Biopsychology

Question 1

What are the ways of studying the brain ?

Answer 1

• Post-Mortem
• fMRI
• EEG
• ERPs

Question 2

Describe Post Mortem

Answer 2

• Used because of technology
• To find cause due to affliction faced by a person and compare it to neurotypical brain.

Question 3

What are the strengths of post-mortem

Answer 3

• doesnt rely on radiation unlike PET scans
• It is non-invasive straightforward to use
• It is a foundation for learning ,used when - discovering Broca and Wernikes area

Question 4

The case of HM

Answer 4

• Post mortem studies have also made it possible go identify some of the brain structures found lesions in the hippocampus . This allows us to understand the role of the hippocampus.

Question 5

Explain Falkai et al (1988)

Answer 5

• Found more dopamine receptors in the left amygdala in the brains of people with schizophrenia in post mortem studies

Question 6

What are the weaknesses of post mortem studies?

Answer 6

• Causation is an issue within investigation
• Observed damage may not be linked due to the deficits of review - decay or trauma
• Brain may be affected by other factors such as because of death,disease
• Ethical issues did the patient consent
  Cultural validations - Islam doesn’t allow this
  -PM is retrospective ,therefore limited in use
  -has a poor temporal resolution because there is a 5 second delay behind the image on the screen and the firing neurons

Question 7

Describe the fMRI

Answer 7

• Work by detecting the change in blood oxygenation and flow occurs as a result of neural (brain activity) in specific parts on the brain.
• structure is shown in image through the use of strong magnetic fields and radiowaves to produce detailed images of the brain.(3D images).
  An active brain consumes more oxygen.

Question 8

Strengths of fMRI scan

Question 9

Describe EEGs

Answer 9

• ## measures electrical activity within the brain via electrodes that are fixed on a scalp