Psychology P2

Question 1

Aim of Olds and Milner

Answer 1

To see if electrical stimulation of the brain can act as a reward, punishment or a neutral stimulus.

To see if it can reinforce behaviour.

Question 2

IV and DV of Olds and Milner

Answer 2

IV - location of electrode in brain

DV - number of lever presses by rat

Question 3

PPTs of Olds and Milner

Answer 3

15 male rats

Question 4

Design of Olds and Milner

Answer 4

• Independent group design.

- Animal Lab Study

Question 5

Method of Olds and Milner

Answer 5

• Tested in Skinners Box
• first 3 days to recover
• 4th day for pretesting
• subsequent days of alternating acquisition (3 hours/day) and extinction (1/2 hour/day)

Question 6

How was Olds and Milner data collected

Answer 6

• An acquisition and extinction score was collected based on time spent pressing lever.
• Rats were killed after and frozen and had their brains cut into sections and examined.

Question 7

Results of Olds and Milner

Answer 7

• 7/15 rats seemed like stimulation was rewarding.
• Septal area - 4 rats stimulated here, up to 92% acquiring, lows of 8% extinction
• Mammillothalemic tract and Cingulate cortex showed rewarding too.
• One rat in Septal area showed 7500 lever presses in 12 hours.

Question 8

Conclusion of Olds and Milner

Answer 8

Septal area is part of a system associated with rewarding effects in the brain .

Other areas either tested punishing or neutral.

Question 9

Advantages of Olds and Milner

Answer 9

Findings were later supported by further research. Olds found that rats would cross and electrified floor to reach electrical stimulation but not food.

This shows that self stimulation is more rewarding that natural rewards.

This confirms that there are reward centres in the brain that have powerful affects on behaviour.

However, later research found that the area stimulated is not the reward centre but instead part of a pathways linking the reward centre, invalidating the conclusions of the study.

Question 10

Disadvantages of Olds and Milner

Answer 10

• Not ecologically valid as self stimulation never occurs to this extent in nature. In nature organisms reach a satisfaction point where they no longer need to self stimulate. Results have limited application .
• Generalising from rats to humans is risky as there are clear chemical and structural differences between the two species. Even though there are clearly parallels between reward centres. All research should be used with caution.

Question 11

Application of Olds and Milner

Answer 11

Findings can be applied to explain addiction in humans. All areas found to cause rewarding effects use the same type of neurotransmitter. Dopamine is in this group and these findings can be used to support treatments for drugs which use the dopamine system to cause their rewarding effects.

Question 12

Aim of Pengpid et al.

Answer 12

To assess the effectiveness of screening and brief intervention to reduce alcohol use in South Africa

Question 13

PPTs of Pengpid et al

Answer 13

Around 1400 patients (male and female).
Identified using the AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test) in English or Tswana
Around 400 identified as ‘hazardous or harmful’.
Control group only given leaflet.

Question 14

IV and DV of Pengpid et al

Answer 14

IV is the type of intervention used.

DV is AUDIT scores over 12 months as well as personal data of ppts such as sex, age, etc.

Question 15

Procedure of Pengpid et al

Answer 15

Range of different interventions used in the intervention group including leaflets, AUDIT feedback and advice.

Control group only has leaflet.

Counselling is done by trained assistant counsellors (ANCs).

Question 16

Findings of Pengpid et al

Answer 16

External staff observed 10% of intervention sessions and found ANCs implemented at least 13 steps in 85% of cases.
Both groups showed significant reductions in AUDIT scores.
No significant effect of different types of intervention used.