#bio studies

[sparklywatercolors]

Hi yes please send me random questions about the following:

Functions of tissues and organs

Circulatory systems

Respiratory systems

Blood flow through the heart.

Cause these are the most important for my bio final and I want to be prepared for as much of it as I can. Thank you in advance friends!

[effyeahibpsychology]

Research Studies for the Biological Level of Analysis

GENERAL LEARNING OUTCOMES

Outline principles that define the biological level of analysis (8 marks)

n/a

Explain how principles that define the biological level of analysis may be demonstrated in research (8 marks)

Money - sex change case study

Longitudinal study on David Reimer, a boy who lost his penis in a circumsicion accident

Advised his parents to give him a sex change; real aim was to prove that nurture determines gender identity, not nature

Proves that psychosexual development is determined by chromosomes and hormones

Rosenzweig, Bennet and Diamond (1972) - role of environmental stimulation on brain plasticity

To investigate whether environmental factors affected development of neurons in cerebral cortex

Brains of enriched environment rats were denser

Clive Wearing case study

Kasamatsu and Hirai - Japanese Monks serotonin study

Investigation into how sensory deprivation affects the brain

Found that sensory deprivation triggered release of higher levels of serotonin

Discuss how and why particular research methods are used at the biological level of analysis (22 marks)

Rosenzweig, Bennet and Diamond (1972) - role of environmental stimulation on brain plasticity

To investigate whether environmental factors affected development of neurons in cerebral cortex

Brains of enriched environment rats were denser

Clive Wearing case study

Suffered damage to hippocampus due to encephalitis, suffers retrograde and anterograde amnesia

Cannot form new memories, but remembers emotional and procedural memories

Discuss ethical considerations related to research studies at the biological level of analysis. (22 marks)

Money - sex change case study

Longitudinal study on David Reimer, a boy who lost his penis in a circumcision accident

Advised his parents to give him a sex change; real aim was to prove that nurture determines gender identity, not nature

Proves that psychosexual development is determined by chromosomes and hormones

Lindstroem et al. Schizophrenia and dopamine

Aim was to determine whether or not schizophrenic patients had differences in dopamine levels compared to non-schizophrenics

Schizophrenics had higher levels of dopamine production in their brains

PHYSIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOUR

Explain one study related to localization of function in the brain (8 marks)

Sperry (1968) - hemisphere disconnection

A natural experiment with the aim of investigating behavioural, psychological and neurological effects of disconnecting brain hemispheres

After a brain disconnection surgery, patients were shown visual information for 1/10th of a second on each eye (so eye has no time to focus / adjust) - information seen by left eye goes to right hemisphere etc.

Tactile stimulus only to left or right side, screen covered to remove vis. ID, information about object felt by left hand goes to right hemisphere etc.

Brain is localised - speech and writing in left, processing of visuals in right

Using one or more examples, explain the effects of neurotransmission on human behaviour (8 marks)

Kasamatsu and Hirai - Japanese monks serotonin study

Investigation into how sensory deprivation affects the brain

Found that sensory deprivation triggered release of higher levels of serotonin, triggering hallucinations

Using one or more examples, explain the functions of two hormones on behaviour (8 marks)

Marucha (1997) the effects of stress on time taken to recover

To investigate the link between stress levels and the body's ability to recover

11 dental students had their soft palates punctured during a) summer holidays and b) before exams began

Took longer to heal under stress

Rosenthal - melatonin study

In countries where low-light periods in winter are very long, people produce higher levels of melatonin for prolonged periods of time

Causes Seasonal Affective Disorder

Discuss two effects of the environment on physiological processes (22 marks)

Genie - feral child

Locked up for 13 years with little to no stimulation, cannot speak or walk properly

Psychologists have been trying to restore her ability to speak and think like a normal child but the "window" of learning has passed

Rosenzweig, Bennet, Diamond (1972) - the role of environmental stimulation on brain plasticity

To investigate whether environmental factors affected development of neurons in cerebral cortex

Brains of enriched-environment rats were denser

Bremner et al. (2003) - Stress, PTSD and memory problems related to reduction of hippocampal volume

Aim was to measure the volume of hippocampus based on theory that prolonged stress (raised cortisol levels) may reduce its volume

Found that hippocampus was smaller in PTSD patients than control

Examine one interaction between cognition and physiology in terms of behaviour. Evaluate two relevant studies. (22 marks)

Clive Wearing case study

Suffered damage to hippocampus due to encephalitis, suffers from retrograde and anterograde amnesia

Cannot form new memories, but remembers emotional and procedural memories

Milner and Scoville - case study of HM

HM suffered from severe epilepsy, had a surgery to remove parts of his temporal lobe but surgery also accidentally removed parts of hippocampus, suffers from retro- / anterograde amnesia

Discuss the use of brain imaging technologies in investigating the relationship between biological factors and behaviour. (22 marks)

Lindstroem et al. - schizophrenia and dopamine

Aim was to determine whether or not schizophrenic patients had differences in dopamine levels compared to non-schizophrenics

Schizophrenics had higher levels of dopamine production in their brains

Raine et al. (1997) - brains of murderers

To discover if murderers who plead not guilty for reasons of insanity (NGRI) showed evidence of brain abnormalities

NGRIs had less activity in the pre-frontal cortex (self-control / emotion) and amygdala / medial temporal hippocampus (inhibition of violence, fearlessness, unable to perceive consequences)

Milner and Scoville - case study of HM

HM suffered from severe epilepsy, had a surgery to remove parts of his temporal lobe but surgery also accidentally removed parts of hippocampus, suffers from retro- / anterograde amnesia

GENETICS AND BEHAVIOUR

With reference to relevant research studies, to what extent does genetic inheritance influence behaviour? (22 marks)

Caspi et al. (2003) - gene mapping study

Analyse possible role of (mutated) 5-HTT gene (responsible for serotonin production) in depression, longitudinal study using self-report of feelings after stressful event

Those with mutations were more likely to experience depression than those with normal gene

However, 43% of the world population has this mutation

Could be triggered by event - Nurnberg - 80% of women who have traumatic life events experience depression

Price - bipolar disorder in twins

Investigate relationship of BP in 216 pairs of DZ and MZ twins raised apart

MZ twins raised together - 68% concordance rate, MZ twins raised apart - 67% c.r., DZ twins 23%

Scarr and Weinberg - is intelligence genetic?

Trans-racial adoption participants, Afro-American children adopted by white families with existing biological children

Adopted children showed no significant IQ difference to biological children

Class may influence intelligence (due to quality of education)

Discuss ethical considerations in research into genetic influences on behaviour (22 marks)

Lindstroem et al. - Schizophrenia and dopamine

Aim was to determine whether or not schizophrenic patients had differences in dopamine levels compared to non-schizophrenics

Schizophrenics had higher levels of dopamine production in brains

Raine et al. (1997) - brains of murderers

To discover if murderers who plead not guilty for reasons of insanity (NGRI) showed evidence of brain abnormalities

NGRIs had less activity in pre-frontal cortex (self-control / emotion) and amygdala / medial temporal hippocampus (inhibition of violence, fearlessness, unable to perceive consequences)

Rosenzweig, Bennet and Diamond (1972) - role of environmental stimulation on brain plasticity

To investigate whether environmental factors affected development of neurons in cerebral cortex

Brains of enriched environment rats were denser

Examine one evolutionary explanation of behaviour (22 marks)

Fessler et al (2006) - disgust sensitivity in pregnant women

To investigate disgust sensitivity in first trimester of pregnancy, conducted a web survey where women had to indicate disgust levels in different scenarios

The weakened immune systems of pregnant women in first trimester made them more sensitive to dangerous foods

Curtis et al (2004) - similar to Fessler et al.

But used male and female participants of various ages from 165 different countries

Females had higher disgust ratings than men, disgust levels increased with age

Disgust helps protect those in situation where immune system was being hindered (pregnancy, age)