Evaluation Of Biopsych

Question 1

Localisation of function

Answer 1

S- supported by case study phineas gage
S- abnormal brain linked with mental disorders OCD cingulate gurus removed 30% success
L- lash lets rats took parts of brain no area proven to change ability to navigate

Question 2

Hemispheric lateralisation

Answer 2

S- normal brain’s hemisphere process info differently RH look LH focus
L- RH is synthesiser and LH is the analyser wrong 1000 scans found that certain activities certain hemispheres no dominant side

Question 3

Plasticity

Answer 3

Limitation- phantom limb disorder
S- doesnt deplete w age 40-60 motor cortex incr train golf

Question 4

Functional recovery

Answer 4

S- RWA neurorehabilitation constraint induced movement therapy stroke patients
L- level of education may effect functional recovery 40% recover 16yrs 10% recover less than 12yrs

Question 5

Circadian rhythms

Answer 5

S- provides understanding of consequences that occur when disrupted. Night shift workers lack conc at 6 more mistakes and health impacts
S- medical treatment times eg heart attack aspirin
L - hard to generalise findings evidence range from 13-65hrs

Question 6

Infradian rhythms

Answer 6

S- synchrony natural selection
L- confounding variables

Question 7

Ultradian rhythms

Answer 7

S- improves understanding of age related sleep changes sws reduce with age growth hormone reduced awareness treatment improve lives
L- significant variation

Question 8

Evaluation of fMRIs

Answer 8

Strength- doesn’t rely on use of radiation risk free non invasive high spatial resolution clear risk free image of brain
Limitation- expensive compared to other neuroimaging techniques poor temporal resolution (delay)

Question 9

Evaluation of EEGs

Answer 9

Strength- useful in studying stages of sleep and epilepsy vv high temporal resolution
Limitation- doesn’t pinpoint exact source of neural activity

Question 10

Evaluation of ERPs

Answer 10

Strength- V high temporal resolution - frequent use to measure cognitive functions and can pinpoint source of neural activity
Limitation- lack of standardisation and pure data need to remove any background “noise”

Question 11

Post mortem examinations

Answer 11

Strength- early understanding of key processes - provide useful info broca and wernicke and HM
Limitation- causation damage may not be linked to deficits during life but to some other trauma
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