4 - Research Methods

Question 1

“Different regions of the brain perform different functions and are associated with different behaviours” is a key assumption of..?

Answer 1

Phrenology

Question 2

What is the practice of pathology?

Answer 2

Studying someone’s brain posthumously

Question 3

Which crevice present in typical brains was missing in Einstein’s?

Answer 3

Sylvian Fissure

Question 4

Around what time was the study of a living human brain using imaging methods produced?

Answer 4

Early 1970s

Question 5

How does a CT scan work?

Answer 5

Shows a structural brain anatomy by injecting a dye into the blood which increases contrast image when x-rays are passed through the brain and compiles a 3D image

Question 6

What are CT scans extremely useful for?

Answer 6

Showing precise location or extent of damage or abnormalities in the brain

Question 7

What is the main disadvantage of CT scans?

Answer 7

Radiation, possible link between CT scans in childhood and later brain tumours

Question 8

How does an MRI scan work?

Answer 8

Uses harmless magnetic fields and radio waves to vibrate hydrogen atoms in the brain’s neurons, different brain strcutrues respond in slightly different ways when stimulated and these vibrations are detected by a huge magnet surrounding the person

Question 9

What are MRI scans extremely useful for?

Answer 9

Determining brain damage or abnormalities in particular brain areas (better than CT)

Question 10

Are MRI scans high or low spatial resolution?

Answer 10

High (1-2mm)

Question 11

What are the two main disadvantages of MRI scans?

Answer 11

Low temporal resolution, and can’t be used by people who have internal metallic devices

Question 12

What is an EEG

Answer 12

Functional method of brain sacan that records electrical activity in the brain through electrodes placed on the scalp (delta, theta, aloha, beta, gamma)

Question 13

What are ERPs?

Answer 13

Measured by EEG averaged over time

Question 14

What is topography vs tomography?

Answer 14

Topography is projecting a sensory surface, tomography is looking at slices of the rbrain

Question 15

Does EEG use topography or tomography?

Answer 15

Topography

Question 16

What are the major advantages of EEG?

Answer 16

Cheap, can be used for a long time, high temporal resolution (1msec)

Question 17

What are the major disadvantages of EG?

Answer 17

Signal can be contaminated by artifacts, we can;t be sure which brain areas are active because of low spatial resolution

Question 18

What is positron emission topography?

Answer 18

A method of functional brain imaging which moinotrs blood flow around the brain by injecting Pp with radioactive tracer which releases a positron which collies with an electron in the brain, producing photons which can be detected by a machine. The most active brain areas have the highest ocncentration of the tracer

Question 19

What are the major advantages of PET scans?

Answer 19

Detailed images of brain function during a task, even more sensitive than CT and MRI, moderate spatial resolution

Question 20

What aare the major disadvantages of PET scans?

Answer 20

Invasive, low temporal resolution (30 seconds per scan), limited number of scans per sossion