Post Mortems

Question 1

When do post mortems investigate the brain?

Answer 1

After the death

Question 2

What does any damage found allow us to do?

Answer 2

Allows us to link that part of the brain to a particular function
May also involve comparison with a neurotypical brain in order to see the extent of the difference

Question 3

What is the brain cut into?

Answer 3

Slices

Question 4

What do PME’s determine the cause of?

Answer 4

Cause of behaviour/dysfunction experienced when the patient was alive

Question 5

When were PME’s used?

Answer 5

In the early days of biopsychology- there was no sophisticated technology available to look at a living brain

Question 6

Can PME detect brain activity?

Answer 6

No- it is just used to investigate the structure of the brain

Question 7

What disease can only be determined by conducting a PME?

Answer 7

Alzheimer’s

Question 8

What was PME used to investigate?

Answer 8

The damage done to HM’s brain and helped to determine the link between the hippocampus and the formation of new memories

Question 9

Strengths of post-mortem- Broca’s/Wernicke’s?

Answer 9

Used PME to strengthen theories about aphasia

Question 10

Weaknesses of post-mortem? (Brain decay)

Answer 10

Brain can change after death- brain decay
Ruins the validity of our conclusions

Question 11

How are post-mortems the only way to detect Alzheimer’s?

Answer 11

Alzheimer’s is confirmed by identifying specific brain abnormalities e.g. amyloid plaques, loss of brain tissues in areas like the hippocampus.
These features can only be directly observed under a microscope after death
DURING LIFE:
Scans can’t directly detect plaques or tangles, other forms of dementia can cause similar symptoms, a diagnoses made during life is probable, not definitive