Neural Mechanisms AO3

• What is a strength of the idea that the amygdala plays a role in aggression?


  There is research evidence for this.
• What type of study did Pardini et al. (2014) conduct?


  A longitudinal study of male participants.
• What was the age of participants when they had an MRI scan in Pardini et al. (2014)?


  26 years old.
• What did Pardini et al. (2014) find regarding amygdala volumes and aggression?


  Participants with lower amygdala volumes exhibited higher levels of aggression and violence.
• Why is the finding of Pardini et al. (2014) significant in terms of confounding variables?


  It was the case even when confounding variables were controlled.
• Why does lower amygdala volume matter in terms of emotional processing?


  It compromises the ability to evaluate the emotional importance of sensory information.
• How does lower amygdala volume relate to violent responses?


  It makes a violent response more likely.
• What is the conclusion drawn from the research on amygdala volume and aggression?


  • There is research support for the theory.
  • Reduced amygdala volume can predict the development of severe and persistent aggression.
• P - A strength of the idea that the serotonin plays a role in

  aggression is that there is research evidence of this.

  E - Raleigh et al. (1991) found that vervet monkeys fed on

  experimental diets high in tryptophan (which increases

  serotonin levels in the brain) exhibited decreased levels

  of aggression. Individuals fed on diets that were low in

  tryptophan exhibited increased aggressive behaviour.

  E - This matters because the study above shows that

  different levels of aggression found could be attributed

  to the animals’ serotonin levels.

  L - Therefore, there is research support for this theory.