Ways Of Studying The Brain

Question 1

What are PET scan?

Answer 1

-use radioactive isotopes with a long half life
-radiotracers will accumulate in areas of brain with high levels of activity

Question 2

What are fMRI scans?

Answer 2

-functional magnetic resonance imaging
-detects changes in blood oxygenation + flow
-as a result of neural activity
-more active = more oxygen to reach demand - blood flows to active areas

Question 3

Positives of fMRI

Answer 3

-high spatial resolution - provides detail on localisation
-can be used when P is carrying out tasks - can make inferences
-doesn’t rely on radiation

Question 4

Negatives of fMRI

Answer 4

-expensive compared to others - produces a small sample
-poor temporal resolution - 5s time gap between neuronal activity + image produced

Question 5

What are EEG scans?

Answer 5

-electronencephalogram
-measures electrical activity via electrodes that are fixed to skull cap
-represents brainwave patterns from neurones
-used for unusual arrhythmic patterns

Question 6

Positives of EEG

Answer 6

-high temporal resolution - appropriate for monitoring of cerebral states + activity
-helped understanding stages of sleep
-useful in the diagnosis of epilepsy
-cheaper - more widely used

Question 7

Negatives of EEG

Answer 7

-produces generalised signals from many neurones
-hard to know exact source of the activity

Question 8

What are ERP scans?

Answer 8

-event related potentials
-can tease + isolate specific responses from sensory, cognitive and motor events from EEG data

Question 9

Positives of ERP

Answer 9

-more specific - identify activity in response to specific stimuli
-good temporal resolution

Question 10

Negatives of ERP

Answer 10

-lack of standardisation - hard to confirm findings in studies
-background noise

Question 11

What are post-mortem exams?

Answer 11

-analysis of a brain following death
-comparison of Ps brain and a neurotypical brain
-establish potential causes - may have disorder or deficits

Question 12

Positives of post-mortem

Answer 12

-vital in understanding early processes
-Broca’s relied on research like this - Tan - identification of Broca’s area
-link HM’s memory deficits to damage

Question 13

Negatives of post-mortem

Answer 13

-small sample sizes (ethical issues) - informed consent isn’t always given before death
-neuronal changes can occur during and after death