Ways of studying the brain

Question 1

What are Electroencephalogram (ECG)

Answer 1

-Measures electrical impulses within the brain using electrodes
- scan recording represents brain wave patterns that are generated from thousands of neurons providing overall brain activity
- used to identify arrhythmic patterns of activity may indicate neurological abnormalities such as epilepsy

Question 2

Strengths and weaknesses of Electroencephalogram (ECG)

Answer 2

-S:useful in studying stages of sleep and diagnosis of epilepsy , high temporal resolution

-L: not useful for locating the source of brain activity so not useful for localisation of brain function

Question 3

What are functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

Answer 3

-Method to measure brain activity while a person is performing a task
- fMRI uses radio waves to detect oxygen levels in the brain which will be most present in the most active areas in the brain (haemodynamic response)

Question 4

Strengths and weaknesses of fMRI?

Answer 4

-S: does not use radiation so risk free, high spatial resolution

-W: expensive, poor temporal resolution (5 second time lag)

Question 5

What are Event-Related Potentials (ERPs)?

Answer 5

-The brain’s electrophysiological response to a specific sensory, cognitive, or motor event
-can be isolated through statistical analysis of EEG data which removes extraneous brain activity data

Question 6

Strengths and weaknesses of ERPs

Answer 6

-S: more specificity in data compared to EEG, excellent temporal validity which makes it good for cognitive functions

-W: lack of standardisation in ERP procedures which makes findings hard to confirm, all extraneous data has to be removed which may be difficult

Question 7

What are post-mortem examinations?

Answer 7

-The brain is analysed after death to determine whether certain observed behaviours during the patient’s lifetime can be linked to abnormalities in the brain.
-Compared to a neurotypical brain

Question 8

Strengths and weaknesses of Post-mortem explanations

Answer 8

-S: vital in early research into the brain such as Broca’s and wernickes areas and were used in HM case study to see if damage caused his memory issues

-W: Causation issues, observed damage to the brain may not have caused the issues , ethical issues- must have informed consent