ways of studying the brain

Question 1

EGG
electoencephalogam

Answer 1

measures electrical activity via electrodes that are fixed in scalp-skull cap
shows brainwave patterns of the actions of neurons (alpha- associated with light sleep, delta- associated with deeper sleep)

Question 2

EEG strengths

Answer 2

can diagnose conditions such as epilepsy, characterised by random bursts of activity in brain that can easily be detected
non invasive
high temporal resolution- reading of brain activity every 1 millisecond
contributed to understanding of stages of sleep

Question 3

EEG weaknesses

Answer 3

poor spatial resolution- unable to provide deeper info about regions of brain.
produce general info, not useful for pinpointing exact source

Question 4

FMRI
functional magnetic resonance imagine

Answer 4

measures changes in brain activity whilst person performs a task
detects the changes in blood oxygenation and flor that occurs as a result if neural activity in specific part of brain

Question 5

FMRI strength

Answer 5

good spatial resolution- 1-2 mm. Can detect different brain regions.
non invasive

Question 6

FMRI weaknesses

Answer 6

poor temporal resolution- 1-4 seconds
expensive to buy and maintain, requires trained operators
only capture a clear image if person stays perfectly still

Question 7

ERP
event related potentials

Answer 7

use skull cap
stimulas is presented to participants (word or pic)
looks for activity related to stimulus

Question 8

ERP strengths

Answer 8

partly addresses the limitations of EEG by making results more specific to measurements
excellent temporal resolution
non invasive

Question 9

ERP weaknesses

Answer 9

poor spatial resolution- unable to provide info that is happening on deeper regions
activity is detected in several regions of brain- not specific
lack of standardisation making difficult to confirm findings
background noise and extraneous material must be eliminated

Question 10

Post mortem

Answer 10

involves analysis of persons brain following their death
areas of damage are examined

Question 11

post mortem strengths

Answer 11

providing an early understanding of key processes
both broca and wernicke relied on these

Question 12

post mortem weakenesses

Answer 12

damage to brain may not be linked to the deficits but to other unrealted trauma
raise ethical issues of concent

Question 13

spatial resolution

Answer 13

level of accuracy in identifying the exact location of a brain structure or brain activity in space (where activity happend)

Question 14

temporal resolution

Answer 14

level of accuracy in identifying exact location of a brain activity in time