Specific brain areas are associated with specific functions.
Neuroplasticity
The brain changes its structure and function with experience or after injury.
Neurotransmitter
A chemical messenger that crosses the synapse from one neuron to the next.
Agonist / antagonist
A chemical that mimics or enhances / blocks a neurotransmitter's effect.
Localization: Broca's area (speech production), Wernicke's area (language comprehension), hippocampus (memory consolidation), amygdala (fear and emotion), prefrontal cortex (planning, decision-making). Functions also depend on networks of areas.
The full notes, worked example and check questions for this subtopic are in the app.
Exam tip: Use the aim–method–results–conclusion structure for studies, then add one evaluation point if the question asks to evaluate.
B.2Hormones and behaviour
Key terms
Hormone
A chemical messenger released by endocrine glands into the bloodstream, acting on target organs.
Cortisol
A stress hormone released by the adrenal glands via the HPA axis.
Oxytocin
A hormone linked to social bonding, trust and childbirth.
Pheromone
A chemical released outside the body that may affect the behaviour of others of the same species.
Hormones act more slowly and for longer than neurotransmitters, affecting mood, stress, memory and social behaviour.
The full notes, worked example and check questions for this subtopic are in the app.
Exam tip: Distinguish hormones (blood, slow, widespread) from neurotransmitters (synapse, fast, local) if a question asks about either.
B.3Genetics and behaviour
Key terms
Heritability
The proportion of variation in a trait in a population that can be attributed to genetic differences.
Monozygotic (MZ) twins
Identical twins sharing about 100% of their genes.
Dizygotic (DZ) twins
Non-identical twins sharing about 50% of their genes on average.
Gene–environment interaction
Genes influence behaviour differently depending on the environment.
Twin studies compare concordance in MZ and DZ twins: a higher MZ concordance suggests a genetic influence. Adoption studies compare adopted children with biological and adoptive parents.
The full notes, worked example, interactive diagram and check questions for this subtopic are in the app.
Exam tip: Always add that genes influence behaviour through interaction with the environment, not in isolation.
B.4Animal research in the biological approach
Key terms
Animal model
Using a non-human species to study processes that may apply to humans.
Generalizability
How far findings apply beyond the sample studied.
3Rs
Replace, reduce, refine: principles for ethical animal research.
Animals are used when procedures would be unethical in humans: lesions, drug injections into specific brain areas, controlled breeding (e.g. Rogers and Kesner, 2003).
The full notes, worked example and check questions for this subtopic are in the app.
Exam tip: Use converging evidence from human studies to justify (or limit) a generalization from animals.