Biological Unit Flashcards
(8 cards)
Describe the effect of one or more neurotransmitter on human behavior with reference to one study.
Explain effect of chosen neurotransmitter.
- Fisher et al. Dopamine and romantic love (addiction pathway). 17 (10F 7M) participants with fMRI scans, which tracked behavior in real-time. They were shown images of loved ones, given a distraction task, and later shown an image of an acquaintance / stranger. Researchers found that people become addicted to love / FISHing for love.
** Martinez and Kesner. Acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter involved in muscle contraction; it takes on a primary role in the parasympathetic nervous systems. It also influences memory and cognition. Martinez and Kesner is an animal study that showed increased acetylcholine affects rats’ ability to run through and learn a maze. One was allowed extra ACl, one had none / control, one given ACl blocker. The rat with extra ACl performed better.
With reference to one study, outline the effect of one agonist or antagonist on human behavior.
Define terms. An agonist is a chemical substance that induces a response / biological reaction by mimicking the effects of a natural ligand. An antagonist (ANTI) inhibits a reaction by binding to the reception site, and effectively blocking another chemical from producing.
- Crockett et al. which aims to investigate the role of a serotonin agonist (SSRIs, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) in prosocial behavior. Participants were given the Trolley Dilemma. Those with more serotonin were more reluctant to cause harm in this scenario (push man off bridge).
To what extent do genetics influence behavior?
- DNA, Genotypes vs. Phenotypes, Twin studies.
- Bouchard (1990) “Minnesota Twin Study”. Cross-cultural (geographic triangulation) meta-analysis (data triangulation). Found that about 70% of IQ is genetically influenced.
- Identical (MZ) Monozygotic twins have similar IQ.
- Fraternal (DZ) Dizygotic twins have less similarities in IQ.
- MZ Twins who lived together, and reared apart have similar appearances, and similar IQ across the board. However, different politics / religions.
- Ethical considerations? - DNA holds genetic code for 5-HTT. (Caspi study - displaying of depressive behaviors such as lack of interest in regular activities, fatigue, persistent sadness, social isolation.)
Discuss one evolutionary explanation of one behavior.
- Key words: Charles Darwin, Survival of the Fittest / natural selection (nature selects for you).
- Le Doux “Two Pathways of Emotions” . High (from the brain down to the heart), Slow vs. Low (straight to the heart), Fast.
> Explains Fight vs. Flight. - Curtis et al. Disgust is an evolutionary response as a protection against the risk of disease. Universal Disgust and computer-altered images.
- John Garcia’s Learned Taste Aversion - rat was given regular sugar water, and one with poison. After being poisoned once, it avoided any water.
Discuss how one or more hormones affect human behavior.
Oxytocin on trust and social bonding.
- Stop-Distance Paradigm (Scheele) and the role of oxytocin in fidelity. 86 heterosexual male participants. One group was administered OXY. and the other was given an intranasal placebo. Attractive female subject was asked to approach said participants, individually. Researchers concluded that the administering of the hormone affected the distance in which they were told to stop.
- Romero. Animal study with dogs and their owners.
Testosterone on aggression.
- Berthold study with the severing and switching of testes in chickens.
- If including Romero or Berthold study, show link between animals and humans. Ethical considerations?
Describe neuroplasticity, with reference to one relevant study.
Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to adapt to trauma, new connections, and structural changes.
- Maguire et al. 2000. Shows structural change in the posterior part of the hippocampi in taxi drivers. MRI.
- Maguire might be affected historically. (IB Habits) because it’s a quasi-experiment (no independent variables) and does not take into account the existence of GPS in the modern day.
- Rosenzweig, Bennett, Diamond’s et al. 1972. The role of environmental factors on neuroplasticity.
Outline neural pruning with reference to one relevant study.
Neural pruning - neuroplasticity. Brain’s ability to adapt to trauma or structural changes, like a grape turning into a raisin.
ANY plasticity study can be used. (EX. Maguire Taxi Cab, Owl Monkey Merzenich Study, Draganski 2004 Juggling + 2006 Doctors)
Pheromones + One Study
Pheromones are chemicals released in the sweat, that induces sexual attraction. Typically observed in other mammalian species but studies suggest that there is a relationship between male-female interactions in humans.
McCoy study 1998 - Male volunteers. 25-42 with an average appearance and good health. Pheromones are fused into their aftershave. IV = Pheromones. DV = Interactions. (kissing, dates, intercourse).
- Quasi-experiment / field experiment.
- Later redone with women (and role on male attraction). End results were similar. Ethics? What if it results in pregnancy? How do women (first study) give consent to being a report / statistic? Is this generalizable if we’re in a society with heavy lookism or halo effect phenomenon?
