TOPICS AND RESEARCH STUDIES OF THE BIOLOGICAL APPROACH (SL)

QUESTION ( SAQs) STUDY HOW USED

BRAIN & BEHAVIOUR
Outline/describe/explain
One research method (approach
to research) used when
investigating the brain and
behaviour
One ethical consideration when
investigating the brain and
behaviour
One technique used to understand Maguire et al (2000) Outline/describe/explain how an MRI
the brain and behaviour works and then describe how Maguire
used it to measure changes in the
hippocampus.
One study into one technique Maguire et al (2000) Outline/describe/explain Maguire’s
used to understand the brain and study, making sure to emphasise how
behaviour they used the MRI to understand what
was happening in the hippocampus.
Localization of function and
behaviour
One study into localization of
function
Neuroplasticity and behaviour
One study into neuroplasticity and
behaviour
Neural networks

1
 TOPICS AND RESEARCH STUDIES OF THE BIOLOGICAL APPROACH (SL)

QUESTION ( SAQs) STUDY HOW USED

BRAIN & BEHAVIOUR
Outline/describe/explain
One study into neural networks
Neural pruning Draganski et al. Outline/describe/explain what neural
(2004) pruning is and show how Draganski’s
study of changes in the mid-temporal
area of the brain when participants
stopped juggling demonstrate neural
pruning. (Can also be used for neural
networks).
One study into neural pruning Draganski et al. Outline/describe/explain Draganski’s
(2004) study and show how the changes in the
mid-temporal area demonstrate neural
pruning.
In other words, if the SAQ asks you to outline/describe/explain a process, theory, brain activity, start with that and make it
the main focus of the SAQ, and if you are asked to outline/describe/explain a study, start with that and make it the main
focus of the SAQ. From now on, this list will not include the ‘outline/describe/explain one study’ prompt.
One neurotransmitter and its
effect on behaviour
How one excitatory or inhibitory
neurotransmitter (synapse) affects
behaviour
One agonist and its effect on one
behaviour
One antagonist and its effect on
one behaviour

HORMONES & PHEROMONES & BEHAVIOUR

2
 TOPICS AND RESEARCH STUDIES OF THE BIOLOGICAL APPROACH (SL)

One research method (approach

to research) used when
investigating hormones and/or
pheromones and behaviour
One ethical consideration when
investigating hormones and/or
pheromones and behaviour
One hormone and its effect on
one behaviour
One pheromone and its effect on
one behaviour

QUESTION ( SAQs) STUDY HOW USED

GENETICS & BEHAVIOUR
One research method (approach
to research) used when
investigating genetics and
behaviour
One ethical consideration when
investigating genetics and
behaviour
One gene and its link to one
behaviour
Genetic similarity in relation to
one behaviour
One twin study OR one kinship
(family) study and one behaviour
One evolutionary explanation for
one behaviour

3
 TOPICS AND RESEARCH STUDIES OF THE BIOLOGICAL APPROACH (SL)

QUESTION ( ERQs) STUDIES (at least HOW USED

two)
BRAIN & BEHAVIOUR
Discuss/evaluate/contrast/to
what extent?
Research methods (approaches to
research) when investigating the
relationship between the brain
and behaviour.
Ethical considerations when
investigating the relationship
between the brain and behaviour.
Studies (research) investigating
the relationship between the brain
and behaviour.
Techniques investigating the
relationship between the brain
and behaviour
Studies(research) investigating
neuroplasticity and behaviour
Techniques used to study the
brain in relation to behaviour
Localization of function and
behaviour.
Studies (research) into localization
of function and behaviour.
The influence of one or more
neurotransmitters on behaviour.
Studies (research) into one or
more neurotransmitters and
behaviour.

4
 TOPICS AND RESEARCH STUDIES OF THE BIOLOGICAL APPROACH (SL)

HORMONES & PHEROMONES & BEHAVIOUR

Research methods (approaches to
research) when investigating the
relationship between hormones
and/or pheromones and
behaviour
Ethical considerations when
investigating the relationship
between hormones and/or
pheromones and behaviour
The relationship between one or
more hormones and behaviour
The relationship between one or
more pheromones and behaviour
Studies (research) investigating
the relationship between
hormones and behaviour
Studies (research) investigating
the relationship between
pheromones and behaviour

QUESTION ( ERQs) STUDIES (at least HOW USED

two)
GENETICS & BEHAVIOUR
Discuss/evaluate/contrast/to
what extent?
Research methods (approaches to
research) when investigating the
relationship between genetics and
behaviour
Ethical considerations when
investigating the relationship
between genetics and behaviour
One or more genes and their link
to behaviour
Genetic similarity in relation to
behaviour
One or more evolutionary
explanation for behaviour
Studies (research) investigating
the relationship between genetics
and behaviour
Studies (research) investigating
the relationship between genetic
similarity and behaviour
Studies (research) investigating
the relationship between one or
more evolutionary explanations
5
 TOPICS AND RESEARCH STUDIES OF THE BIOLOGICAL APPROACH (SL)

and behaviour