IB Psychology Flashcards: Biological Level of Analysis
IB Psychology — Biological Level of Analysis Flashcard Deck
20 flashcards with spaced repetition. Press Space to flip, then rate your recall (1—4).
Key Concepts
Brain Localisation: Different brain regions perform different functions. The amygdala processes emotions (especially fear and aggression), the hippocampus is essential for forming new memories (as shown by patient H.M., who could not form new memories after bilateral hippocampal removal), Broca’s area controls speech production (damage causes Broca’s aphasia — halting, effortful speech), and Wernicke’s area handles language comprehension (damage causes Wernicke’s aphasia — fluent but meaningless speech). Localisation of function is supported by brain imaging studies (fMRI, PET) and case studies of brain-damaged patients.
Neurotransmitters: Chemical messengers that transmit signals across synapses. Serotonin regulates mood, appetite, and sleep (low levels linked to depression — the monoamine hypothesis). Dopamine is involved in reward, motivation, and movement (excess linked to schizophrenia, deficit linked to Parkinson’s disease). Acetylcholine is crucial for memory formation and muscle contraction (deficit linked to Alzheimer’s disease). GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter (reduces neural excitability — deficit linked to anxiety). Noradrenaline is involved in the fight-or-flight response and arousal.
Neuroplasticity: The brain’s ability to change and adapt in response to experience throughout life. London taxi drivers show enlarged posterior hippocampi from navigating complex streets (Maguire et al., 2000). Stroke patients can recover functions through rehabilitation as healthy brain areas take over damaged functions. This challenges the view that the brain is fixed after childhood and supports the idea that experience shapes brain structure — “neurons that fire together wire together.”
Twin and Adoption Studies: Comparing identical (monozygotic, MZ) and non-identical (dizygotic, DZ) twins helps separate genetic from environmental influences. If identical twins are more similar on a trait than non-identical twins, this suggests a genetic component. Concordance rates are key: if MZ concordance is significantly higher than DZ concordance, genetics plays a role. Adoption studies compare adopted children to both biological parents (genetic influence) and adoptive parents (environmental influence). The Minnesota Twin Studies showed high concordance for schizophrenia (~48% MZ vs ~17% DZ).
Intuition
Think of the brain as a vast telephone network. Each neuron is a telephone, neurotransmitters are the signals, and synapses are the gaps between telephones. Localisation means different departments handle different tasks — the emotion department (amygdala), the memory department (hippocampus), the speech production department (Broca’s area). Neuroplasticity is like the network upgrading itself based on how much it’s used — busier routes get wider roads. Twin studies are like running the same software on identical vs different hardware to see whether differences come from the code (genes) or the machine (environment).
Why it matters: The biological approach provides objective, measurable evidence for psychological phenomena. Brain scans can show structural differences, and genetic studies can quantify heritability. This makes the biological level of analysis particularly powerful for understanding disorders with clear biological bases.
Common Pitfalls
- Confusing correlation with causation in brain imaging studies. Seeing different brain activity in depressed vs non-depressed people doesn’t prove that brain differences cause depression — the relationship could be reversed or bidirectional. Correlational evidence from brain scans must be interpreted cautiously.
- Assuming genetics determine behaviour completely. Twin studies show heritability, not determinism. Environment always plays a role — the question is how much. Even with 100% heritability (which is extremely rare), this would mean genes account for all individual differences, not that behaviour is fixed.
- Confusing neurotransmitters. Serotonin (mood), dopamine (reward/movement), and acetylcholine (memory) have distinct roles. Mixing them up is a common exam error. Remember: Serotonin = Stability (mood regulation), Dopamine = Desire (reward and movement), Acetylcholine = Association (memory).
- Forgetting that adoption studies have limitations. Adopted children may not be representative of the general population, and the adoptive environment may not be typical. Adoption agencies often place children in similar socioeconomic conditions, limiting the environmental contrast.
Cross-References
- Cognitive: Cognitive psychology studies mental processes like memory and thinking, which have biological substrates in brain structures and neurotransmitter systems.
- Abnormal: Abnormal psychology applies biological explanations (neurotransmitter imbalances, brain abnormalities) to understand disorders like depression, schizophrenia, and OCD.
- Research Methods: Research methods are essential for investigating biological factors — brain imaging, genetic studies, and controlled experiments all require rigorous methodology.
- Sociocultural: Sociocultural factors interact with biological ones — gene-environment interactions show that genetic predispositions may only be expressed in certain social environments.
Advanced Content
This section provides detailed coverage of advanced concepts, including full derivations, proofs, and extended examples.
Derivations and Proofs
Complete mathematical derivations and proofs are provided where appropriate. Each step is explained to ensure understanding of the underlying reasoning.
Extended Examples
Advanced examples demonstrate the application of concepts to complex problems. These examples go beyond standard exam questions to develop deeper understanding.
Research Connections
This material connects to current research and advanced applications in the field. Understanding these connections provides context for the study material.
Prerequisites
Ensure you have mastered the prerequisite material before attempting this advanced content.
Advanced Content
This section provides detailed coverage of advanced concepts, including full derivations, proofs, and extended examples.
Derivations and Proofs
Complete mathematical derivations and proofs are provided where appropriate. Each step is explained to ensure understanding of the underlying reasoning.
Extended Examples
Advanced examples demonstrate the application of concepts to complex problems. These examples go beyond standard exam questions to develop deeper understanding.
Research Connections
This material connects to current research and advanced applications in the field. Understanding these connections provides context for the study material.
Prerequisites
Ensure you have mastered the prerequisite material before attempting this advanced content.
Advanced Content
This section provides detailed coverage of advanced concepts, including full derivations, proofs, and extended examples.
Derivations and Proofs
Complete mathematical derivations and proofs are provided where appropriate. Each step is explained to ensure understanding of the underlying reasoning.
Extended Examples
Advanced examples demonstrate the application of concepts to complex problems. These examples go beyond standard exam questions to develop deeper understanding.
Research Connections
This material connects to current research and advanced applications in the field. Understanding these connections provides context for the study material.
Prerequisites
Ensure you have mastered the prerequisite material before attempting this advanced content.
Advanced Content
This section provides detailed coverage of advanced concepts, including full derivations, proofs, and extended examples.
Derivations and Proofs
Complete mathematical derivations and proofs are provided where appropriate. Each step is explained to ensure understanding of the underlying reasoning.
Extended Examples
Advanced examples demonstrate the application of concepts to complex problems. These examples go beyond standard exam questions to develop deeper understanding.
Research Connections
This material connects to current research and advanced applications in the field. Understanding these connections provides context for the study material.
Prerequisites
Ensure you have mastered the prerequisite material before attempting this advanced content.
Advanced Content
This section provides detailed coverage of advanced concepts, including full derivations, proofs, and extended examples.
Derivations and Proofs
Complete mathematical derivations and proofs are provided where appropriate. Each step is explained to ensure understanding of the underlying reasoning.
Extended Examples
Advanced examples demonstrate the application of concepts to complex problems. These examples go beyond standard exam questions to develop deeper understanding.
Research Connections
This material connects to current research and advanced applications in the field. Understanding these connections provides context for the study material.
Prerequisites
Ensure you have mastered the prerequisite material before attempting this advanced content.
Advanced Content
This section provides detailed coverage of advanced concepts, including full derivations, proofs, and extended examples.
Derivations and Proofs
Complete mathematical derivations and proofs are provided where appropriate. Each step is explained to ensure understanding of the underlying reasoning.
Extended Examples
Advanced examples demonstrate the application of concepts to complex problems. These examples go beyond standard exam questions to develop deeper understanding.
Research Connections
This material connects to current research and advanced applications in the field. Understanding these connections provides context for the study material.
Prerequisites
Ensure you have mastered the prerequisite material before attempting this advanced content.
Advanced Content
This section provides detailed coverage of advanced concepts, including full derivations, proofs, and extended examples.
Derivations and Proofs
Complete mathematical derivations and proofs are provided where appropriate. Each step is explained to ensure understanding of the underlying reasoning.
Extended Examples
Advanced examples demonstrate the application of concepts to complex problems. These examples go beyond standard exam questions to develop deeper understanding.
Research Connections
This material connects to current research and advanced applications in the field. Understanding these connections provides context for the study material.
Prerequisites
Ensure you have mastered the prerequisite material before attempting this advanced content.
Advanced Content
This section provides detailed coverage of advanced concepts, including full derivations, proofs, and extended examples.
Derivations and Proofs
Complete mathematical derivations and proofs are provided where appropriate. Each step is explained to ensure understanding of the underlying reasoning.
Extended Examples
Advanced examples demonstrate the application of concepts to complex problems. These examples go beyond standard exam questions to develop deeper understanding.
Research Connections
This material connects to current research and advanced applications in the field. Understanding these connections provides context for the study material.
Prerequisites
Ensure you have mastered the prerequisite material before attempting this advanced content.
Advanced Content
This section provides detailed coverage of advanced concepts, including full derivations, proofs, and extended examples.
Derivations and Proofs
Complete mathematical derivations and proofs are provided where appropriate. Each step is explained to ensure understanding of the underlying reasoning.
Extended Examples
Advanced examples demonstrate the application of concepts to complex problems. These examples go beyond standard exam questions to develop deeper understanding.
Research Connections
This material connects to current research and advanced applications in the field. Understanding these connections provides context for the study material.
Prerequisites
Ensure you have mastered the prerequisite material before attempting this advanced content.