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IB SL/HL Psychology (biological approaches to behaviour): Discuss the use of one or more techniques used to study the brain in relation to behaviour£5.49
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Discuss the use of one or more techniques used to study the brain in relation to
behaviour. [22]
Brain imaging techniques are often used to investigate the relationship between
biological factors and behaviour. They are used to scientifically examine the brain and
are very useful at the BLoA to help us understand which areas of the brain are
responsible for which processes etc. This allows concepts such as localisation of
function to be observed, as well as other biologically based psychological theories.
Brain imaging technologies reduces the need for invasive techniques being used on
animals, which often causes pain and irreversible damage. In this essay, the two brain
imaging technologies that will be discussed are MRI and PET, they will be explored in
terms of their role in investigating relationships between biological factors and
behaviours. This essay will look at the biological factors of brain structure and reduced
metabolic rate of glucose in the brain on the behaviour of memory.
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create a
3D image of the brain structure. This changes the alignment of the photons in the
brain in such a way that makes them visible to the scanner. The images created are
very precise as they are measured atomically, and useful for detecting abnormalities
in soft tissues and providing information about circulation. MRIs do not expose
patients to radiation, so can be used on pregnant women and children and without
limit. However due to the magnetism used, those with pins or hip replacements
cannot be tested with an MRI. By creating a 3D image, MRI scans allow the brain
image to be seen from any angle to allow for viewing any brain structure from any
direction. There is such low risk involved in these scans that MRI is considered to be
one of the safest medical procedures, however it is extremely expensive and it can be
hard for someone to stay still in such a claustrophobic space for long enough for the
scan to take place.
An example of a study with utilised MRI scans is Maguire’s 2004 study. This aimed to
investigate brain plasticity and whether London taxi drivers, therefore, have a
different brain structure to the average person due to the extensive maps they have
to memorise. This is known in the business as ‘Gaining the Knowledge.’ Group one
consisted of 16 right handed male London taxi drivers, with the average age of 44, all
licensed for more than 18 months with an average time as a taxi driver of 14.3 years.
Group 2 consisted of 16 right handed, male, age matched non taxi drivers. MRI scans
of fifty healthy right handed male non taxi drivers aged 33-61 were analysed to
establish a comparison database of ‘average hippocampi.’ MRI scans of group one and
two were then analysed and compared to this database. After analysing the scans,
Maguire discovered an increased volume of grey matter in the right posterior
hippocampus in the taxi drivers (increasing proportionally as the time as a taxi driver
increased), as well as a greater volume of posterior hippocampus in general. However,
the non taxi-drivers had a larger volume in the anterior hippocampus. The MRI was
vital in this experiment as it allowed the researchers to identify the volume of
different brain structures responsible for spatial memory, so a scan showing structure
rather than activity is crucial.
By using an MRI in this study Maguire was able to eliminate demand characteristics
and participant expectations, as participants can alter their behaviour but cannot
change the structure of their brain. Therefore, using an MRI eliminates demand
characters which increases the validity of the research. This scan meant that the brain
plasticity could be visible as it highlighted the brain structures so they could be
compared- this is specific to MRIs and is very useful in this study. However, a
characteristic of MRI is that it is very expensive, therefore this may have affected the
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