Using one or more examples, explain the effects of neurotransmission on human behaviour.

One example of how the acetylcholine can affect behaviour was seen by researchers, Martinez & Kesner, 1991.

To determine role of neurotransmitter acetylcholine on memory, specifically memory formation.

Results showed that:

• Scopolamine - slower at finding way round maze and made more errors than control/physostigmine group.
• Physostigmine - ran faster compared to both groups and made fewer wrong turns.

• Strengths:
  • Design and application
  • Use of an experimental method with a control group made it possible to establish cause- and-effect relationship between levels of acetylcholine and memory.
  • Questionable to what extent these findings can be generalized to humans. (Possible tapply research on rats to human beings)
  • Assumed that memory processes are the same for all animals.
  • Thus, this study shows that the neurotransmitter acetylcholine affects the human behaviour of memory causing an increase in memory functions with higher amounts of Ach compared to lower levels of Ach, which decreases memory functioning.

  Conclusion

  • Conclude with a few statements about the effect of neurotransmitters on behaviour:
    
    • Neurotransmission is an effective way to communicate messages through the brain.
    • Thus neurotransmitters such as Serotonin & Acetylcholine affect specific human behaviours such as mood and memory.
    • Overall, it can be seen that neurotransmitters do affect human behaviour in a variety of ways.