Neural And Hormonal Mechanisms

Question 1

What are the 2 neural mechanisms

Answer 1

1. Limbic system
2. Serotonin

Question 2

What is the limbic system

Answer 2

A network of brain structure involved in regulating emotional responses such as fear and aggression

Question 3

What are the 4 components of the limbic system

Answer 3

1. Hypothalamus
2. Thalamus
3. Amygdala
4. Hippocampus

Question 4

What is the role of the amygdala

Answer 4

Increase blood pressure and adrenaline which can result in aggressive behaviour

Question 5

What happened when the amygdala was electrically stimulated in rats?

Answer 5

The rats responded with aggression, but when it was removed, the animal is tamed and does not show the expected ‘rage’ reactions when provoked

Question 6

What does the amygdala show about excess activation

Answer 6

Excess activation can explain aggressive behaviour
In non - aggressive people it doesn’t become activated when a threat is insignificant.

Question 7

What is the role of the hippocampus

Answer 7

• Involved in the memory and works alongside the amygdala
• learn what is considered dangerous from previous experiences ans store this in our LTM

Question 8

What happens when the hippocampus is functioning normally?

Answer 8

Recognises a previously learned threat and signals to the amygdala to respond appropriately

Question 9

What happens if the hippocampus is damaged

Answer 9

Can cause the amygdala to respond inappropriately to sensory stimuli, resulting in aggressive behaviour

Question 10

What type of neurotransmitter is serotonin?

Answer 10

An inhibitory neurotransmitter - slows down neuronal activity

Question 11

What is serotonin involved in?

Answer 11

The regulation of mood, sleep, arousal, appetite

Question 12

What does normal levels of serotonin cause?

Answer 12

Normal levels in the orbifrontal cortex are linked with behavioural self-control and produces a calming affect on behaviour

Question 13

What does low levels of serotonin cause

Answer 13

• Low levels in the orbitofrontal cortex are thought to increase aggressive behaviour
• affecting the individuals response to external stimuli
• the person becomes easily provoked and can’t control their responses in a ‘normal way’
• they act impulsively and engage in aggressive behaviour

Question 14

What is an example of a hormonal mechanism

Answer 14

Testosterone

Question 15

What is testosterone

Answer 15

• a male sex hormone (androgen) required for the development of secondary sexual characteristics in males such as:
  Increase in muscle and bone mass
  Growth of body hair

Question 16

How much more testosterone do males have than women

Answer 16

Men have 20 times more than women

Question 17

Statistically when are males more likely to commit violent crimes

Answer 17

During adolescence and early adulthood when testosterone levels are at their highest

Question 18

What have animal studies shown regarding testosterone

Answer 18

• castration typically reduced levels of aggression
  Injection of synthetic testosterone reinstates the aggressive behaviour

Question 19

what can high levels of testosterone cause

Answer 19

aggressive behaviour

Question 20

strength: supporting limbic

Answer 20

I: Supporting evidence for the role of the limbic system
E: ppts were asked to play a lab game called the ultimatum game, and have their name scanned by fMRI whislt doing it. game involved the ‘proposer’ and the ‘responder’. the proposer offered to split an amount of moeny with the responder, if responder rejcted both got nothing
scans revealed that there was fast and heightend responses in responders when rejected an unfair offer
(aggressive response to social provication - gospic et al)
C: these findings increase the validity of the idea that the limbic system is involved in aggression, by showing the link between amygdala activity and aggression

Question 21

strength: supporting serotonin

Answer 21

I: supporting evidence for the role of serotonin in aggression
E: ppts with a history of aggressive behaviour were given an opportunity to adminsiter electric shocks to an opponent in a lab game. those given a drug paraoxetine (increases seratonin activity) gave fewer and less intense shocks compared to those given a placebo (berman et al)
C: increasing the validity of the idea that serotonin is involved in agression, by showing a link between low levels if seratonin and aggressive behaviour

Question 22

Weakness: methodological, neural

Answer 22

I: methodological flaws with supporting evidence for neural mechanisms, research lacks mundane realism
E: research is experimental, involves meausuring aggressive ways. giving electric shocks (berman et al) is not a form of aggression we engage in in everyday life, debatable whether rejecting an unfair offer (gospic et al) can be defined as an act of aggression
C: argument decreases the validity of the idea that the limbic system and seratonin are involved in aggression, as it suggests that generalisations to real life aggression can be made

Question 23

Strength: Supporting testosterone

Answer 23

I: supporting evidence for the role of testosterone in aggression
E: postive correlations have been reported between levels of aggression and self reported levels of aggression amounst prison inmates (Albert et al )
C: findings increase the validity of the idea that testosterone is involved in aggression, by showing a link between high levels and violence in prison

Question 24

Weakness: methodological hormonal

Answer 24

I: methodological flaws with the supporting evidnce for hormonal mechanisms, as research is correlational
E: the research cannot establish causal link and definitley say agression is caused by high levels of testosterone, as other variables of things that may affect aggression are not measured Eg; genes
C: these findings cecrease the valdity of the idea that testosterone is involved in aggression becuase aggression is not directly manipulated