Studying the brain

Question 1

What can FMRI scans show?

Answer 1

Brain activity

Question 2

how do FMRi scans work?

Answer 2

Use strong magnetic field
more oxygenated blood flow to active areas
molecules in oxygenated blood respond differently to the magnetic field so more active areas can be indentified

Question 3

what are the uses of FMRI’s ?

Answer 3

used to research function of the brain
used to diagnose medical problems
used to study abnormal activity in the brain as can show damaged areas of brain

Question 4

What can be identified on the fmri scan?

Answer 4

More active areas of the brain

Question 5

What are some strengths of FMRI scans?

Answer 5

Provide a non-invasive way of studying the brain

Question 6

What are some weaknesses of fmri scans?

Answer 6

Very expensive to run and buy
Require people to lie very still in an enclosed space
They have poor temporal solution which means they don’t show changes over time accurately

Question 7

What do EEG’s show?

Answer 7

The overall electric activity of the brain - it picks up the signal of many neurons firing together.

Question 8

How does an EEG work?

Answer 8

Multiple electrodes are placed on the scalp and the electrical activity is recorded for a period of time.
This produces a pattern on waves

Question 9

What are the uses of EEG’s?

Answer 9

Commonly used in sleep studies
Also been used in the study of depression
Abnormal EEG’s have also been identified in patients suffering from eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa

Question 10

What are some strengths of EEGs

Answer 10

They are non invasive
Cheaper to carry out
Good temporal resolution

Question 11

What are the weaknesses of EEG’s?

Answer 11

Poor spatial resolution is high means it’s hard to work out which area of the brain the waves originate from

Question 12

What does FMRI stand for?

Answer 12

Functional magnetic resonance imaging

Question 13

What does EEG stand for?

Answer 13

Electroencephalogram

Question 14

What does ERP stand for?

Answer 14

Event related potential

Question 15

What do ERP’s show?

Answer 15

Electrical activity in the brain in response to a stimulus

If a specific stimulus is presented it produces a specific change

Question 16

What are the uses of ErPs?

Answer 16

Have been used a lot in memory research as they give psychologists a lot of clues about information processing

Question 17

What do post- mortem examinations show?

Answer 17

Show the structure of the Brain

Question 18

What do post mortem examinations involve

Answer 18

Dissecting the brain of the person who has died

Question 19

What are the uses of post mortem examinations

Answer 19

If a person had a medical problem when they were alive a post-mortem could show any structural abnormalities which could explain their condition
Post mortems have provided evidence for localisation of function in the brain

Question 20

What is a disadvantage of a post-mortem examination?

Answer 20

The person had to have died before the examination can be carried out so they will not benefit from any of the findings