A Study Guide to Studies:
IB Psychology
Biological Level of Analysis
Principles:
 Human behavior, is to some extent, genetically based (innate)
 Animal research can provide insight into human behavior
 There are biological Correlates of behavior
Learning
Outcome
#2 “Examine
one study
related to
localization of
Brain
Function”
Name, Date
Procedure / Type
Findings
1. “HM”, Milner, 1957
2. Sperry’s Split Brain
Research
3. Feinstein “SM”
4. Kluver and Bucy 1939
1. Case study. HM couldn’t make new
memories due to an injury to his hippocampus.
2. Case studies and experiments
3. SM. Case study. Woman had no amygdala
and she thus had no fear.
4. Experiments severing and stimulating the
amygdala’s of various animals: wolverine, cat,
monkey, etc.
1. **Illustrated the localized role of the
hippocampus in memory formation.
**Hm could learn new procedural memories,
thus such memories are not stored in Hippo
**Study showed that memory processes are
more complicated than originally believed.
Hippo important, but not only structure
involved.
2. Sperry researched split brain patients
whose corpus callosum was severed to treat
severe seizures. He found that:
*language centers are located in the left
hemisphere of the brain
* Lateralization—in that the left side of the
brain controls the right side of the body, and
vice versa.
*Degree to which much processing occurs
subconsciously or unconsciously.
3. Amygdala controls fear response.
Amygdala is responsible for the fear response
in animals.
4. Found that when the amygdala of animals
was severed from higher brain regions, the
animals would cower in fear and their
aggression levels were almost zero. Contrast
that with stimulation of the amygdala which
caused demonstrably aggressive behavior.
#4 “Explain,
using
examples, the
function of
two
hormones on
human
behavior”
1. Fisher “love studies” –
oxytocin on pair bonding
2. Melatonin on sleep
3. Testosterone
1. Biological knowledge, as well as
experiments and case studies
http://www.americanscientist.org/issues/pub/
high-on-fidelity
1. Oxytocin is released by the hypothalamus gland
during child birth and also helps the breast express milk.
It helps cement the strong bond between mother and
child. It is also released by both sexes during orgasm
and it is thought that it promotes bonding when adults
are intimate. The theory goes that the more sex a
couple has, the deeper their bond becomes
2. Biological knowledge. Experiments.
Bonding basics The mechanics behind the power of
3. Correlational Studies FIND SPECIFIC STUDY!!
attachment cues are dead simple. These familiar behaviors
(skin-to-skin contact, eye contact, affectionate touch,
nurturing, etc.) release oxytocin in a part of the brain known
as the amygdala and relax it. Without this hormone induced
ease, we don't bond. We remain on guard.
2.
In humans, melatonin is produced by the pineal gland, a
small endocrine gland[29] located in the center of the brain but
outside theblood–brain barrier. The melatonin signal forms
part of the system that regulates the sleep–wake cycle by
chemically causing drowsiness and lowering the body
temperature
Human melatonin production decreases as a person
ages.[34] Also, as children become teenagers, the nightly
schedule of melatonin release is delayed, leading to later
sleeping and waking times.[35]
3. Men are far more violent than women due to their
increased levels of testosterone. Additionally, taking
artificial testosterone has been shown to increase
aggressive and violent behavior (steroid use).