Outline principles that define the BLA and explain how these

principles may be demonstrated in research

There are 3 principles that define the BLA each of them being respectively
demonstrated in 3 main studies: Newcomer et al. for principle 1; Rosenzweig and Bennet for
principle 2; and Bouchard et al. for principle 3.
Principle 1 states that there are biological correlates of behaviour meaning that the
human behaviour originates in the physiology and anatomy of the body. This was
demonstrated in the 1999 study performed by Newcomer et al. The study had the aim to
analyse the role of cortisol on verbal declarative memory. 3 different groups received 3
different levels of cortisol taking a test of verbal declarative memory afterwards. The results
showed that the increased levels of cortisol had a negative effect on memory. This proves
principle 1 which could be also used to connect behavioural deregulations to physiological
ones.
Principle 2 states that animal research can provide insight into human behaviour
meaning that because most of the human biological processes are the same with non-
human animal ones, researchers can use them to study human physiological processes.
This was demonstrated in the 1972 study by Rosenzweig and Bennet that had the aim to
study the role of environmental factors on brain plasticity. 3 different groups of rats were
placed in 3 different environments: enriched, poor and one that had them killed. The
researchers concluded that the brain grows more neurons if stimulated. This proves that
animal physiological processes are indeed similar to the human one which could be used
further for analysing other human processes.
Principle 3 states that human behaviour is, to some extent, genetically based meaning
that behaviour can be explained by genetic inheritance to some extent. This was
demonstrated in the 1990 study by Bouchard et al. with an aim to investigate the role of
genes in IQ. For that Bouchard used monozygotic twins rearing them either apart (MZA) or
together (MZT). The results showed that MZT twins had the same level of IQ in 86% while
MZA only 76%. This shows relative but not 100% link between genetics and intelligence.
That could be useful for the nature vs. nurture debate.