- has all the content you need for psychology HL/SL paper 1: contains Cognitive Approach (till ERQ level + HL extension: digital technology), Biological and Sociocultural Approach (SAQ level)
Techniques to Study the brain (MRI): Maguire et al.
D
- Brain imaging techniques is a term which covers a range of different methods
used to produce images of the brain. Images can be
either structural or functional.
E
- An MRI scan is a structural scan, meaning that used to look at the structure of the
brain. This involves looking at the tissues in the brain and can be used to find any
abnormalities in the brain structure.
- It allows for the comparison of the structure of brains. An MRI scanner uses
magnetic resonance imaging (magnets and radio waves) to produce a picture of
the structure of the brain by measuring the hydrogen nuclei in the body.
- The image can be manipulated to focus on whichever area is of interest. Magnetic
resonance imaging is the use of a magnetic field combined with pulses of radio
wave energy to take the pictures.
Localisation: Maguire et al.
D
- Localisation is a theory that specific areas of the brain are associated
with particular physical and psychological functions
E
- One way to map the brain is by looking at the neural connections in the brain
and creating a map called a connectome.
- The cerebellum plays a key role in balance and motor function, including speech
production and learning
- The cerebral cortex is the largest part of the human brain, associated with
higher brain functions such as thought and action.
- The cerebrum is further divided into 4 lobes, each associated with different
behaviours
- The limbic system is a major focus of psychological research for its role in
memory and emotion.
Neuroplasticity (Neural Pruning): Maguire et al; Neuroplasticity (Neural Networks):
Maguire et al.
D
- The brain is a dynamic system that interacts with the environment.
- Not only can the brain determine and change in behaviour, but behaviour and
environment can also alter the brain.
E
- Brain plasticity refers to the brain’s ability to rearrange the connections between
its neurons as a result of learning or experience.
- Neurons are cells that process and transmit messages through electrochemical
impulses.
- Dendritic branching is when the neurons connect to create a new trace in the
brain leading to the formation of neural networks.
- Synaptic Transmission is a term that refers to how the nervous system
transmits information across a "synaptic gap" from one neuron to another.
, - When these ‘neural networks’ are rarely used, they get deleted by the brain and
this process is known as neural pruning
Maguire et al
- Aim: to see whether the brains of London taxi drivers would be somehow
different as a result of their exceptional knowledge of the city
- Method: participants consisted of 16 right-handed male London drivers; their
MRI scans were compared to those of 50 right-handed males who did not drive.
The sample included a range of ages, and the controls were taken from an MRI
database. Correlational study as the IV was not manipulated. Also, a single-blind
study as the researcher was not aware if she was looking at the scan of a taxi
driver or a control. Data was measured by Voxel Based Morphometry VBM
(density of grey matter) and pixel counting (area of the hippocampus)
- Results: pixel counting revealed that the posterior hippocampi of taxi drivers
were significantly larger relative to those of control subjects + VBM showed that
the volume of the right posterior hippocampi correlated with the amount of time
spent as a taxi driver.
- Conclusion: posterior hippocampus is involved when previously learned spatial
information is used + anterior hippocampal region may be more involved during
the encoding of new environmental layouts.
Neurotransmitter (Agonist): Cusin et al; Neurotransmitter (Antagonist): Lapidus et al.
D
- Nerve cells, called neurons send electrochemical messages to the brain so that
people can respond to stimuli.
E
- The process by which these messages are sent is called neurotransmission. The
electrical impulse that travels along the body of the neuron releasing
neurotransmitters into the synapse.
- Neurotransmitters are chemicals that are released from a synaptic vesicle into
the synapse by neurons.
- The neurotransmitters then fit into receptor sites on the post-synaptic
membrane, and due to this drug have been developed to either simulate the
neurotransmitter if there is not enough of a specific neurotransmitter or to block
the site if it is excessive.
- An agonist is a chemical that activates a receptor to produce a
biological response.
- An antagonist is a drug block the receptor site blocking the biological response.
Cusin et al. AGONIST
- Aim: to test the effectiveness of pramipexole for treatment of MDD
- Method: randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. 60 participants
were randomly allocated to take either pramipexole or a placebo for 8 weeks.
Both the participant and the researcher measuring the effects of the drugs did
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