Comprehensive IBDP Psychology SL/HL notes for every topic from all core units. Includes background theories, studies, research descriptions, evaluations, conclusions, counter-arguments, etc. Guaranteed 7!
,Localization:
❖ Localisation of function is the theory that certain areas of the brain correspond to certain functions
like behaviours, processes or activities.
❖ This means that specific areas of the brain control different functions carried out by the brain and
behaviour, emotions and thoughts originate in the brain in specific locations.
❖ The theory also says that damage to relevant areas of the brain can cause drastic loss of that
function and even more, depending on the individual.
❖ Left hemisphere is in charge of logic, maths, language, controls RHS of body.
❖ Right hemisphere is in charge of creativity, emotion, beliefs, controls LHS of body.
❖ There are four main lobes of the brain:
➢ Occipital: vision
➢ Parietal: higher senses and language functions
➢ Frontal: reasoning, problem solving, judgement and creativity
➢ Temporal: perception, hearing, memory and meaning.
Corkin et al (1997):
❖ Aim: to investigate the extent of hippocampal damage to HM's brain & relate it to his memory loss
❖ Seizures since he fell off bike at the age of 7, had a lobotomy at the age of 27 to control epilepsy
❖ HM suffered from amnesia and was unable to transform short-term memory into long term
memory, but could retain memories of what had happened before the surgery. He could not
create new episodic and semantic memories, but was able to learn some procedural memories
❖ MRI showed that parts of temporal lobe, including the hippocampus & amygdala were missing.
Partial hippocampus remaining in the temporal lobe wasn't sufficient to support normal memory.
❖ Since removed parts of the brain were in only one area, it is evidence that the hippocampus and
surrounding areas of the brain are important in turning short-term memories of experiences into
long-term memories, but procedural memories are not stored via the hippocampus.
❖ HM participated in research for more than 50 years (in-depth)
❖ Showed that since HM and people with amnesia have deficits in only some types of memories,
meaning that the brain has several memory systems supported by distinct brain regions.
❖ Case study with high ecological validity. Triangulation used: experiments, interviews and MRI.
❖ Strong cause-and-effect relationship between removal of hippocampus and change in memory
❖ The case study nature of the experiment means that the generalisability and cross cultural validity
of the study is low as its findings do not necessarily apply for the general population.
❖ Cannot be replicated ethically due to the natural environment it was conducted in and despite
giving consent for the experiments, HM was unable to remember his participation or permission.
❖ No prior recording of HM’s brain activity, could’ve naturally had a different hippocampus function
, Neuroplasticity:
❖ Neuroplasticity: ability of the brain to change and reorganize throughout the course of life through
new neural connections (when synaptic connections are made or broken between neurons)
❖ In this process, neural networks in the brain literally change their shape. The reasons for such
changes are both genetic and environmental: due to injury or acquisition of new skills.
❖ Neuroplasticity is thought to be the brain’s mechanism of learning and acquiring new information.
Maguire et al (2000):
❖ Aim: to examine the role of hippocampus in brains with extensive spatial navigation experience
❖ MRI scan conducted on 16 right-handed male taxi drivers and compared to 50 control subjects
❖ Taxi drivers had increased brain matter volume as compared to control subjects in the posterior
hippocampus. Control subjects had greater volumes of grey matter in the anterior hippocampus
❖ No difference in general volume of the hippocampus, but significant redistribution of grey matter
❖ Hence, correlation was found between the amount of time spent as a taxi driver and volume in
the right posterior hippocampus, providing significant evidence for right posterior hippocampus to
be responsible for the store of long-term memories
❖ Hippocampus may change in response to environmental demands. Extensive practice with
spatial navigation hence affects the hippocampus, as the subjects’ hippocampi expanded due to
their reliance on navigational skills and spatial memories that they acquired.
❖ Posterior hippocampus involved when previously learned spatial information is used.
❖ Anterior hippocampal region involved during the encoding of new environmental layouts.
❖ High ecological validity as taxi drivers taken from real life situations. Had a control group.
❖ Single blind method: researchers did not know the difference between taxi driver/control scans.
❖ No researcher bias: cannot influence the results in order to portray a certain favourable outcome
❖ Quasi experiment: no causation as IV was not manipulated, taxi drivers not randomly assigned
❖ Those with large hippocampi may be naturally spatially talented and choose taxi driver careers
❖ Extraneous variables: no connection established with the drivers before the experiment
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