Radke Et Al (bio)

Question 1

Radke Et Al (bio)

Aim

Answer 1

To investigate hoe testosterone influences the amygdala when someone is responding to a threat.

Question 2

Radke Et Al (bio)

Procedure

Answer 2

• Approx 50 female participants
• Trained on a computer game controlled with a joystick while a fMRI being conducted
  
  • Participants were showed either a happy or an angry face and participants were instructed to either approach or avoid the person using the joystick provided
• After training, participants were consumed either a placebo drink or a testosterone drink before the actual experiment began
• Researcher observed brain activity during the game

Question 3

Radke Et Al (bio)

Findings

Answer 3

• Testosterone group showed more activity than the placebo group in their amygdala while they approached the angry face, but if they were avoiding it the amygdala was not a significant difference in the brain activity
• Supports hypothesis that aggression may be increased when testosterone is high because it causes greater physiological response (“fight or flight”) and emotional arousal when confronting a threat

Question 4

Radke Et Al (bio)

Limitations

Answer 4

• Sampling bias (only female participants)
• Ecological validity is low - Participants were not actually under threat (playing a joystick game) and were having brain activity observed

Question 5

Radke Et Al (bio)

Ethical Considerations

Answer 5

• Protection from harm
  - Medical history would be important as extra testerone (different from their typical level) was being consumed by the participants
• Use of inducements
  
  • Students were compensated for their time as the study took approximately 6 hours to complete
  • Researchers had to wait 4 hours after the drink was consumed for the testosterone levels in the body to be significantly increased

Question 6

Radke Et Al (bio)

Research Method

Answer 6

Experiment