Summary sheet for core study describing the basics for the study as well as ethical consideration and evaluations of validity and reliability within the study.
Background Aim: To investigate Reliability:
-Hubel and Wiesel found that physiological and High internal reliability as there were high levels of
neurones of the visual cortex are behavioural effects of control of timing of how long kittens were in
selective for orientation of lines in restricted early visual vertical/ horizontal environment. So, less chance of
visual field around a point. experience + if brain extraneous variables.
-Hirsch and Spinelli reported that plasticity is affected by Lacks reliability of the results as only 1 cat was
early visual experience can change Method: used for each visual environment so we cannot
neural orientation. They did this by Lab experiment compare results so is less consistent.
covering one cats eye exposing it to Independent measures High in external reliability as the neurological
one visual field and found that design testing was standardised so is easy to replicate
Procedure: Sample:
Kittens were housed from 2 kittens randomly allocated either
birth in a dark room. visual or horizontal conditions. Used Ethics:
After 2 weeks, they were to study behavioural and Kittens were not caused
put in a cylinder with either neurophysiological effects. distress by the experience.
vertical or horizontal stripes Benefits outweigh the costs
Blakemore + Cooper and the visual placing was
stood on a glass floor, with a
cone around their head so only temporary so did not
they can’t see themselves. Results (Behavioural): affect the cats in the long-
This stops at 5 months old -Had no visual placing but this wore term.
as this was past the critical off after 10 hours. Helped understand brain
period in which total -Kittens raised with only horizontal plasticity in mammals,
deprivation causes lines could see horizontal objects and which would be beneficial
psychological effects. vice versa. in the future
After this, kittens were taken -Permanent deficit was that cats
for several hours each week often reached out to touch something
to a well-lit room furnished that was far away.
with tables and chairs. Their Results (Neurological):
visual reactions were -75% of cells in both cats were clearly Validity:
recorded and observed. binocular. Lacks ecological validity as it was a lab experiment
At 7.5 months, the kittens -No evidence of severe astigmatism. in an artificial environment, so cats may have
were anesthetised so their -Horizontal cats did not respond to behaved differently as it was an unusual setting
neurophysiology could be lines within 20 degreed of vertical and may not have been down to the type of visual
environment, they were raised in.
Conclusions: High in population validity as kittens are mammals
-Visual experience can modify cats brains, which demonstrated brain and all mammals’ brains are fairly similar so
plasticity. results can be generalised to other mammals for
-Kittens visual cortex can adjust itself during maturation. further research.
-Kittens used parts of their nervous system adapts to match the visual
experience, rather than degeneration.
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