocampus
Method
• Case Study
o Using interviews,
cognitive testing,
observations and
eventually brain
imaging technology
(MRI scans)
• Confounding variables
o He used anti-epileptic
drugs which might
have caused further
damage to his brain
, Nour Khalifa
Results
• There was a correlation
between hippocampal
damage and HM’s loss of
memory. The transfer of
memory from the short-
term store to the long-term
store seems to involve the
hippocampus.
Conclusion
• This case study supports
the theory of localization of
brain function
Localization The Vietnam Background Localization of
Technology Head Injury • Longitudinal study function: it is the
Study (1996) o A longitudinal study is concept that
correlational research different areas of
that involves the brain preform
repeated different functions
observations of the
same variables over MRI scans: 3D,
long periods of time, Structural, uses
correlational study Magnetic field and
between the brain radio waves to map
damage and activity of hydrogen
aggression molecules
• “Knowledge stored in the
human prefrontal cortex
may exert control over
more primitive behavioral
reactions to environmental
provocation. Therefore,
following frontal lobe
lesions, patients are more
likely to use physical
intimidation or verbal
threats in potential or
actual confrontational
situations.”
Aim
• Examined the relationship
between frontal lobe
lesions and the presence of
aggressive and violent
behavior
Method
• 279 war veterans
• 57 Controls
o Went to war but no
damage in their brain
, Nour Khalifa
• Matched for age,
education, and time in
Vietnam, who had suffered
penetrating head injuries
during their service in
Vietnam
• Frontal lobe injury
• Brain injury in general
• Method triangulation
o Family observations
o Self-reports using
scales and
questionnaires
assessing a range of
aggressive and
violent attitudes and
behavior
o Two
Aggression/Violence
Scale scores, based
on observer ratings,
were constructed
o MRI scans
• The use of brain imaging
technology (MRI) allowed
the researchers to pinpoint
the exact location of the
brain damage
Results
• Patients with frontal
ventromedial lesions
consistently demonstrated
aggression/ violence scale
scores significantly higher
than controls and patients
with lesions in other brain
areas
• The presence of aggressive
and violent behaviors was
not associated with the
total size of the lesion nor
whether the patient had
seizures, but was
associated with a disruption
of family activities
Conclusion
• These findings support the
hypothesis that
ventromedial frontal lobe
lesions increase the risk of
Study Guide- Biological Approach
TOPICS STUDY DESCRIPTION KEY TERMS
Localization Case of HM Background Localization of
Technology (1997) (Corkin et • HM suffered epileptic function: it is the
al) seizures after a head injury concept that
at age 9 different areas of
• Doctors performed surgery the brain preform
to stop seizures different functions
• They didn’t know that the
hippocampus was in charge MRI scans: 3D,
of memory when they Structural, uses
removed it, it was an Magnetic field and
accidental case which later radio waves to map
showed the connection activity of hydrogen
• Tissue from temporal lobe molecules
and hippocampus was
removed
• HM suffered anterograde
amnesia
• He was suffering from an
inability to form new
memories however he
could recall old memories
• He was studied using MRI
o It was not the start of
brain localization (it
began with William
wunt),
Aim
• To determine the extent of
HM’s amnesia and to
understand what this
meant for his daily life
• Identify the function of the
hippocampus
Method
• Case Study
o Using interviews,
cognitive testing,
observations and
eventually brain
imaging technology
(MRI scans)
• Confounding variables
o He used anti-epileptic
drugs which might
have caused further
damage to his brain
, Nour Khalifa
Results
• There was a correlation
between hippocampal
damage and HM’s loss of
memory. The transfer of
memory from the short-
term store to the long-term
store seems to involve the
hippocampus.
Conclusion
• This case study supports
the theory of localization of
brain function
Localization The Vietnam Background Localization of
Technology Head Injury • Longitudinal study function: it is the
Study (1996) o A longitudinal study is concept that
correlational research different areas of
that involves the brain preform
repeated different functions
observations of the
same variables over MRI scans: 3D,
long periods of time, Structural, uses
correlational study Magnetic field and
between the brain radio waves to map
damage and activity of hydrogen
aggression molecules
• “Knowledge stored in the
human prefrontal cortex
may exert control over
more primitive behavioral
reactions to environmental
provocation. Therefore,
following frontal lobe
lesions, patients are more
likely to use physical
intimidation or verbal
threats in potential or
actual confrontational
situations.”
Aim
• Examined the relationship
between frontal lobe
lesions and the presence of
aggressive and violent
behavior
Method
• 279 war veterans
• 57 Controls
o Went to war but no
damage in their brain
, Nour Khalifa
• Matched for age,
education, and time in
Vietnam, who had suffered
penetrating head injuries
during their service in
Vietnam
• Frontal lobe injury
• Brain injury in general
• Method triangulation
o Family observations
o Self-reports using
scales and
questionnaires
assessing a range of
aggressive and
violent attitudes and
behavior
o Two
Aggression/Violence
Scale scores, based
on observer ratings,
were constructed
o MRI scans
• The use of brain imaging
technology (MRI) allowed
the researchers to pinpoint
the exact location of the
brain damage
Results
• Patients with frontal
ventromedial lesions
consistently demonstrated
aggression/ violence scale
scores significantly higher
than controls and patients
with lesions in other brain
areas
• The presence of aggressive
and violent behaviors was
not associated with the
total size of the lesion nor
whether the patient had
seizures, but was
associated with a disruption
of family activities
Conclusion
• These findings support the
hypothesis that
ventromedial frontal lobe
lesions increase the risk of
