studying the brain

Question 1

what is the main focus of neuroscience

Answer 1

studying the brain

Question 2

what does studying the brain give an insight into

Answer 2

insight into fundamental behaviours and mental processes

Question 3

how many methods are there to studying the brain

Answer 3

4

Question 4

what are the main methods of studying the brain

Answer 4

• post mortem examinations
• fMRI
• EEG
• ERP

Question 5

what does fMRI stand for

Answer 5

functional magnetic resonance imaging

Question 6

what does EEG stand for

Answer 6

electroencephalogram

Question 7

what does ERP stand for

Answer 7

event related potentials

Question 8

what are post mortem examinations used for

Answer 8

used to establish underlying neurobiology of particular behaviour when person was living

Question 9

using this way of studying the brain - establishing underlying neurobiology of particular behaviours when person was living - what type of method is this?

Answer 9

post mortem examination

Question 10

what is an example of a post mortem examination in psychology

Answer 10

Broca’s area whereby Louis Victor Leborgne brain was used to identify that are relating to speed development

Question 11

what has the post mortem examinations led to

Answer 11

identification of brain structures involved in memory (HM - hippocampus)

Question 12

what does fMRI measure

Answer 12

measures changes in blood flow in areas of the brain

Question 13

what do fMRI scans show

Answer 13

show the areas of brain which are active

Question 14

what do changes in blood flow within brain indicate on fMRI

Answer 14

indicate neural activity

Question 15

what does increased blood flow mean on fMRI

Answer 15

increased blood flow means active areas of the brain - increasing demand for oxygen

Question 16

what are the coloured areas of the brain on an fMRI

Answer 16

the coloured areas on the scan highlight the areas which are currently being activated due to increase demand in oxygen - for example individual was asked to partake in problem solving activity then area of brain will light up

Question 17

what does the fMRI scan look at

Answer 17

looking at the function of the brain

Question 18

what do EEG’s do

Answer 18

measures electrical activity within the brain over long period of time

Question 19

what is used to perform EEG

Answer 19

an EEG cap with electrodes on to detect any activity within brain

Question 20

how is activity within brain detected through using EEG

Answer 20

the cap uses electrodes to detect small electrical charges which is due to activity of brain cells

Question 21

Q
what data is produced from EEG
A

Answer 21

signals from the measurement is mapped over time - highlighting two areas including left and right side of the brain and eyeballs

Question 22

what is EEG data used for

Answer 22

EEG data is used to detect or diagnose various brain disorders that influence brain activity

Question 23

what is a disorder an EEG may be able to diagnose or detect

Answer 23

Alzheimers

Question 24

there are 4 basic EEG patterns, name them

Answer 24

• alpha waves
• beta waves
• delta waves
• theta waves

Question 25

what are the 4 EEG patterns

Answer 25

alpha waves, beta waves, delta waves and theta waves

Question 26

when a person is awake what type of EEG pattern is recorded

Answer 26

when person is awake ALPHA waves are recorded

Question 27

when person is physiologically aroused what EEG patterns can be found

Answer 27

low amplitude and fast frequency BETA waves can be found

Question 28

when individual falls asleep what type of EEG patterns are found (what pattern decreases)

Answer 28

ALPHA weaves decrease and are replaced with lower frequency THETA waves and DELTA waves

Question 29

in sleep what EEG pattern is found in REM sleep

Answer 29

BETA waves

Question 30

what does REM sleep mean

Answer 30

stage were most dreams occur, individuals eyes move rapidly back and forth

Question 31

what do ERPs measure

Answer 31

ERPs measure the electrical activity in brain in response to spcific events or stimuli

Question 32

TRUE OR FALSE: ERPs are time stamped segments of EEGs relating to specific event

Answer 32

TRUE

Question 33

ERPs can be divided in to how many categories

Answer 33

2

Question 34

what are the 2 categories ERPs can be split into

Answer 34

- waves in first 100ms after presentation are 'sensory' ERPs reflecting on initial response - waves after first 100ms are 'cognitive' ERPs that demonstrate processing of reflecting and evaluating

Question 35

what are the strengths regarding post mortem examinations

Answer 35

- allows detailed examination which is not possible with other methods of studying brain

Question 36

what are the limitations regarding post mortem examinations

Answer 36

- time and matter of death may impact findings on brain - length of time between death and post mortem can impact - retrospective because can only be done following individuals death

Question 37

strengths regarding fMRI scanning

Answer 37

- non invasive and does not expose brain to harmful radiation (PET does) - reliable and objective measure of processes

Question 38

limitations of using fMRI to study brain

Answer 38

- no direct measure of neural activity because it measures blood flow - argued that it overlooks networked nature of brain activity - focusing on localised activity - doesnt measure communication - seen as critical brain function

Question 39

strengths for using EEG as way of studying brain

Answer 39

- provides recording in real time - accurately measures activity or task and brain activity associated with it - useful in clinical diagnosis - diagnose epilepsy as EEG will change due to disturbed brain activity

Question 40

limitations of using EEG to study brain

Answer 40

- cannot reveal deeper regions without implanting electrodes - can pick up neighbouring electrode activity - seen as unreliable

Question 41

strengths of ERP when studying brain

Answer 41

- continuous measure of processing - determine how processing is affected by specific experimental manipulation - able to measure processing of stimuli even in absence of behavioural response

Question 42

limitations of using ERP to study the brain

Answer 42

- requires large number of trails to gain meaningful data - only sufficiently strong voltage charges generated across scalp are recordable (missing out on deep activity which may be valuable) - restricted

Question 43

ERPs are measured through using...

Answer 43

EEG cap

Question 44

what is the difference between EEG and ERP

Answer 44

EEGs are continuous measure of electrical brain activity whereas ERPs are segments of EEG data which are time locked to specific events of interest

Question 45

what does cortical specialisation mean

Answer 45

cortical specialisation means different areas of the brain responsible for different activities or behaviours