Table of Contents
Biological approach to understanding behaviour.................................................................................... 2
The relationship between the brain and behaviour ............................................................................................ 2
Hormones and pheromones and their effects on behaviour ............................................................................... 4
The relationship between genetics and behaviour ............................................................................................. 4
Ethical considerations ........................................................................................................................................ 6
Research methods .............................................................................................................................................. 7
Cognitive approach to understanding behaviour .................................................................................... 8
Cognitive processing .......................................................................................................................................... 8
Reliability of cognitive processes .................................................................................................................... 10
Emotion and cognition ..................................................................................................................................... 10
Ethical considerations ...................................................................................................................................... 11
Research methods ............................................................................................................................................ 11
Sociocultural approach to understanding behaviour ............................................................................ 11
The individual and the group ........................................................................................................................... 11
Cultural origins of behaviour and cognition .................................................................................................... 13
Cultural influences on individual behaviour .................................................................................................... 13
Ethical considerations ...................................................................................................................................... 14
Research methods ............................................................................................................................................ 15
, Biological approach to understanding behaviour
The relationship between the brain and behaviour
Describe the use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Maguire et al
one technique used to ▪ Structural (shows the structure of the brain, but not the (2000)
study the brain in activation of brain areas)
relation to behaviour ▪ Works by producing a magnetic field that makes the
protons present in the brain to align within that field.
After this, radio waves are pulsed (as those protons can
absorb radio energy when in a magnetic field). It makes
the protons spin out of equilibrium. Then the radio
waves are turned off which makes the protons align with
the magnetic field again and release energy. This energy
is detected by MRI scan. Because there are different
amounts of protons in different areas of the brain, a 3D
picture of the brain structure can be produced.
Describe Neuroplasticity Draganski et al
neuroplasticity, with ▪ “the ability of the brain to change through the making (2004)
reference to one and breaking of synaptic connections between neurons.
relevant study. Synaptic plasticity
▪ “the ability of the neuron to form new synaptic
connections and break the old ones”
Cortical remapping
▪ “the phenomenon when one brain area assumes the
function of another brain area, for example, due to
injury”
Explain how neural Neural network Draganski et al
networks are formed. ▪ “series of connected neurons” (2004)
▪ “neural networks are developed through repetition and
neural pruning”
With reference to one Neural pruning Draganski et al
study, explain neural ▪ “loss of connections between synapses in a neural (2004)
pruning. network because they are no longer needed.”
Biological approach to understanding behaviour.................................................................................... 2
The relationship between the brain and behaviour ............................................................................................ 2
Hormones and pheromones and their effects on behaviour ............................................................................... 4
The relationship between genetics and behaviour ............................................................................................. 4
Ethical considerations ........................................................................................................................................ 6
Research methods .............................................................................................................................................. 7
Cognitive approach to understanding behaviour .................................................................................... 8
Cognitive processing .......................................................................................................................................... 8
Reliability of cognitive processes .................................................................................................................... 10
Emotion and cognition ..................................................................................................................................... 10
Ethical considerations ...................................................................................................................................... 11
Research methods ............................................................................................................................................ 11
Sociocultural approach to understanding behaviour ............................................................................ 11
The individual and the group ........................................................................................................................... 11
Cultural origins of behaviour and cognition .................................................................................................... 13
Cultural influences on individual behaviour .................................................................................................... 13
Ethical considerations ...................................................................................................................................... 14
Research methods ............................................................................................................................................ 15
, Biological approach to understanding behaviour
The relationship between the brain and behaviour
Describe the use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Maguire et al
one technique used to ▪ Structural (shows the structure of the brain, but not the (2000)
study the brain in activation of brain areas)
relation to behaviour ▪ Works by producing a magnetic field that makes the
protons present in the brain to align within that field.
After this, radio waves are pulsed (as those protons can
absorb radio energy when in a magnetic field). It makes
the protons spin out of equilibrium. Then the radio
waves are turned off which makes the protons align with
the magnetic field again and release energy. This energy
is detected by MRI scan. Because there are different
amounts of protons in different areas of the brain, a 3D
picture of the brain structure can be produced.
Describe Neuroplasticity Draganski et al
neuroplasticity, with ▪ “the ability of the brain to change through the making (2004)
reference to one and breaking of synaptic connections between neurons.
relevant study. Synaptic plasticity
▪ “the ability of the neuron to form new synaptic
connections and break the old ones”
Cortical remapping
▪ “the phenomenon when one brain area assumes the
function of another brain area, for example, due to
injury”
Explain how neural Neural network Draganski et al
networks are formed. ▪ “series of connected neurons” (2004)
▪ “neural networks are developed through repetition and
neural pruning”
With reference to one Neural pruning Draganski et al
study, explain neural ▪ “loss of connections between synapses in a neural (2004)
pruning. network because they are no longer needed.”
