Biopsychology 16 Markers - Advanced Information Flashcards
Discuss fMRI as a way of studying the brain.
AO1
Method used to measure brain activity while person performs task using MRI technology
detecting radio waves from changing magnetic fields
Enable researchers to detect regions in brain rich in oxygen so active
Detects changes im blood oxygenation and flow that occur due to neural activity in specific parts.
When brain more active consumes more oxygen and to meet increase demand blood flow directed to activated area (haemodynamic response)
3D imaging shows which parts of brain involves in particular mental process.
Has important implications for understanding localisation of function.
Discuss fMRI as a way of studying the brain.
AO3
Non-inavsive (no harm)
More objective/reliable - useful to investigate psychological phenoma that people wouldn’t be able to provide in verbal reports
High spatial resolution - detailing by mm and clear picture of brain’s localisation.
Not direct measure of brain activity (measures changes in blood flow) - so not truly quantitative measure
Low temporal resolution - 5 second time lag behind image on screen and initial firing of neuronal activity
Discuss EEG as a way of studying the brain.
AO1
Record of tiny electrical impulses produced by brain’s activity.
Measures characteristic wave patterns which can help diagnose certain brain conditions.
Via electrodes fixed onto scalp using skull cap.
Scan recording represents brain wave patterns that are generated from action of millions of neurons.
Provided overall account of brain activity
Often used by clinicians as diagnostic tool
unusual arrhythmic patterns of activity may indicate neurological abnormalities
(epilepsy, tumours/sleep disorders)
Discuss EEG as a way of studying the brain.
AO3
High temporal resolution can accurately detect brain activity at resolution of single millisecond/less
Useful in clinical diagnosis (epilepsy) - disturbed brain activity so reading suddenly changes so help diagnose.
Only superficial areas not what’s happening in deeper regions (hypothalmus/hippocampus)
Electrical activity picked up by several electrodes so not useful for pin pointing source (low spatial resolution)
Discuss ERPs as a way of studying the brain.
AO1
Brain’s electrophysiological response to specific sensory, cognitive/motor event can be isolated through statistical analysis of EEG data.
Statistical averaging technique - brain activity from original EEG filtered out leaving out responses to… specific task/stimulus
What remains - ERPs (types of brainwaves that triggered by particular events)
Research revealed that there are many forms of ERPs and how these are linked to cognitive processes (attention/perception).
Discuss ERPs examinations as a way of studying the brain.
AO3
More specificity to EEG measurement of neural processes than use of raw data
Derived from EEG so high temporal resolution especially compared with fMRI so widespread use in measurement of cognitive functions and deficits.
Lack of standardisation between different research studies which makes it difficult to confirm findings
Signal small and difficult to pick out other electrical activity in brain so require many trial to gain meaningful data
Difficult to establish pure data as background and extraneous material must be eliminated and may not be easy to achieve
Strong voltage changes are recordable. Important electrical activities occurring deep in brain aren’t recorded
Discuss post-mortem examinations as a way of studying the brain.
AO1
Brain analysed after death to determine whether certain observed behaviours during patient’s lifetime can be linked to brain abnormalities.
Those with rare disorders/unusual deficits in mental processes/behaviour in lifetime
To establish likely cause of affliction person suffered. May also involve comparisons with neurotypical brain to ascertain extent of difference.
Discuss post-mortem examinations as a way of studying the brain.
AO3
Allow more detailed examination of anatomical and neurochemical aspects of brain that wouldn’t possible using non-invasive. Examine deeper regions
Central part of understanding brain - Wernicke and Broca relied on this before neuroimaging was available.
Causation - observed damage may not be linked to deficits but unrelated trauma/decay
Patients may not be able to provide informed consent. HM lost ability to form memories so couldn’t give consent yet post mortem conducted on his brain
Delay between death and study - confounding variables - drug treatments/ age of death
Retrospective as person already dead. Can’t follow up on anything that arises as possible relationship between brain abnormalities and cognitive functioning.
Discuss localisation
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discuss lateralisation
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Discuss plasticity and functional recovery
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