Antonova (2011)

Question 1

Where can this study be used? (2)

Answer 1

Techniques for studying the brain and behavior.
How neurotransmitters play a role in behavior.

Question 2

Aim

Answer 2

To study the role of acetylcholine in the encoding of spatial memory maps in humans

Question 3

Participants

Answer 3

20 healthy male adults (mean age: 28)
* double blind procedure + P randomly allocated to 2 conditions
* injected before the experimental task with scopolamine (an antagonist/inhibitor of acetylcholine) VS a placebo

Question 4

Procedure

Answer 4

• P put into fMRI machine where scanned while playing the “Arena Task”
  
  • complex VR game where researchers observed how well the participants created spatial memories
  • first trained in the game to make sure they were comfortable with the use of the joystick and understood the rules of the game
• P returned 3-4 weeks later and redid the test with the opposite condition

Question 5

Arena Task

Answer 5

Goal: P navigate around an arena to find a pole
* after they learned where the pole is located the screen would go blank for 30 seconds - told to rehearse how to get to the pole during
* when arena reappeared P was at a new starting point
* have to use spatial memory to determine how to get to the location of the pole

Question 6

Results

Answer 6

Acetylcholine could play a key role in the encoding of spatial memories: when participants were injected with scopolamine they demonstrated a significant reduction in the activation of the hippocampus compared to when they received a placebo

Question 7

Limitations (2)

Answer 7

• confounding variable: during debriefing many expressed stress - either as result of injection or being in fMRI enclosure - could affect hippocampus
• small sample size: would need replication to determine reliability

Question 8

Strengths (4)

Answer 8

• double blind procedure: reduces research bias
• training: makes sure P’s results are more reliable (control measure)
• repeated measures design: reduces effect of of participant variability and controls practice effect
• ethically sound as MRI does not pose any health risks and all gave consent

Question 9

How does this study link to “Techniques for studying the brain and behavior”?

Answer 9

Studying brain using fMRI machine and seeing the functioning of hippocampus under influence of scopolamine