IB Psychology HL 2.1.9 Neurotransmission and behavioural mechanisms Question Bank

Refer to the paper 1 section B assessment criteria when awarding marks.
The command term "discuss" requires candidates to offer a considered review of one or more neurotransmitters and their effect(s) on behaviour.

Behaviour in this instance may include memory, emotion, motivation, or any other accepted behaviour.

Neurotransmitters and relevant effects on behaviour include, but are not limited to:
- the effect of acetylcholine on memory
- the effect of serotonin on prosocial behaviour
- the effect of dopamine on motivation and the experience of pleasure.

Candidates may use animal studies to discuss neurotransmitters as long as the discussion is explicitly linked to human behaviour.

Relevant studies may include, but are not limited to:
- Rogers and Kesner's (2003); Antonova et al.'s (2011) studies on the role of acetylcholine in memory
- Crockett et al.'s (2010) study on the effect of serotonin on prosocial behaviour
- Passamonti et al.'s (2012) study on the effect of low serotonin on the ability of the prefrontal cortex to control emotional responses to anger generated by the amygdala
- Fisher, Aron, and Brown's (2005) study on the role of dopamine in romantic love.

Discussion may include, but is not limited to:
- difficulties in carrying out research related to neurotransmitters
- generalizability of animal research to human behaviour
- ethical considerations in research into the effects of neurotransmitters
- the use of a reductionist approach to explain complex human behaviours
- the interaction of environmental and biological factors in behaviour
- practical applications of our understanding of the effect of neurotransmitters on behaviour, such as in the treatment of psychological disorders.

Candidates may discuss one neurotransmitter in order to demonstrate depth of knowledge, or more than one neurotransmitter in order to demonstrate breadth of knowledge. Both approaches are equally acceptable.