ways of studying the brain

Question 1

what are the 4 methods of studying the brain?

Answer 1

• fMRI
• EEG
• ERP
• Post-Mortem

Question 2

what is meant by temporal resolution?

Answer 2

• the accuracy of the scanner in relation of time
• how quickly the scanner can detect changes in brain activity.

Question 2

what is meant by spatial resolution?

Answer 2

refers to the smallest feature or measurement that a scanner can detect

Question 3

how does fMRI work?

Answer 3

it measures changes in blood oxygenation in the brain when a person performs a task.

it works on the assumption that an active brain consumes more oxygen. energy requires glucose and oxygen.

oxygenated and deoxygenated blood have different properties and this difference is detected by the fMRI scanner.

Question 4

what are strengths of fMRI?

Answer 4

• high spatial resolution (gives detail by the mm)
• non-invasive (unlike PET)

Question 5

what are limitations of fMRI?

Answer 5

• low temporal resolution
• expensive
• indirect measure (difficult to establish causation as it only measures blood flow not neuronal activity)
• movement artefacts
• accessibility, e.g. pregnancy, pacemakers.

Question 6

how are EEG’s measured?

Answer 6

measures electrical activity in the brain via electrodes fixed on the scalp. (skull cap)

assumption = info is processed in brain as electrical activity in form of action potential.

Question 7

how do EEG’s work?

Answer 7

measures electrical changes detected by electrodes

then graphed over a period of time indicating level of activity.

Question 8

what’re the four types of EEG waves, and how do they differ?

Answer 8

• alpha
• beta
• theta
• delta

they are measured in amplitude and frequency.

Question 9

how are EEG’s used?

Answer 9

used by clinicians as diagnostic tool -

unusual arrhythmic patterns of activity may indicate neurological abnormalities:

-epilepsy
-tumours
- sleep disorders

Question 10

what are advantages of EEG’s?

Answer 10

• high temporal resolution
• non-invasive
• portable
• low cost
• accessible to a wide range of population

Question 11

what are limitations of EEG?

Answer 11

• low spatial resolution
• susceptible to artefacts
• limited to surface activity
• interpretation

Question 12

what are advantages of ERP’s?

Answer 12

• high temporal resolution
• non-invasive
• relatively low cost
• sensitive to cognition

Question 13

what are limitations of ERP’s?

Answer 13

• low spatial resolution
• low signal to noise ratio
• limited to surface activity

Question 14

what are ERP’s?

Answer 14

a way to isolate specific neural responses associated with sensory, cognitive, and motor events.

they work by using statistical averaging techniques, that filters out extraneous brain activity from the original EEG recording.

Question 15

how is post-mortem data used in psychology research?

Answer 15

involves the analysis of a person’s brain following their death.

often brains used are likely to be those who have a rare disorder and have experienced unusual deficits in mental processes or behavior during their lifetime.

Areas of damage within the brain are examined after death as a means of establishing the likely cause of the affliction the person suffered.

May involve comparison with a neurotypical brain to see extent of difference

Question 16

what are advantages of post mortem research?

Answer 16

• detailed analysis
• access to human tissue
• can be used to validate imaging data
• can be used to identify disease mechanisms

Question 17

what does greater spacial resolution allow?

Answer 17

allows psychologists to discriminate between brain regions with greater accuracy.