Blakemore and Cooper

Question 1

Is Blakemore and Cooper a classic or contemporary study?

Answer 1

Classic

Question 2

Which study is paired with Blakemore and Cooper?

Answer 2

Maguire

Question 3

Which area is Blakemore and Coopers study in?

Answer 3

Biological area

Question 4

Define brain plasticity

Answer 4

Brain plasticity is the ability of the brain to modify itself functionally and structurally in response to experience (nurture) and injury.

Question 5

What is the aim of Blakemore and Coopers study?

Answer 5

To investigate the biological and behavioural effects of a restricted visual experience and whether plasticity occurs due to nurture

Question 6

Describe the role of the visual cortex

Answer 6

Light reflects off images and enters the eye

The light is converted into electrical signals which are sent through the neural pathway

It is in the visual cortex where the images are seen.

Question 7

What is the sample of Blakemore and Coopers study?

Answer 7

Kittens from birth to approx 1 year.

Question 8

Describe the procedure of Blakemore and Coopers study

Answer 8

1. Kittens were housed in a dark room from birth.
2. From 2 weeks, the kittens were placed into a cylinder apparatus which was 2 meters high with a lid.
3. The cylinder was decorated with either horizontal or vertical stripes (these were the 2 conditions)
4. The stripes were black and white, high contrast and a variety of widths
5. The kittens were randomly allocated to one of the 2 conditions and were placed in the cylinder for 5 hours a day.
6. The kittens also wore a collar so they couldnt see their own body, and their vision was limited to 130 degrees.
7. After 5 months, kittens were placed in a well-lit, furnished room and were observed to see their behaviour.
8. At 7.5 months, 2 of the cats were anesthetised and their activity in the visual cortex was measured.

Question 9

What are the behavioural findings from Blakemore and Cooper?

Answer 9

1. Kittens bumped into objects and showed no startle response.
2. They did not have visual placing, when the kittens were held against a table, they didnt stretch out their paws until they felt the table.
3. Their tracking of moving objects was jerky. The kittens would only track a rod if it moved in the same orientation as they were reared in (either horizontal or vertical).
4. Most of the effects disappeared after 10 hours of being in the well-lit room but their tracking of moving objects remained jerky and they were still clumsy.

Question 10

What are the neurological findings from Blakemore and Cooper’s study?

Answer 10

The kittens appeared to suffer from “physical blindness”

124/125 neurones showed line orientation selectivity.

Kittens would show patterns of neurons in the same orientation as their reared environment.

They showed little activity when show images opposite to their original environment.

Simple cells had changed their role - demonstrating plasticity.

Question 11

What are the conclusions of Blakemore and Cooper’s study?

Answer 11

Early visual experiences can modify kittens perceptions in terms of their behaviour and their biology.

The brain can therefore change as a result of experience (plasticity)

Nurture can affect nature.

Question 12

What was the research method of Blakemore and Cooper?

Answer 12

Lab experiment

Question 13

What was the research design of Blakemore and Cooper?

Answer 13

Independent measures design

Question 14

What was the IV of Blakemore and Coopers study?

Answer 14

If the kittens were reared in a horizontal or vertical environment

Question 15

What was the DV of Blakemore and Coopers study?

Answer 15

Their behaviour once they were placed into a well-lit environment. If the horizontally reared kittens could detect vertically aligned objects and / or if the vertically raised kittens could detect horizontally aligned objects.

Question 16

Why were kittens used instead of humans in Blakemore and Coopers study?

Answer 16

Kittens have very similar visual cortex to humans.

It is more ethical on cats than humans