Brainresearch relied on post mortem patients with musical/behavioural deviations
After brain imaging it was possible to study the human brain non-invasively
Non-invasive brain imaging
No skin breaking with no injections
No exposure to radiation
MRI (MagneticResonanceImaging)
A common non-invasive neuroimaging technique that creates 3D images of the brain
The study is quasi-experimental as the IV (being a taxi driver) was not manipulated
It is difficult to generalise the findings as the sample was all male
The study is ethical as MRI is a safe technique
Localization
The idea that specific brain regions are associated with specific behaviours or functions
Localization
Speech, smell, sight
Broca's Aphasia
Loss of articulated speech, e.g. a man could only say "tan" instead of what he wanted to say
Localization is not static, some functions are distributed across the brain while others are more localized
Neuroplasticity
The brain's ability to form and reorganize synaptic connections in response to learning
Research shows the brain is constantly changing and reorganizing throughout the lifespan
Cortical remapping
The process of the brain creating new connections and traces to learn something new
Synaptic plasticity
The changes that occur at the synapse, the junction between neurons, that allow them to communicate
Maguire's study found no differences in other parts of the brain, suggesting the changes were specific to the hippocampus
Neural networks
A set of algorithms modelled loosely on the brain that recognise patterns and interpret sensory data
Neural networks allow us to do things like see an object and catch it
LTP (Long Term Potentiation)
The repetition of a task causes neuroplasticity, leading to dendritic branching and increased neural density
Synaptic pruning
The elimination of unused synaptic connections, strengthening neural networks
Maguire's study suggests synaptic pruning occurred in the anterior hippocampus of taxi drivers, leading to a decrease in dendritic branching and synaptic connections
Excitatory neurotransmitters
Increase the likelihood of a neuron firing by depolarizing the neuron
Inhibitory neurotransmitters
Decrease the likelihood of a neuron firing by hyperpolarizing the neuron
Metabotropic neurotransmitters
Indirectly affect neuron firing
Agonist
A chemical or drug that binds to receptors in the brain and activates them
Antagonist
A chemical or drug that binds to receptors in the brain and prevents agonists from having an effect
The reductionist approach of the Rodgers & Kesner study allows for establishing a cause-and-effect relationship, but it is unclear how generalizable the findings are to humans
Antagonist
A chemical or drug that binds to receptors in the brain and prevents an agonist from having a reaction
Agonist
A chemical or drug that binds to receptors and activates them, producing a physiological response
All neurotransmitters have agonists for receptor sites
Types of agonists
Endogenous (from the body, natural)
Exogenous (drugs, stimulants)
Scopolamine (blocks acetylcholine)
Longer time and more mistakes in maze task
Physostigmine (breaks down acetylcholine)
Shorter time and fewer mistakes in maze task
Acetylcholine may play an important role in memory consolidation and retrieval
Hormones
Chemicals produced by the body that travel in the blood and regulate ongoing processes, they don't directly affect behaviour but change the probability that a behaviour will occur
Oxytocin
Produced by the hypothalamus, secreted by the pituitary gland, acts as a neurotransmitter, plays a role in social bonding
Trust game study
1. Participants given oxytocin or placebo
2. Played many rounds of trust game
3. Feedback of betrayal
4. Oxytocin group kept investing at similar rates, placebo group less likely to trust
Pheromones are chemicals produced and released into the environment by an animal that affect its own species
Pheromones lead to rapid behavioural effects in animals, but no human pheromone has been found
MHC (major histocompatibility complex) genes are co-dominant and affect the immune system, people with more diverse MHC genes have better immune systems
shirt study
Women rated the body odour of men with dissimilar MHC genes as more attractive