SAQ Nov 2024 Summative

Question 1

Technique used: translation

Answer 1

This response will give a detailed account of how the brain imaging technique (MRI) is used in the Maguire study in relation to the localization of function on the behavior of spatial memory.

Question 2

Technique used: background

Answer 2

To investigate and compare the changes in the brain in relation to certain behaviors, researchers use a technique called brain scans in order to see visual changes such as the area or matter in the brain. An example of this technique is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which creates 3D images of the brain through strong magnetic fields from the energy of atoms.

Question 3

Technique used: aim

Answer 3

To investigate the differences in the brains between London taxi drivers and non-taxi drivers.

Question 4

Technique used: procedure

Answer 4

16 London taxi drivers and 50 non-taxi drivers. The taxi drivers were required to have a license for over 1.5 years and had to take a “knowledge test”. All participants underwent two MRI scans, one was pixel counting which measures the area of the brain, and voxel-based morphometry which measures the density of gray matter. To eliminate biases, researchers did a single-blind study, meaning they did not know whose brains they were analyzing.

Question 5

Technique used: findings

Answer 5

The posterior hippocampus was larger and denser in gray matter, correlating with their ability to navigate and memorize the streets of London. They also discovered that the anterior hippocampus of taxi drivers was smaller but had the same volume as that of non-taxi drivers.

Question 6

Technique used: LTQ

Answer 6

This demonstrates how the use of the MRI technique allowed psychologists to see the effect of spatial memory on the size of grey matter and area in the brain regarding the Maguire study. It allows researchers to obtain detailed images for comparison between London taxi drivers and non-taxi drivers to gain a better understanding of the localization of function in relation to the behavior of memory. Thus, this technique can help researchers better understand changes in the brain to support their claims and studies.

Question 7

Localization of Function: translation

Answer 7

This response will give a detailed account of how the Maguire study shows the localization of function in relation to the behavior of spatial memory.

Question 8

Localization of Function: background

Answer 8

Localization of function is the theory that parts of the brain are responsible for different functions. These functions can be found in areas such as the cortex, limbic system, and brain stem. Within the limbic system, there are 4 areas that have different functions. These areas are the thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala. The hippocampus is responsible for memory, obtaining and storing information, and spatial reasoning.

Question 9

Localization of Function: aim

Answer 9

To investigate the differences in the brains between London taxi drivers and non-taxi drivers.

Question 10

Localization of Function: procedure

Answer 10

16 London taxi drivers and 50 non-taxi drivers. The taxi drivers were required to have a license for over 1.5 years and had to take a “knowledge test”. All participants underwent two MRI scans, one was pixel counting which measures the area of the brain, and voxel-based morphometry which measures the density of gray matter. To eliminate biases, researchers did a single-blind study, meaning they did not know whose brains they were analyzing.

Question 11

Localization of Function: findings

Answer 11

The posterior hippocampus was larger and denser in gray matter, correlating with their ability to navigate and memorize the streets of London. They also discovered that the anterior hippocampus of taxi drivers was smaller but had the same volume as that of non-taxi drivers.

Question 12

Localization of Function: LTQ

Answer 12

This demonstrates localization of function as findings from the Maguire study showed the association between the hippocampus and its role in memory and how the posterior hippocampus is responsible for spatial orientation. This can help us learn more about how different areas are responsible for different functions in the brain such as Broca’s area. This can further help those with Broca’s aphasia improve their production of speech and daily life functioning.

Question 13

Neuroplasticity: translation

Answer 13

This response will give a detailed account of how the Draganski study demonstrates neuroplasticity in relation to repeated learning and practice.

Question 14

Neuroplasticity: background

Answer 14

Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to adjust based on environmental changes. It involves the breaking, forming, and strengthening of synaptic connections through repeated and consistent behaviour. When the brain undergoes learning or experience, neurons fire together and therefore the synaptic connections between them strengthen. This is because neurons firing together frequently form more synapses between them, allowing the brain to repeat the process more easily.

Question 15

Neuroplasticity: aim

Answer 15

To investigate if the brains of individuals change when learning and practicing juggling.

Question 16

Neuroplasticity: procedure

Answer 16

The sample was split into 2 groups: jugglers and non-jugglers. Each group had no juggling experience prior to the experiment, during which an initial MRI brain scan was performed. The juggling group was told to spend 3 months consistently learning how to juggle, whereas the non-jugglers did not learn or practice juggling. Another MRI brain scan was performed after 3 months. For the next 3 months, however, the juggling group was told to not practice their juggling routine. After this, another MRI brain scan was performed.

Question 17

Neuroplasticity: findings

Answer 17

In the initial brain scan, there was no difference in brain structure between the 2 groups. In the second brain scan, there was significantly more grey matter in the mid-temporal area of both hemispheres. In the third brain scan, the juggling group’s grey matter decreased but remained higher than the initial scan. An interesting finding was that the frequency of practice also correlated with better juggling performance and more significant changes in the brain.

Question 18

Neuroplasticity: LTQ

Answer 18

This demonstrates neuroplasticity as there was a clear correlation between the amount of practice and the level of change in the brain’s grey matter. The study supports the concept that the brain can adapt to environmental changes, and it establishes neuroplasticity as a fundamental mechanism for the learning of new behaviour.

Question 19

Neural networks: translation

Answer 19

This response will give a detailed account on how the Draganski study demonstrates the formation of neural networks in relation to repeated learning and practice.

Question 20

Neural networks: background

Answer 20

Neural networks are formed through neuroplasticity which is the brain’s ability to learn and adapt to environmental stimuli, strengthening and creating neural pathways. Neural networking is the process of neurons firing repeatedly and communicating together, thus, increasing synapses leading to the formation of dendritic branching. The more synapses available for a certain brain behavior, the easier it is for the brain to perform.

Question 21

Neural networks: aim

Answer 21

The Draganski study aims to explore if the brain would change through new exposures to learning a new task.

Question 22

Neural networks: procedure

Answer 22

The sample was split into 2 groups: jugglers and non-jugglers. Each group had no juggling experience prior to the experiment, during which an initial MRI brain scan was performed. The juggling group was told to spend 3 months consistently learning how to juggle, whereas the non-jugglers did not learn or practice juggling. Another MRI brain scan was performed after 3 months. For the next 3 months, however, the juggling group was told to not practice their juggling routine. After this, another MRI brain scan was performed.

Question 23

Neural networks: findings

Answer 23

In the initial brain scan, there was no difference in brain structure between the 2 groups. In the second brain scan, there was significantly more grey matter in the mid-temporal area of both hemispheres in the juggler’s brain. In the third brain scan, the juggling group’s grey matter decreased but remained higher than the initial scan. An interesting finding was that the frequency of practice also correlated with better juggling performance and more significant changes in the brain.

Question 24

Neural networks: LTQ

Answer 24

The study demonstrates the brain’s ability and capacity to learn new things in response to environmental demands, helping us gain more knowledge on the functions of the brain. It can also help us understand how practicing and performing can have an impact on neurons firing together as well as our behavior.

Question 25

Neural pruning: translation

Answer 25

This response will give a detailed account of neural pruning with reference to the Dragunski study in relation to the behavior of learning a new task.

Question 26

Neural pruning: background

Answer 26

Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to adapt to environmental demands, creating and strengthing neural pathways. One way our brain changes is through neural pruning which is the process that decreases the number of synapses in relation to dendritic branching to remove unneeded connections and increase the brain’s efficiency.

Question 27

Neural pruning: aim

Answer 27

The Draganski study aims to explore if the brain would change through new exposures to learning a new task.

Question 28

Neural pruning: procedure

Answer 28

The sample was split into 2 groups: jugglers and non-jugglers. Each group had no juggling experience prior to the experiment, during which an initial MRI brain scan was performed. The juggling group was told to spend 3 months consistently learning how to juggle, whereas the non-jugglers did not learn or practice juggling. Another MRI brain scan was performed after 3 months. For the next 3 months, however, the juggling group was told to not practice their juggling routine. After this, another MRI brain scan was performed.

Question 29

Neural pruning: findings

Answer 29

In the initial brain scan, there was no difference in brain structure between the 2 groups. In the second brain scan, there was significantly more grey matter in the mid-temporal area of both hemispheres in the juggler’s brain. In the third brain scan, the juggling group’s grey matter decreased but remained higher than the initial scan. An interesting finding was that the frequency of practice also correlated with better juggling performance and more significant changes in the brain.

Question 30

Neural pruning: LTQ

Answer 30

This demonstrates neural pruning as the juggling group was able to reduce unneeded connections in the brain when the skill of juggling was not needed anymore. This is seen when they were asked to stop juggling and the grey matter decreased from the cause of neural pruning. This allows us to understand that neural pruning occurs and how we should consistently practice to maintain the firing of neurons.

Question 31

Neurotransmitter: translation

Answer 31

This response will give a detailed account of how the Antonova et al. study demonstrates the effect of ACh on the behavior of spatial memory.

Question 32

Neurotransmitter: background

Answer 32

Neurotransmitters are small molecules that transmit electrical signals across synapses in the brain. The electrical signals are called an action potential which travels through the axon and are released as neurotransmitters, the chemical signal, in the synapse between the receptor sites to pass on the message. They play a role in affecting our mood, sleep, learning, memory, and more. An example of a neurotransmitter is known as acetylcholine which increases the firing of neurons and plays a role in the consolidation of memory in the hippocampus.

Question 33

Neurotransmitter: aim

Answer 33

Antonova wanted to determine the effects of scopolamine on hippocampal activity in the creation of spatial memory.

Question 34

Neurotransmitter: procedure

Answer 34

The sample was made up of 20 healthy males. It was a double-blind study where the participants nor researchers knew which study group the patients were in. The participants were then either injected with scopolamine or a placebo 70-90 minutes before the task. Scopolamine blocks acetylcholine receptor sites while the placebo was used to make sure that the injection wasn’t an affecting factor during the experiment. The participants were first trained to use a joystick before the task. Once they were comfortable, they were put into an fMRI and asked to play “Arena task”, a virtual reality game to reach the “pole”. After they reach the “pole” the game would put them at another spot in the arena where they were tasked to find the “pole” again. This was measured for 6 trials and 3-4 weeks later, the same procedure was done, each participant receiving the other treatment.

Question 35

Neurotransmitter: findings

Answer 35

The researchers found that when the participants were injected with scopolamine, they took longer to find the “pole” than the group that received the placebo. In addition, the fMRI showed more activity in the hippocampus in the placebo group than in the scopolamine group.

Question 36

Neurotransmitter: LTQ

Answer 36

This demonstrates scopolamine’s effect on spatial memory in the hippocampus where the findings seem to show that acetylcholine plays a key role in the encoding of spatial memory and cognitive maps in humans. This research also supports acetylcholine’s role in spatial memory in rats from the Rogers and Kesner study. These findings are useful as they can lead to better understanding of memory loss in patients w/ Alzheimer's disease in relation to neurotransmitters such as acetylcholine.

Question 37

Hormones: translation

Answer 37

This response will give a detailed explanation of the effect of hormones on human memorization associated with emotional arousal through the study of McGaugh and Cahill.

Question 38

Hormones: background

Answer 38

Hormones are a type of chemical that affects behavior. They are secreted by glands in the endocrine system, released directly into the bloodstream, producing longer lasting effects than transmitters. A type of hormone is Adrenaline, secreted by the adrenal glands, responsible for arousal and “fight or flight” response. It’s known for being associated with emotional memory formation as it sends signals to the amygdala, a brain area linked to memory, to communicate danger.

Question 39

Hormones: aim

Answer 39

The aim of the McGaugh and Cahill study was to study the role of emotion on the creation of memories.

Question 40

Hormones: procedure

Answer 40

The experiment consisted of two groups. Both groups saw a 12-page slide show consisting of different stories. The presentation of the first group was a boring story on a woman and her son visiting his father in the hospital. Upon arriving in the hospital they witnessed the staff preparing for a disaster drill for a simulated accident. The second group’s presentation consisted of a different story. A boy got into a car accident, severely injuring his feet. He was rushed to the hospital where the staff tried to reattach his limbs. He stayed in the hospital for 2 weeks with his mother and then went home. A follow up study was conducted where the procedure was repeated, however, the second group (traumatic story) were injected with a beta blocker, propranolol. Propranolol is a drug used to treat heart disease, as the beta-blockers of the drug block target cells of the hormone, slowing down the heart, and allowing it to pump more efficiently. In this study, it was used to block the amygdala.

Question 41

Hormones: findings

Answer 41

In the original study it was found that participants in the second group (more emotionally arousing story) recalled the story in greater detail. In the follow up study, psychologists discovered that participants receiving the beta-blocker performed no better than the first group. Therefore concluding that the amygdala plays a significant role in the creation of memories associated with emotional arousal, relating to the role of adrenaline.

Question 42

Hormones: LTQ

Answer 42

The McGaugh and Cahill study supports the idea that emotion is associated with the creation of memories. This can also help use gain better information on the behavior and functions of hormones such as adrenaline in order to be able to navigate our lives or improve our studies.