1. The Biological Level of Analysis Revision
JEOPARDY
The Biological Level of Analysis Revision

2. The Biological Level of Analysis
The Brain
General learning outcomes
Genetics
Interactions
Chemistry of behaviour
200
400
600
800
1000
Bonus Question: 5000 pts

3. Topic 1: 200
Question:
This part of the brain is associated with the flight or fight response and aggression.
Answer
The Amygdala
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4. Topic 1: 400 Question: What is the role of the hippocampus? Answer
To convert short-term episodic and declarative memory into long-term memory.
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5. Topic 1: 600
Question:
What is the key difference between an MRI and an fMRI?
Answer
An MRI only captures the “structure” of the brain, whereas an fMRI is able to map its function.
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6. Topic 1: 800
Question:
What is one limitation of using brain imaging techniques to study the brain?
Answer
The environment is unnatural and may affect brain activity; colours exaggerate the effects on the brain; brain images are compilations.
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7. Topic 1: 1000
Question:
Simon LeVay found that the INAH3 nucleus may be linked to the origins of sexual orientation. What is one problem with this theory?
Answer
Sexual orientation is a highly complex behaviour. LeVay’s argument is highly reductionist.
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8. Topic 2: 200
Question:
A control often used by biologists to determine if just getting a treatment was enough to change the behaviour.
Answer
Placebo.
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9. Topic 2: 400 Question: Name two characteristics of a case study.
Answer
Method triangulation; no independent variable is manipulated; usually longitudinal; done in a naturalistic setting; in-depth with rich qualitative and quantitative data.
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10. Topic 2: 600
Question:
State one principle of the biological level of analysis.
Answer
Animals can be studied to understand human behaviour; there are biological correlates to behaviour; behaviour may be inherited.
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11. Topic 2: 800
Question:
Which research method was used by Maguire in the classic taxi cab study of memory?
Answer
It was a correlational study. No independent variable was manipulated and there was no procedure. Only the size of the hippocampus was measured.
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12. Topic 2: 1000
Question:
The use of placebos can potentially violate which ethical consideration?
Answer
Informed consent. It is important that the participant knows that s/he may be receiving the treatment or a placebo.
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13. Topic 3: 200
Question:
What is one way that researchers study inheritance besides twin studies?
Answer
Adoption studies, pedigree studies, gene mapping.
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14. Topic 3: 400
Question:
Why are the concordance rates for MZ twins often not 100%?
Answer
Even though the twins have the same genes, the genes might not be equally expressed because they have been exposed to different environmental stimuli.
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15. Topic 3: 600
Question:
What are two strengths of the Minnesota Twin Study of intelligence?
Answer
It had a very large, cross cultural sample size. The participants were not only students. Method and data triangulation was used.
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16. Topic 3: 800
Question:
State two limitations of evolutionary arguments of behaviour.
Answer
They assume that behaviour is inherited and based on genes – and is therefore reductionist. Do not establish cause and effect. Often cannot be empirically tested. Makes comparisons to animals which may not be appropriate for human behaviour.
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17. Topic 3: 1000
Question:
According to Wedekind’s Sweaty T-shirt study, why does smell matter in choosing a partner?
Answer
The MHC (Major Histocompatability Complex), which plays an important role in the immune system, is codominantly inherited – that is, both the male and female contribute to the child’s immunity. The odor of the MHC is different for different MHC combinations – thus to have a mix and hence stronger immune system for the child, choosing a partner with a different smell is thought to be important.
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18. Topic 4: 200
Question:
Rosenzweig & Bennett and Maguire both carried out studies that demonstrated what brain phenomenon?
Answer
Plasticity.
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19. Topic 4: 400
Question:
According to Meaney, what effect do glucocorticoids have on the brain?
Answer
Long-term high levels of cortisol may lead to hippocampal cell death, leading to fewer acetylcholine receptors. This impairs the ability to transfer short-term to long-term memories.
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20. Topic 4: 600
Question:
According to both Marmot (the Whitehall study) and Sapolsky, what affect do social hierarchies have on physiological processes?
Answer
Those lower in the hierarchy have higher levels of stress; this lowers immunity, increases cardiovascular problems and shortens life-span.
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21. Topic 4: 800
Question:
This is a research design which makes sure that when groups are compared that they have the same characteristics – for example, stressed smokers are only compare with non-stressed smokers.
Answer
A matched-pairs design.
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22. Topic 4: 1000
Question:
According to LeDoux, which parts of the brain are involved in the “high route” of the fear response?
Answer
The thalamus, hippocampus, frontal lobe and amygdala.
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23. Topic 5: 200
Question:
Martinez & Kesner studied the effect of this neurotransmitter on the transfer of memory from STM to LTM.
Answer
Acetylcholine.
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24. Topic 5: 400
Question:
Zak studied the effect of testosterone on trust. He found that when testosterone increased, this hormone, which is responsible for bonding and trust relationships, was suppressed.
Answer
Oxytocin.
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25. Topic 5: 600
Question:
Low levels of serotonin have been correlated with depression. What behaviours have been linked to high levels of serotonin?
Answer
Obsessive behaviour. OCD patients have high levels of serotonin, as do people who have recently fallen in love.
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26. Topic 5: 800
Question:
In the stress response, what is the role of cortisol?
Answer
Cortisol is the energy producer that works together with adrenaline in the stress response. It increases blood sugar and metabolizes fat, carbohydrates and proteins.
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27. Topic 5: 1000
Question:
According to Sapolsky, testosterone doesn’t cause aggression. What does it do?
Answer
Testosterone has a facilitative (or permissive) effect. In other words, it helps aggression to happen, but it doesn’t cause it. Sapolsky found that it increased signal firing to the amygdala.
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28. Bonus Question: 5000 pts. Question:
The birth of new neurons. This happens both in pre-natal development and in adults in the hippocampus.
Answer
Neurogenesis.
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