Ways Of Studying The Brain - Scanning Techniques

Question 1

What are the two AO3 PEELS to evaluate functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI)?

Answer 1

Strength - safer technique
High spatial resolution but low temporal resolution

Question 2

P
(safer technique)

Answer 2

Strength - FMRI - much safer technique to measure brain activity

Question 3

E

Answer 3

as it is non invasive and doesnt use radiation to identify differences in brain area

Question 4

E

Answer 4

unlike use of PET scans which uses radiation

Question 5

L

Answer 5

therefore FMRI is a more appr technique to use as it reduces risk of potential harm to indv

Question 6

P
(comparison of features)

Answer 6

Moreover, FMRIs have higher spatial resolution than EEG and ERP

Question 7

E

Answer 7

• which is an imp feature of brain scans as it can accurately identify specific brain areas involved in bhv
• by displaying detail by the mm, providing a clear image of how the brain is localised

Question 8

E

Answer 8

however, FMRI has poorer temporal resolution as there is a time lag bw image on screen and the initial firing of neuronal activity

Question 9

L

Answer 9

therefore, FMRIs may not truly represent moment to moment brain activity

Question 10

What are the three AO3 PEELS to evaluate electroencephalogram?

Answer 10

Strength - high temporal resolution
Weakness - low spatial resolution

Question 11

P
(high temporal resolution)

Answer 11

strength - use of EEG - high temporal resolution

Question 12

E

Answer 12

this allows researcher to take a real time recording of brain activity unlike an FMRI or post mortem providing a still image

Question 13

E

Answer 13

this means researcher can measure brain activity during a specific task much more accurately

Question 14

L

Answer 14

therefore, providing a greater insight into processes of the brain e.g. brain activity during sleep, inc val of using EEG as a way of studying the brain

Question 15

P
(low in spatial resolution)

Answer 15

However, weakness - use of EEG - low in spatial resolution

Question 16

E

Answer 16

meaning it can only provide info on general activity in the brain

Question 17

E

Answer 17

• it cannot provide the exact source of neural activity that is involved with the bhv
• unlike ERPs which allow a researcher to identify specific brain activity in a particular task

Question 18

L

Answer 18

therefore, findings may be less valuable in developing our und than by using other brain scans like ERPs

Question 19

What are the two AO3 PEELS to evaluate ERPs?

Answer 19

Strength - high temporal resolution
Weakness - hard to obtain meaningful data

Question 20

P
(high temporal resolution)

Answer 20

Strength - high temporal resolution, esp when compared to an FMRI

Question 21

E

Answer 21

meaning ERPs can identify brain activity ever millisecond so researchers can see brain activity in real time

Question 22

E

Answer 22

however, ERPs have poorer spatial resolution than FMRI as they can only detect brain activity in general areas rather than specific

Question 23

P
(hard to obtain meaningful data)

Answer 23

Weakness - hard to obtain meaningful data

Question 24

E

Answer 24

as ERPs can be affected by ext factors such as background noise

Question 25

E

Answer 25

which means it can take many trials to obtain meaningful data as it is hard to control these other factors

Question 26

L

Answer 26

therefore this limits the val of ERPs as a means of studying the brain for a range of brain processes

Question 27

What are the two AO3 PEELS to evaluate post mortems?

Answer 27

Strength - gain a detailed examination Weakness - hard to establish cause and effect

Question 28

P (gain a detailed examination)

Answer 28

Strength - it is the only invasive way to get a detailed examination when studying the brain

Question 29

E

Answer 29

this isnt possible solely using brain scanning techniques such as EEGs or ERPs

Question 30

E

Answer 30

e.g. it has meant researchers have been able to study into deeper areas of the brain such as the hypothalamus

Question 31

L

Answer 31

therefore the use of post mortems as a way of studying the brain can help und brain functioning in many diff bhvs

Question 32

P (hard to est c + e)

Answer 32

However, it is hard to est cause and effect with post mortems

Question 33

E

Answer 33

as there are many confounding variables which cannot be controlled

Question 34

E

Answer 34

such as how long a person has had the disorder, age, time of death or previous treatment

Question 35

L

Answer 35

therefore it limits the int val of the findings of these studies and the appropiateness of using post mortems to study the brain