Researchers investigated the impact of early-life stress on the development of the amygdala in the brain. Infant rats were subjected to daily maternal separation (3 hours per day) from postnatal day 2 to 14 (maternal separation group). Control rats remained with their mothers undisturbed.
When the rats reached adolescence (35 days old), neurological analysis revealed that those subjected to early-life maternal separation had a 25% increase in amygdala dendritic spine density and exhibited significantly heightened threat-reactivity compared to the control group. Early-life stress permanently altered amygdala microarchitecture without affecting overall brain volume.
Explain one practical application of the above study.
88 exam-style questions on Edexcel A Level Psychology Content, covering Central nervous system and neurotransmitters, Effect of recreational drugs on transmission, Brain structure and aggression, Evolution and natural selection, Freud's psychodynamic explanation of aggression, Role of hormones in aggression, Individual differences, and Developmental psychology. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.