IB Psychology SL 2.1.7 Localization of Function Questions

Refer to the paper 1 section B assessment criteria when awarding marks.
The command term "evaluate" requires candidates to make an appraisal by weighing up the strengths and limitations of one or more studies that investigate localization of function.

Although a discussion of both strengths and limitations is required, it does not have to be evenly balanced to gain high marks.

Examples of relevant studies could include, but are not limited to:
- Wernicke (1900);
Broca's (1861) studies on localization of speech production/understanding
- Corkin's (1997);
Maguire's (2000);
Scoville and Milner's (1957) studies on the role of the hippocampus in memory
- Matthies et al. (2012) on the role of the amygdala in aggression or on memory (McGaugh and Cahill, 1995)
- Bechara's (1999) study on the role of the prefrontal lobe in decision making
- Fisher et al.'s (2005) study on the role of brain regions related to motivation and reward in romantic love
- Draganski et al's (2004) study on structural changes in the temporal lobe in response to juggling.
- LeDoux's (1990) study on fear conditioning in amygdala

Evaluation of the selected studies may include but is not limited to:
- methodological and ethical considerations
- internal and/or external validity
- cultural and/or gender considerations
- contrary findings
- the applications of the empirical findings
- how the findings of research have been interpreted
- implications of the findings.

If the candidate addresses only strengths or only limitations, the response should be awarded up to a maximum of [3] for criterion D: critical thinking. All remaining criteria should be awarded marks according to the best fit approach.