Describe the effect of one neurotransmitter on human behaviour with reference to one relevant study.

Refer to the paper 1 section A markbands when awarding marks. These can be found under the “Your tests” tab > supplemental materials.

The command term “describe” requires candidates to give a detailed account of the effect of one neurotransmitter on human behaviour in relation to one relevant study.

Examples of appropriate studies include, but are not limited to:

• the effect of serotonin in depression (Coppen, 1967) or prosocial behaviour (Crockett et al., 2010)
• the effect of acetylcholine in memory (Antonova, 2011, Rogers and Kesner, 2003)
• the effect of dopamine in addiction (Volkow et al., 2004; Berridge and Kringelbach, 2009) or attraction (Fisher, Aron and Brown, 2005)
• the effect of noradrenaline (norepinephrine) in attention (Bunsey and Strupp, 1995; Bymaster et al., 2002).

Animal research may be used to describe an effect of one neurotransmitter, but the response must then be linked to human behaviour. If there is no explicit link to human behaviour, a maximum of [6] should be awarded.

If a candidate describes the effect of more than one neurotransmitter, credit should be given only to the first effect described.

If a candidate refers to more than one study, credit should be given only to the first study described.

If a candidate describes the effect of one neurotransmitter without making reference to a study, up to a maximum of [5] should be awarded.

If a candidate only describes an appropriate study without describing the effect of the neurotransmitter, up to a maximum of [4] should be awarded.

HL - Most candidates were able to identify a relevant neurotransmitter and a relevant research study but many found it a challenge to describe the effect of the neurotransmitter on human behaviour and to use the selected study effectively in light of the question. A number of candidates used animal studies, Martinez and Kesner (1991) being the most popular choice, but only a minority of these responses showed an explicit link to human behaviour. As a result, even the most well-written of these responses did not access marks in the top band. Unfortunately, in some responses to this question, candidates used irrelevant examples of hormones or used potentially relevant studies such as Antonova (2011) but inaccurately identified scopolamine as a neurotransmitter rather than acetylcholine.

SL - Most candidates were able to identify a relevant neurotransmitter and a relevant research study but many found it a challenge to describe the effect of the neurotransmitter on human behaviour and to use the selected study effectively in light of the question. Some responses spent time describing how neurotransmission works instead of focusing on the effect on behaviour.

The highest marks were usually awarded to descriptions of Fisher, Aron and Brown (2005) with detailed descriptions of the link to attraction/addictive behaviour. Several candidates used animal studies, Martinez and Kesner (1991) being the most popular choice, but only a minority of these responses showed an explicit link to human behaviour. As a result, even the most well-written of these responses did not access marks in the top band.

References to serotonin and depression were also limited, particularly references to transporter genes where the focus was on genes rather than the serotonin and its effect on behaviour.

Unfortunately, in some responses to this question, candidates used irrelevant examples of hormones or used potentially relevant studies such as Antonova (2011) but inaccurately identified scopolamine as a neurotransmitter rather than acetylcholine.