Ways Of studying the brain Flashcards
What is an FMRI
Functional Magnetic Resonance imaging scanners detect increased blood flow/haemoglobin to areas of the brain whilst doing certain tasks
How do FMRIS work
When neurons in an area of the brain are active, the area needs increased oxygen for energy to complete the task, oxygen is sent to the brain in the form of haemoglobin which can be detected on the scanner
Strength of FMRI-Insightful-peterson et al and localisation of function
+Used by peterson to show localisation of function (language areas)- practical applications- increases understanding of functions of the brain
What are EEGS
They measure electrical activity in areas of the brain by placing electrodes on the skull- creates a graphical representation of brain activity
What are event related potentials
Use the same procedure as EEGS but brain activity is recorded in response to a stimulus
Strengths of EEGS/EEPS
+Costa et al- more accurate than self report- reliable
+Used to detect epilepsy and dementia- practical applications
+Cheaper than fmri
Limitations of fmris
-Expensive to buy and maintain, require specialised operators, impractical and hard to obtain
-Complex brain activity is difficult to interpret.
Limitations of EEGS
-Can only show brain activity close to the electrode-may miss detail and not provide a hollistic picture
-expertise needed to interpret the meaning of brain activity-complex, may be time consuming and difficult.
Postmorterm studies
-The brain and body are examined for damage after death, usually to see if a behaviour was the result of underlying damage
Strengths of postmorterms
+Cheap and practical, less equipment required
+Insightful, can tell us about brain functions e.g language functions
-No brain activity can be recorded, lacks insight
-Cause for death may cause brain damage and confound results.
