PsychSim 5 : Hunger and the Fat Rat - D155

Allen NAME:____________________
AP Psychology

PsychSim 5 : Hunger and the Fat Rat

This activity provides a simulated experiment on weight regulation in rats.

The Hypothalamus

1. In what part of the brain will you find the hypothalamus:
______________________________

2. What other brain structures make up this region?

1) 2) 3)

3. What is the primary function of the hypothalamus?

4. What are the two ways in which we can study the hypothalamus in humans?
1)
2)

Stimulation and Destruction
5. Most of what we know about the hypothalamus comes from research on rats, hamsters, and
other
animals. What is electrolytic surgery?

6. What are the effects of strong and week stimulation?

Allen NAME:____________________
AP Psychology

7. What is a lesion?

Experimental Simulation

8. What conclusions were you able to draw about the effects of the following procedures on the
experimental rats:

1) Stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus (LH)?

2) Destruction of the LH?

3) Stimulation of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH)?

4) Destruction of the VMH?

5) What did you learn from this experiment about these two regions of the
hypothalamus?

Allen NAME:____________________
AP Psychology

Some Caution
9. What are the two problems with a simple conclusion to this research question?
1)

2)