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Canli et al (brain scans and emotions) - Coggle Diagram
Canli et al (brain scans and emotions)
Psychology
Based on the link between
the amygdala and emotions.
Tested the connection between amygdala activation and emotions in
long-term recall.
Considering
functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
.
Background
The amygdala plays a crucial role in
memory
.
PET and MRI
scans showed a
positive
correlation between: the activation of the amygdala and the presentation & recall of emtional stimuli.
People recording emotional experiences > non-emotional experiences.
Ptcp and Sampling
10
ptcps
Sampling technique :
Self-selecting
All women
: more likely to
report
inetnsity of emotion than men (
not
= as more
feel
emotions) +
show
physiological activity
All right handed
: bc they measure the activity in the
left amygdala
Research method:
laboratory experiement
Hypothesis
More emtional intense stimuli will active the amygdala > less emotional intense stimuli.
The
more
emtionally intense a stimuli, the
better
it will be recall.
YES - supported by evidence of the fMRI that gave quantitative data
YES - supported by evidence fr fMRI which was highly positively correlated w the ptcp responses and subsequent data fr the recognition tests
Results
Amygdala activation correlates well w the ptcp’s ratings of scenes
Recall
was better for pictures rated as
emotionally intense
Left amygdala activation predicted whether an individual could
remember
, find
familar
or
forget
the image
Strengths
Repeated measures design
: made the study more efficient and limited variability
Use of fMRI: provided
quantitative data
;
evidence
to sp the role and activation of the amygdala in relation to arousal
Standardised environment
: limited extraneous variales: controlled the environment which ->
increased internal validity
In4 abt the recognition test was withheld:
reduced the demand characteristics
Weaknesses
No males: although unlikely, this may affected
generalisability
Laboratory study
: reduced the
mundane realism
-> limited the
ecological validity
of the study
Right handed only: may had an impact however,
no
evidence for differences in
emotional response
between left and right handed individuals
Individual and Situational
Correlates the person’s own amygdala functioning to his/ her experience of emotions and subsequent memory
Strengths: it explains why diffeent memories in a person’s lifetime maybe remembered w different intensity
Weaknesses: some memories may be remembered as strongly as others even if lesser in emotional impact
Nature vs Nurture
“ “ “ The amygdala function similarly for all humans, and has developed out of evolution
Strengths: it explains the impact of natural human inheritance on human emotions
Weaknesses: the differences people might show in their emotional experiences as a result of the different environments in which they were brought up
Ethical issues
Confidentiality
- maintained
Debriefing
- not mentioned
Harm
- present in brain scans studies, but no additional harm
Aims
to test whether the amygdala is sensitive to varying degrees of individually experienced emotionally intensity
to test whether the degree of emotional intensity affects the role of the amygdala in enhancing memory of emotional stimuli
Application
understand the difficulties in emotional experiences of people w damage to the amygdala
understand of negative emotional experiences -> useful in therapy that heal people w trauma