2.2 - Biopsycholgy (set D - Studying The Brain)✅

Question 1

Define spatial resolution?

Answer 1

How accurate we can be about identifying the exact location of a brain structure or activity

Question 2

Define temporal resolution?

Answer 2

Level of accuracy in identifying the exact location of a brain activity when it took place

Question 3

Give 4 ways of studying the brain?

Answer 3

• FMRI - functional magnetic resonance imaging
• EEGs - electroencephalogram
• ERPs - event related potential
• post mortem dissection

often approaches are combined and results compared to allow for more accurate research and utilisation of pro’s of all methods

Question 4

Explain the method of FMRI for studying the brain?

Answer 4

• uses magnets to detect blood flow and changes (of oxygenated blood) in the brain
• have the patient complete tasks and detects where higher blood flow is = area is more active compared to lower activation areas with low blood supply

Question 5

Give 2 advantages of using FRMI to study the brain?

Answer 5

• creates a very detailed image and precisely identity’s active brain regions - good spatial resolution within 1mm (advantage)
• Safer and less invasive compared to options like PET scans which use radiation (advantage)

Question 6

Give 3 disadvantages of using FRMI to study the brain?

Answer 6

• Delay between when neurones fire and when blood reaches neurones - image taken every few seconds, not live - poor temporal resolution
• Expensive to build and operate - implications to the economy
• participant must remain still for a clear image - reduces use in any experiment that requires movement (may not be a good option for children, ADHD or claustrophobia which can make it hard to stay still)

Question 7

Explain the method of EEGs for studying the brain?

Answer 7

• collection of between 22 and 34 electrodes attached to a cap and fitted to the scalp with conducive gel
• each electrode picks up activity of an area which is displayed as a series of lines showing distinct patterns called brain waves (amplitude show brain wave intensity frequency and speed of activation)

Question 8

Give 3 advantages of using EEGs to study the brain?

Answer 8

• historically important in understanding brain activity in areas such as sleep and medical diagnosis
• significantly cheaper than other techniques and is portable - allowing use when looking at movement
• very high temporal validity - measures brain activation practically live within a resolution of mili seconds

Question 9

Give 2 disadvantages of using EEGs to study the brain?

Answer 9

• Poor spatial resolution - each electrode is picking up a large area of the brain - so not precise
• only from cortex not deep within the brain

Question 10

Explain the method of ERPs for studying the brain?

Answer 10

• uses same equipment as the EEG (electrodes attached to scalp)
• looks at responses to a particular stimulus and the brain activity is recorded each time - creating a smooth curve of activation by combing data in a process called statistical averaging (removes background electrical noise unrelated to the stimulus)
• waveforms peal and dips show exactly when cognate processes in the brain happen after the stimulus is presented, gather average of activity

Question 11

Give 2 advantages of using ERPs to study the brain?

Answer 11

• can isolate and study individual cognitive processes taking place in the brain - EEGs record general patterns of brain activity
• good temporal validity but poor spatial resolution (advantage + disadvantage)

Question 12

Explain the method of post mortem direction for studying the brain?

Answer 12

brains are precisely cut after treatment (treatment done to give a firmer texture) - unusual brains (such as those associated with trauma or mental illness) are compared with a typical (healthy) brain

example is case study of TAN - who it was discovered had damage to his brocas which explained the lack of language production

Question 13

Give 2 advantages of using post mortem dissection to study the brain?

Answer 13

• only option before advancements in technology for scanning ext - improved knowledge and understanding of the Brian

can study the brain at a high spatial resolution (study brain at a microscopic level down to neuronal level - looking at cells)

Question 14

Give a disadvantage of using post mortem dissection to study the brain?

Answer 14

• not conducted on a living brain - unusual behaviour in life and damage found in dissection is correlational (possible link - can not say one thing has caused the other)
• but can lead to hypothesis and generation of theories which can then be investigated with other experimental research using scanning technique