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13 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Sperry 1968 |
Natural Experiment
To investigage the effect of hemisphere disconnection of the brain of the psychological performances of epileptic patients treating using severing of the corpus callosum. To prove: Each hemisphere has different functions, each possesses an independent stream of conscious awareness, each has its own set of memories.
11 participants (patients) who had advanced epilepsy that could not be controlled by medication were chosen.
IV: Different parts of the brain being disconnected
Procedure: Testing visual and tactile information to see which part of the brain works. For example: If looking at something with right eye, left brain works.
Results: Objects shown in right go to left and can be verbally named and written down. Objects shown in left and go to right cannot be verbally named but can be pointed out.
-Shows that the two hemispheres have different ability and functions.
Conclusion: Left brain- language and writing
Evaluation: |
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Kendler et al 1991 |
Aim: whether genetics had an effect on bulimia nervosa in families
Method: gather data of 2000 female twins
Results: rate of 23% in MZ (identical) twins and 9% in DZ (fraternal) twins. In all studies, higher rate in MZ than DZ, varies from 23% to 83%
Conclusion: genetics may have an effect on people getting bulimia.
Evaluation: |
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Rosenzweig and Bennett 1972 |
Aim: Whether enriched environment has an effect on the brains development of neurons in the cerebral cortex.
Method: Place a group of rats in 1 enriched environment with interesting toys and another group in 1 deprived environment (no toys) for 30-60 days. Afterwards they were sacrificed.
IV: Enriched env.
Result: As a result of the enriched env. the rats thickness increased in the cortex. (better memory, learning)
Conclusion: Thickness increased as a result of enriched experience.
Evaluation: |
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Lindstroem et al 1999 |
lab studies Aim: whether schizophrenic patients had differences in dopamine levels
Method: PET scan of 10 patients with schizophrenia and 10 healthy controls. Inject patients with I-DOPA, which is used in production of dopamine
Results: I-DOPA was taken up more quickly in patients with schizophrenia, suggesting that more dopamine was used for production
Conclusion: more dopamine was used for production with patients with schizophrenia.
Evaluation: |
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Marucha 1997 |
lab studies Aim: where there is a link between stress and time taken for recovery
Method: 11 dental students had their palates punctured (minor pain) during summer, and 3 days before an examination period (stressful period)
DV: same participants
IV: time that they puncture their palates
Result: wounds took 8 days to heal during summer, but 11 days to heal during examination period 40% increase in healing time during non-stress Interleukin (substance to aid wound healing, as it facilitates regrowth of skin Subjects interleukin levels declined 68% during exams
Conclusion: cortisol (stress hormone) lowers interleukin levels, meaning that the body will have a weaker immune system, as the body has lower resistance
Evaluation: |
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Kasamatsu and Hirai 1999 |
Aim:
Results:
Conclusion:
Connection of study to question |
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Martinez and Kesner 1991 |
Aim:
Methods:
Results:
Conclusion:
Evaluation
Limitations: |
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Curtis et al 2004 |
Aim: Whether there were patterns in people's disgust responses
Method:
Results:
Conclusion: people before couldn't be picky, their aim was just to survive
Evaluation: Strengths
Limitations |
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Caspi et al 2003 |
Aim: To study the role of 5-HTT gene in depression after experiences of stressful events.
IV: Participant with a mutated gene (shorted allele).
DV: vulnerability to depression
Study: Gene influences level of serotonin (controlling mood). Gene mapping. Long allele is a bit more frequent (57%).
Findings: Participants with mutated gene who experienced many stressful events were more likely to become depressed.
Conclusion: Gene may indicated vulnerability to depression after stress. HOWEVER: people without mutated gene also become depressed; large population carries the mutated gene (difficult to conclude that it is a major contributor). There is no evidence against the idea that it could be the stressful events (environmental factors) that made people depressed- not clear now envr. factors influence genes.
evaluation: |
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Fessler 2006 |
Aim:
Method:
Results:
Conclusion: Natural selection may have helped human ancestors to be pickier with food to compensate for increased susceptibility to disease. Being pickier with food would also help humans avoid diseases that could harm unborn offspring, and thus, threaten the species.
Evaluation: Strengths
Limitations |
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Wahlstein 1997 |
Aim: He tried to show that higher socio-economic status improves IQ scores.
Findings: They found that well controlled adoption studies conducted in France have found that transferring an infant from a family with a low socio economic status to a home where parents have a high socio economic status improved childhood IQ scores by 12-16 points.
Conclusion: This study shows that the environment plays a key role in determining intelligence and it also can be used to support the idea that the environment can play a key role in determining behavior. |
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Hetherington and Ranson 1942 |
Aim: looking at appetite regulation with different parts of the brain lesioned
Method: lesioning the ventromedial hypothalamus in rats
Conclusion: that the damage had prevented the rat's satiety centre from functioning. Normally when rats feed, the VMH stops the feelings of hunger as it receives messages from the digestive system and they stop eating
Evaluation: |
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Raine 1997 |
Aim: To directly asses brain functioning in violent individuals- to discover (using PET scans) if murderers who pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) to show evidence of brain abnormalities
IV: Whether participants were controls or prisoners who pleaded not guilty for reasons of insanity (NGRI's)
DV: Brain activity
Method: PET scans were taken (researchers used/took permission to use the data); 41 participants (39 male, 2 female) and matching 41 participants (controls) was selected based on sex, age and matched to a NGRI participant.
Findings: Found reduced glucose metabolism in prefrontal cortex and increased activity in the right amygdala, suggesting the PFC is less active than in normal controls and amygdala may be more active.
Conclusion: asymmetric activity in the amygdala- imbalance causing misunderstanding of fear and consequences.
Evaluation:
WEAKNESSES |