Sapolsky et al. ANIMAL STUDY

Question 1

key terms

Answer 1

cortisol
hippocampus
true experiment

Question 2

aim

Answer 2

to investigate the effect of increased cortisol levels on hippocampus and if they would damage it

Question 3

method

Answer 3

1 group of vervet monkeys received a surgically implanted cortisol pellet in their hippocampi and was compared with a control group that received a cholesterol pellet

lived like this for 1 year and were euthanized, their brains were then compared

Question 4

results

Answer 4

cortisol group had damage in their hippocampal neurons whereas cholesterol group did not have damage

Question 5

conclusion

Answer 5

stress might affect neuroplasticity in the brain

can explain why people who experience long-term stress tend to have smaller hippocampi