Biological Approach
❖ Assumptions (Neurotransmitters, Localisation of Brain Function, Evolutionary
Influence)
❖ Therapy (Link to Assumptions, antipsychotic drugs, agonist & antagonist substitution,
anti-depressants drugs, overall evaluation)
❖ Classic research (Aims, procedures, findings, conclusions, evaluation, social and
ethical implications)
❖ Debate (Introduction, understanding consciousness, treating criminals, enhance
neurological function, improve marketing techniques, overall conclusion)
❖ Evaluation of the Biological Approach (Strengths and weaknesses)
Assumptions
Assumption: Behaviour can be explained by neurons and neurotransmitters
Using an example from psychology, describe the biological assumption of
‘neurotransmitters’. [4]
Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that post signals from the presynaptic neuron to
the postsynaptic neuron across the synapse. They carry electrical signals and the
neurotransmitter is absorbed once it reaches the postsynaptic neuron.
How a neuron works:
➔ At the receiving end there are dendrites which are finger-like structures surrounding a
cell body with a nucleus
➔ From the cell body there is a long extension called an axon which reaches the axon
terminal
➔ Between the axon terminal and dendrite, there’s a gap called the synapse
➔ The axon terminal of one neuron reaches receptor cells on the dendrites of other
neurons
➔ When the receptor cells on the dendrite receive a neurotransmitter, it triggers a nerve
impulse which is sent down the axon to the axon terminal
➔ This causes vesicles to release neurotransmitters into synapse
One example is dopamine, which controls bodily movements and emotional responses. It also
affects mood, sleep, memory and learning. High levels of dopamine have been linked to
schizophrenia.
Explain how a psychologist could apply the assumption of neurons and
neurotransmitters to understanding human behaviour. [5]
, Neurotransmitters can be linked to schizophrenia as dopamine levels have been linked to
positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that posts signals from the presynaptic neuron to
the postsynaptic neuron across the synapse. One example of a neurotransmitter is
dopamine, which controls bodily movements and emotional responses. It also affects mood,
sleep, memory and learning. High levels of dopamine have been linked to schizophrenia.
There are two major dopamine pathways linked to the positive and negative symptoms of
schizophrenia.
The mesolimbic pathway, which leads from the ventral tegmental area to the nucleus
accumbens, is known to fire too much dopamine too quickly, in people with schizophrenia. This
hyperfunction is linked to positive symptoms of schizophrenia, such as delusions and
hallucinations.
The mesocortical pathway, which leads from the ventral tegmental area to the frontal lobe is
known to have too little dopamine transmission, in people with schizophrenia. This hypofunction
is linked to negative symptoms of schizophrenia, such as anhedonia, echopraxia and cataleptic
stupor.
Assumption: Behaviour can be explained by localisation of brain function
Using examples from psychology, describe the localisation of brain function
assumptions of the biological approach. [4]
Localisation of the brain refers to the principle that certain areas of the brain are responsible for
different functions.
An example from psychology are the 4 lobes of the Cerebral Cortex.
➔ Frontal lobe is located at the front of the brain and is responsible for thinking/creativity
and linked to personalities. Damage here would cause changes to personality, attention
and socialisation
➔ Parietal lobe is located behind the frontal lobe. It’s responsible for sensory processes
like pain, touch etc. Damage can lead to ‘Gertsmann syndrome’- right-left confusion and
difficulty in maths and writing
➔ Temporal lobe is located on the sides of the brain and it’s responsible for auditory
information like interpreting sounds. Damage can lead to problems with memory and
language skills
➔ Occipital lobe is located at the bottom back of the brain. It’s responsible for interpreting
visual stimuli and information like identifying colours. Damage can lead to difficulty
recognising objects, identifying colours etc
Explain how a psychologist could apply the assumption localisation of brain
function to understanding human behaviour. [5]
❖ Assumptions (Neurotransmitters, Localisation of Brain Function, Evolutionary
Influence)
❖ Therapy (Link to Assumptions, antipsychotic drugs, agonist & antagonist substitution,
anti-depressants drugs, overall evaluation)
❖ Classic research (Aims, procedures, findings, conclusions, evaluation, social and
ethical implications)
❖ Debate (Introduction, understanding consciousness, treating criminals, enhance
neurological function, improve marketing techniques, overall conclusion)
❖ Evaluation of the Biological Approach (Strengths and weaknesses)
Assumptions
Assumption: Behaviour can be explained by neurons and neurotransmitters
Using an example from psychology, describe the biological assumption of
‘neurotransmitters’. [4]
Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that post signals from the presynaptic neuron to
the postsynaptic neuron across the synapse. They carry electrical signals and the
neurotransmitter is absorbed once it reaches the postsynaptic neuron.
How a neuron works:
➔ At the receiving end there are dendrites which are finger-like structures surrounding a
cell body with a nucleus
➔ From the cell body there is a long extension called an axon which reaches the axon
terminal
➔ Between the axon terminal and dendrite, there’s a gap called the synapse
➔ The axon terminal of one neuron reaches receptor cells on the dendrites of other
neurons
➔ When the receptor cells on the dendrite receive a neurotransmitter, it triggers a nerve
impulse which is sent down the axon to the axon terminal
➔ This causes vesicles to release neurotransmitters into synapse
One example is dopamine, which controls bodily movements and emotional responses. It also
affects mood, sleep, memory and learning. High levels of dopamine have been linked to
schizophrenia.
Explain how a psychologist could apply the assumption of neurons and
neurotransmitters to understanding human behaviour. [5]
, Neurotransmitters can be linked to schizophrenia as dopamine levels have been linked to
positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that posts signals from the presynaptic neuron to
the postsynaptic neuron across the synapse. One example of a neurotransmitter is
dopamine, which controls bodily movements and emotional responses. It also affects mood,
sleep, memory and learning. High levels of dopamine have been linked to schizophrenia.
There are two major dopamine pathways linked to the positive and negative symptoms of
schizophrenia.
The mesolimbic pathway, which leads from the ventral tegmental area to the nucleus
accumbens, is known to fire too much dopamine too quickly, in people with schizophrenia. This
hyperfunction is linked to positive symptoms of schizophrenia, such as delusions and
hallucinations.
The mesocortical pathway, which leads from the ventral tegmental area to the frontal lobe is
known to have too little dopamine transmission, in people with schizophrenia. This hypofunction
is linked to negative symptoms of schizophrenia, such as anhedonia, echopraxia and cataleptic
stupor.
Assumption: Behaviour can be explained by localisation of brain function
Using examples from psychology, describe the localisation of brain function
assumptions of the biological approach. [4]
Localisation of the brain refers to the principle that certain areas of the brain are responsible for
different functions.
An example from psychology are the 4 lobes of the Cerebral Cortex.
➔ Frontal lobe is located at the front of the brain and is responsible for thinking/creativity
and linked to personalities. Damage here would cause changes to personality, attention
and socialisation
➔ Parietal lobe is located behind the frontal lobe. It’s responsible for sensory processes
like pain, touch etc. Damage can lead to ‘Gertsmann syndrome’- right-left confusion and
difficulty in maths and writing
➔ Temporal lobe is located on the sides of the brain and it’s responsible for auditory
information like interpreting sounds. Damage can lead to problems with memory and
language skills
➔ Occipital lobe is located at the bottom back of the brain. It’s responsible for interpreting
visual stimuli and information like identifying colours. Damage can lead to difficulty
recognising objects, identifying colours etc
Explain how a psychologist could apply the assumption localisation of brain
function to understanding human behaviour. [5]
