Biopsychology

Question 1

Ways to study brain - post mortem exam - AO1

Answer 1

• analysis of person brain after death
• psych research - individuals whose brain subject to PME are likely to be those who have rare disorder + experience unusual deficits in mental processes or behaviour of life.
• areas of damage are examined after death to establish likely cause of affliction to persons suffering.
• may involve comparison with NEUROTYPICAL brains to ascertain extent of difference.

Question 2

Ways to study brain - fMRI - AO1

Answer 2

• functional magnetic resonance imaging
• detect changes in blood oxygenation + flow that occurs as result of neural activity in parts of brain.
• brain area more active, consume more oxygen + to meet the increased demand, blood flow directed to area that’s active (HAEMODYNAMIC RESPONSE)
• fMRI produce 3 dimensional images (activation maps) show parts of brain involved in particular mental processes + this has important implications for understanding of localisation of functions.