BIOLOGICAL COGNITIVE SOCIOCULTURAL Levels of Analysis (LoA)

Biological LoA Focuses on physiology and genetics Gender differences via genetic makeup  XY and XX chromosomes Gender differences from the impact of hormones  testosterone and estrogen

Cognitive LoA Focuses on mental processes  Memory  Thinking  Perception  Attention Gender differences via gender schema theory Social cognition Gender stereotypes

Sociocultural LoA Focuses on how environment and culture impact behavior and thinking Impact of cultural definitions and roles for our mental representations of each gender Gender differences explained through social learning theory  Watching individuals of the same sex for behavior cues

Biological LoA: Physiology & Behavior Biology can affect cognition and cognition can affect biology…relationship is bidirectional Physiological factors that impact behavior:  Brain processes  Neurotransmitters  Hormones  Genes Physiology does not work alone since environmental stimuli influence our behavior  Stressful experiences  Attractive person passing by  Brain damage caused by trauma

Goal of IB Psychology Taking a holistic approach to human behavior Interactionist Approach: Both sides of nature (biology) vs. nurture (environment) argument.

Principles of Human Behavior (Biological LoA) 1. Behavior can be innate since it is genetically based Evolution..key role in behavior 2. Animal research can provide insight to human behavior Much research done with animals 3. Biology correlates with behavior Links between specific biological factors and specific behaviors

Reductionist Approach Micro-level research; breaking down complex human behavior into simple parts. Criticized for being over simplistic but allows us to gain detailed knowledge of human behavior Important because it allows understanding of several factors that influence one behavior

Impact of Neurotransmitters on Behavior Influences mood, memory, sexual arousal, and mental illness Acetylcholine  Muscle contraction, helps with development of memory in hippocampus Dopamine  Voluntary movement, learning, feelings of pleasure Norepinephrine (noradrenalin)  Arousal, alertness, stimulation of sympathetic nervous system Serotonin  Sleep, arousal levels, emotion

Affect of Serotonin on Behavior Tokyo University (Kasamatsu and Hirai, 1999) Aim: How sensory deprivation affects the brain Buddhist monks deprived of food, water, no communication, and exposure to cold weather 48 hours, hallucinations Blood samples before and right after hallucinations (serotonin levels increased which activated the frontal cortex and hypothalamus) Conclusion: Sensory deprivation released serotonin which altered monks experience.

Drugs Stimulate the production of neurotransmitters Block receptor sites if too much is produced

Technology and the Brain & Behavior Technology gives researchers the ability to monitor and discover the “map” of the brain’s activity Previously, case studies were used; usually situations that would be unethical to reproduce in the lab.  Case studies of brain damaged patients carried out over a long period of time (longitudinally)  Phineas Gage, Paul Broca, Carl Wernicke  Allows for observation of short-term and long- term effects

Localization of Brain Function The idea that specific parts of the brain are responsible for specific functions When a behavior is localized in the brain, it is possible to trace the origin of the behavior to a specific part of the brain. Does not explain ALL human behavior but is a major step forward in brain research

Robert Heath (1950s) James Old (1950s) Electrically stimulated parts o f the brain in depressed patients=experienced pleasure One patient (B-19) electrically stimulated himself 1,500 times in 3 hours Experienced euphoria and elation and was eventually disconnected against his will Rats would receive electrical stimulation to the nucleus accumbens when a lever was pressed Crossed over electrified grids and preferred pleasure lever over food and water Research on the role of the nucleus accumbens (pleasure center)

Brain Functions and Ethical Considerations Electrical stimulation of the nucleus accumbens is based mainly on dopamine (desire) and serotonin (satiety and inhibition) Via animal studies, all drugs increase the production of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens and reduce serotonin.  Cocaine and nicotine Frequent use of drugs increase the amount of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens.  Why drug addicts have an obsessive drive to seek more drugs even though they know its not good for them

Spiders on Drugs

Technology Invasive Techniques Study the active brain  EEG, PET, fMRI More ethical May be misleading Ablation (removing) & leisoning (scarring) techniques on animals Harm cannot be reversed  Ethical?  Pain? Technology vs. Invasive Techniques

Jig-Saw Activity Slides…

Biological LoA: Genetics & Behavior Behavioral genetics: Understanding how both genetics and the environment play a role to individual variations in human behavior. Rhesus macaque monkeys & humans  93% genes are shared, the 7% makes a large difference Complexity of genetics: Inheritance contributes to behavior and acts as a building block however, it is not probable that one specific gene is responsible for complex behaviors:  Intelligence, criminal behavior, attachment, altruism

+ = DISORDER The diathesis-stress model The model looks at the genetic/biologic vulnerability to a disorder/disease and the stress or traumatic environmental stimuli that may trigger a disorder (such as depression) The diathesis-stress model uses the analogy of a "walking time bomb" to help explain why, for example, not 100% of identical twins both get depression. It also helps to explain why a large percent of people in traumatic situations (post 9/11, rape, etc.) never develop PTSD. The model further talks about a balance -- the greater the diathesis or predisposition, the less the stress required for the disorder to "appear" and visa versa. Biological / genetic predisposition Stress (environment)

Last years notes on genetics and evolution… I hope you didn’t lose them! If you did, in your hours of free time, check these out on the wiki

Inheritance Genes that are passed down from parents to their off-spring Humans are composed of 24 pairs of chromosomes  20,000-25,000 genes James Watson: Human Genome Project   Mapped human genes  Regardless of this amazing accomplishment, the role of specific genes are still unknown

Genetic Research Based off of correlation studies Independent variable is not manipulated, so no cause and effect can be determined. Three types:  Twin Studies  Family Studies  Adoption Studies

Twin Studies Identical: one egg split in two Share 100% of genes  Same sex Fraternal: Formed from two separate eggs Share 50% of genes just like any other siblings  Same or different sex Monozygotic (MZ) Dizygotic (DZ) Used as basis for hypotheses since they show the different degrees of genetic relationship. In twin studies the correlation found is known as concordance.

Family Studies More representative of the general population Different degree of relatedness is compared with behavior to determine the impact of genes. Child Mother (50%) Grandparent (25%) Father (50%)

Adoption Studies  Used to determine how great of an impact environment plays in behavior since the child does not share any genes with foster parents.  Often criticized because of selective placement  Agencies tend to find adoptive parents that are similar to their biological parents which cause a difficulty in determining separating genetic inheritance from environment influences. This process is known as selective placement.

Evolution Another principle of the biological LoA is that the environment presents obstacles & challenges for each individual. In essence, those that adapt have a better chance of survival & having offspring which allows their genes to be passed down.

Theory of Natural Selection Members of a species acquire adaptive behaviors to survive the ever-changing environment (those better suited for environment will breed and pass on characteristics) Adaption: Species develop characteristics that make it more competitive in its environment Charles Darwin (Galapagos Island, finches, beaks)  On the Origin of Species (He didn’t yet know of the biological process through which traits are inherited)  Descent of Man

The Descent of Man findings We humans share several behaviors with other animals  Mate selection  Love of mother for offspring  Self-preservation  Similar facial expressions as apes  Similar feelings as animals

Monkeys vs. Humans Tetsuro Matsuzawa (2007) Looked at spatial memory in young chimps Used 3 chimps that were taught to recognize the numbers 1-9 on a computer Humans and chimps saw number flashed on a touch screen monitor and then the numbers were covered with blank squares and then were asked to touch the squares in sequential order.

Findings Humans had more errors and less accuracy as numbers were flashed and replaced by squares quicker  As agriculture developed, spatial memory skills aren’t as important for finding food  Perhaps this skill was replaced by the ability to develop language Chimps had astonishing memory; no difference in their recall in relation to the amount of time that the numbers were replaced with squares.  Adaption for survival skills such as remembering where food and danger is located in the rain forest

Ethical Considerations Because research in human genetics looks to identify certain genes involved in hereditary diseases there can be some negative outcomes:  May pose risks to participates due to the link between genetic heritage and people’s life  Information obtained may cause stress to participants family  If misused, information can be stigmatizing which could lead the inability to get a job or health insurance.

Once again, notes last year over confidentiality should be revisited Aboriginal people may object to genetic studies Eugenics and other forms of discrimination is the cause. Consent and speaking to community leaders are a must for many aboriginal and ethnic groups.