Biopsych - Studying The Brain

Question 1

fMRI

Answer 1

• Changes in blood oxygenation/flow
• Functional analysis as it creates a 3D map of regions of the brain
• High spatial resolution (1-2mm)
• Low temporal resolution (1-4s)

Question 2

Strengths of fMRI

Answer 2

+ Does not rely on radiation [ethical/non-invasive]
+ Validity [spatial resolution]
+ Used widely in research studies & surgeries for planning routes

Question 3

Limitations of fMRI

Answer 3

• Expensive per use [£500-1K private, £300-800 research] so only small sample sizes can be used
• Poor temporal resolution
• Impossible to know causation at a neural level
• Unable to see how different brain areas communicate

Question 4

EEG

Answer 4

• Detect brain activity using electrodes
• Gather information on brain wave patterns to detect disorders such as epilepsy
• Very poor spatial resolution
• Very high temporal resolution (1-10ms)

Question 5

Strengths of EEG

Answer 5

+ Useful for studying sleep or epilepsy
+ High temporal resolution
+ Non-invasive/without radiation
+ Cheaper to use than fMRI [free in research, £200-600 private]

Question 6

Limitations of EEG

Answer 6

• Low spatial resolution [generalised information from thousands of neurons]
• Uncomfortable

Question 7

ERP

Answer 7

• Type of EEG
• Analyse brainwaves in response to a stimuli
• Very poor spatial resolution
• Very high temporal resolution (1-10ms)

Question 8

Strengths of ERP

Answer 8

+ More specific measurement of processing changes related to stimulus manipulation
+ Non-invasive
+ Cheaper
+ High temporal resolution

Question 9

Limitations of ERP

Answer 9

• Impossible to always eliminate all background noise
• Low spatial resolution
• Uncomfortable

Question 10

Post-mortem

Answer 10

• Analyse brain structure after death to dictate behaviour/cognitive deficits
• Assess areas of damage/structurally abnormal
• High spatial resolution
• Poor temporal resolution

Question 11

Strengths of post-mortem

Answer 11

+ Vital for understanding brains (i.e. Broca’s area, case of HM)
+ Invasive but they are dead so
+ High spatial resolution (structure & neurochemical analysis that other scans can’t detect)

Question 12

Limitations of post-mortem

Answer 12

• Lack of causation (temporal resolution)
• Ethics (HM - unable to fully consent due to long term memory issues)