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Rosenzweig, Bennet & Diamond (1972)
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Rosenzweig, Bennet & Diamond (1972)
Aim
Aim: To investigate the effects of enviromental factors on neuron development in the cerebral cortex.
Procedure
Rats were placed in either an enriched environment (EC) or an impoverished condition (IC).
For the EC, researchers placed 10-12 rats in a cage containing different stimulus objects. These rats also recieved maze training.
In the IC, researchers placed each rat in individual cages. These cages lacked in the objects.
The rats spent 30-60 days in their respective environments, where they were then killed and had their brain's studied.
Evaluation
Strengths
Limitations
Animal models meant that the findings would be difficult to generalise to humans.
Ethical issues include the use on animals in research like this.
The findings challenged the idea that brain weight cannot be changed.
The laboratory experiment established a cause-effect relationship.
The study is replicable and has been replicated many times.
Discussion
Findings/ Results
- As a result of an enriched environment, thickness and weight of cortex increased
- 2 hours in EC would cause brain changes
- Control experiments were conducted to test if handling and stress would cause these effects
- Brain plasticity in animals and humans are similar
- Environmental Factors include poverty, intellectual and social stimulation
- Cortex thickness
- Cortex weight
- Neuron activity in cerebral cortex- associated with acetylcholine