","$L3f",null,{"backHref":"/gcse/biology/edexcel/questions","basePath":"/gcse/biology/edexcel/the-brain-and-the-nervous-system/questions","formulaUrl":null,"initialIndex":30,"initialQuestionWindow":[{"id":"64e0eb62-0186-4482-af8e-2fcffe788c15","revisionId":"d9573775-45a2-47ba-988b-bf8339ef1bda","questionNumber":null,"questionType":"LA","specification":"A developer of a brain-training mobile application claims that playing their sensory-stimulation game, *Synapse-Boost*, reduces the reaction times of users to sudden auditory stimuli. A preliminary trial is conducted where 8 game developers from the company have their auditory reaction times measured before and after playing the game for 10 minutes.","difficulty":3,"difficultyBand":"medium","totalMarks":2,"sourceTitle":null,"calculatorUse":null,"parts":[{"id":"c3630347-c229-4276-a74c-97f89a180d43","label":null,"content":"State two improvements the developer should make to this investigation to ensure the results are scientifically valid.","markscheme":"- Use a larger sample size / test more participants to ensure the sample is representative of the wider population. B1\n- Use a control group (e.g., participants who do not play the game, or who play a neutral, non-stimulating game) to control for the learning or practice effect of repeating the reaction test. B1\n- Select participants randomly from outside the company to avoid selection bias (since company employees may have higher motivation or familiarity with the technology). B1\n- Control confounding participant variables such as age, prior sleep, or caffeine intake. B1\n- Perform multiple repeated trials of the reaction test per participant and calculate a mean to minimize the effect of anomalous measurements. B1","marks":2,"order":0,"markingRubric":null,"explanation":{"methods":[{"id":"improve_trial","label":"Improve the investigation","steps":[{"type":"drawing","order":0,"title":"See the trial setup","width":513,"height":528,"shapes":[{"id":"flow-node-developers","type":"line","color":"orange","points":[{"x":93.5,"y":90},{"x":419.8,"y":90},{"x":419.8,"y":42},{"x":93.5,"y":42},{"x":93.5,"y":90}]},{"id":"flow-node-before","type":"line","color":"black","points":[{"x":71,"y":222},{"x":442.3,"y":222},{"x":442.3,"y":174},{"x":71,"y":174},{"x":71,"y":222}]},{"id":"flow-node-game","type":"line","color":"blue","points":[{"x":42,"y":354},{"x":471.3,"y":354},{"x":471.3,"y":306},{"x":42,"y":306},{"x":42,"y":354}]},{"id":"flow-node-after","type":"line","color":"black","points":[{"x":80,"y":486},{"x":433.3,"y":486},{"x":433.3,"y":438},{"x":80,"y":438},{"x":80,"y":486}]},{"id":"flow-edge-0-head","toX":256.7,"toY":168,"type":"arrow","color":"black","fromX":256.7,"fromY":94},{"id":"flow-edge-1-head","toX":256.7,"toY":300,"type":"arrow","color":"blue","fromX":256.7,"fromY":226},{"id":"flow-edge-2-head","toX":256.7,"toY":432,"type":"arrow","color":"blue","fromX":256.7,"fromY":358},{"x":111.5,"y":49.5,"id":"flow-label-developers","text":"8 company developers","type":"text","color":"orange"},{"x":89,"y":181.5,"id":"flow-label-before","text":"Reaction-time test before","type":"text","color":"black"},{"x":60,"y":313.5,"id":"flow-label-game","text":"Play Synapse-Boost for 10 min","type":"text","color":"blue"},{"x":98,"y":445.5,"id":"flow-label-after","text":"Reaction-time test after","type":"text","color":"black"}],"caption":"The same eight company developers complete a reaction-time test, play the game for 10 minutes, then repeat the test.","diagramSpec":{"chart":{"kind":"flow","edges":[{"to":"before","from":"developers","color":"black"},{"to":"game","from":"before","color":"blue"},{"to":"after","from":"game","color":"blue"}],"nodes":[{"id":"developers","color":"orange","label":"8 company developers","layer":0,"shape":"box"},{"id":"before","color":"black","label":"Reaction-time test before","layer":1,"shape":"box"},{"id":"game","color":"blue","label":"Play Synapse-Boost for 10 min","layer":2,"shape":"box"},{"id":"after","color":"black","label":"Reaction-time test af

The brain and the nervous system

Question 11

The brain and the nervous system Questions

The brain and the nervous system

Question 11

The brain and the nervous system Questions