Biopsychology Flashcards
(106 cards)
1
Q
What is the function of the nervous system?
A
Your nervous system allows you to respond to changes in your environment, known as stimuli.
It also allows you to coordinate your actions.
2
Q
What does a receptor detect?
A
Stimuli
3
Q
What do effectors do in a nervous system?
A
They bring about a response to a stimulus.
4
Q
How do receptors and effectors communicate between each other to bring about an action?
A
They communicate with each other via the nervous or endocrine system, sometimes both.
5
Q
List all stages of the human nervous system.
A
Central Peripheral Somatic Autonomic Parasympathetic Sympathetic
6
Q
Describe the function and features of the CNS.
A
The Central Nervous System consists of the brain and the spinal cord.
It controls all functions of the body and mind.
7
Q
Describe the function and features of the PNS.
A
The Peripheral Nervous System connects the CNS to the outside world, and the rest of the body.
It has 2 subdivisions, autonomic and somatic.
8
Q
Describe the function and features of the Somatic NS.
A
The Somatic Nervous System is a subdivision of the peripheral nervous system and controls our voluntary movement, controlling conscious activities such as running.
9
Q
Describe the function and features of the ANS.
A
The Autonomic Nervous System is a subdivision of the peripheral nervous system, which is required for maintaining our unconscious activities, such as our homeostasis.
It has two subdivisions, being Parasympathetic and Sympathetic.
10
Q
Describe the function and features of the Parasympathetic NS.
A
The Parasympathetic Nervous System is a subdivision of the autonomic nervous system and is responsible for bringing, and maintaining, our body’s optimal function at a resting state, known to bring about ‘rest and digest’.
11
Q
Describe the function and features of the Sympathetic NS.
A
The Sympathetic Nervous System is a division of the autonomic nervous system, that, when activated due to the presence of a life threatening stimulus, such as a predator, prepares the body for what is known as ‘fight or flight’, by stimulating the release of a considerable quantity of certain hormones, such as Adrenaline.
12
Q
Name A to F:
https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/352951793187029005/842124156589965372/unknown.png?width=692&height=563
B may be a little hard to figure out, but it’s what you think it is.
What type of neuron is this?
A
A = Dendrite B = Soma C = Node of Ranvier D = Myelin Sheath E = Axon Terminal, or Synaptic Knob F = Axon
Motor Neuron
13
Q
What is the cell body of a neuron called?
A
Soma
14
Q
Where is the genetic information of a neuron stored?
A
Nucleus
15
Q
Describe the structure of a motor neuron.
A
At the start of the neuron where the dendrites are, motor neurons have a large cell body, also known as a soma. The nucleus is located in this large cell body as well.
The axon on a motor neuron is long, and is insulated by myelin sheaths which are segmented with small gaps called nodes of Ranvier.
From the length of the axon, it branches out to form multiple axon terminals.
16
Q
Describe the structure of a sensory neuron.
A
The receptor cells, the cells that the sensory neuron picks up a stimulus from, are generally visible. Though they are not actually part of the sensory neuron, this is where they are located as to pick up a physical or sensory stimulus from the eyes or skin.
The start of a sensory neuron contains dendrites which have sprouted off to scatter along the receptor cells to pick up a stimulus. There is also a long axon that is also insulated by Myelin sheaths, segmented to form small gaps called nodes of Ranvier.
The sensory neuron also has a small accumulation of it’s cell body, called soma, which sprouts off a bit from the axon to form the location of it’s nucleus.
Down the length of the axon, it branches out until they end to form axon terminals.
17
Q
Describe the structure of a relay neuron.
A
Relay neurons are the smallest of the neurons.
At the start of a relay neurons, where the dendrites are located, it has a large cell body which contains it’s nucleus. From there, it has a very short axon, thus no myelin sheath is required for relay neurons.
Down the length of the axon, it branches off, eventually stopping to form axon terminals.
18
Q
Describe the transmission of information to, and from, the CNS.
A
Firstly, a stimulus is presented.
A receptor picks it up and an electrical impulse is then sent to the CNS (brain or spinal cord in a reflex arc).
The impulse then goes from the CNS (sensory -> relay -> motor to go from CNS to show response) to travel to the effector cells, which usually are muscles.
They then generate a response:
- Stimulus presented
- Receptors pick up
- Signal goes to CNS
- Signals goes from CNS to effectors
- Response is initiated
19
Q
During the transmission of information to, and from, the CNS, the stimulus travels through all three neurons.
Explain when the information reaches each neuron.
A
Firstly, when a stimulus is represented, a receptor cell picks it up which then sends an impulse to a sensory neuron, which is tasked to send the electrical impulse to the CNS.
In the CNS, relay neurons are found between the sensory and motor neurons, and so relay neurons must transfer their impulse to relay neurons before going to motors, and so then relay neurons can transfer their impulse to motor neurons.
Motor neurons then go from the CNS to effectors to configure a response.
20
Q
Describe the function of the sensory neuron.
A
The start of sensory neurons, which are their dendrites, are found on the surface of receptor cells.
Their responsibility is to transmit signals, caused by a stimulus (caused to the cell) to the CNS.
21
Q
Describe the function of the motor neuron.
A
Motor neurons are responsible for the transferring of information from the CNS to the effector cells, such as the muscles, to cause a response to occur.
22
Q
Describe the function of the relay neuron.
A
Relay neurons are found in the CNS, directly between sensory and motor neurons.
Relay neurons are responsible for relaying information from the sensory neurons to the motor neurons.
23
Q
What is a reflex?
A
A reflex is a fast, automatic response to certain stimuli.
They bypass your conscious brain completely, and instead, they go through the spinal cord.
24
Q
Give an example of a receptor cell.
A
Skin
Eyes
Tongue
25
Give an example of an effector cell.
Muscle
26
What is a Synapse?
A synapse is a junction between a neuron and the next neuron or tissue.
27
What is an axon terminal?
Axon terminals are swellings which contain neurotransmitters stored in synaptic vesicles.
They are responsible for the process of synaptic transmission, which is how neurons communicate between each other.
28
Describe the process of synaptic transmission.
Information is passed down the axon of the neuron as an electrical impulse known as action potential.
Once the action potential reaches the end of the axon it needs to be transferred to another neuron or tissue. It must cross over a gap between the pre-synaptic neuron and post-synaptic neuron – which is known as the synaptic gap. At the end of the neuron (in the axon terminal) are the synaptic vesicles which contains chemical messengers, known as neurotransmitters.
When the electrical impulse (action potential) reaches these synaptic vesicles, they release their contents of neurotransmitters.
Neurotransmitters then carry the signal across the synaptic gap. They bind to receptor sites on the post-synaptic cell that then become activated. Once the receptors have been activated, they either produce excitatory or inhibitory effects on the post-synaptic cell.
Some neurotransmitters are excitatory and some are inhibitory. Excitatory neurotransmitters (e.g. noradrenaline) make the post-synaptic cell more likely to fire, whereas inhibitory neurotransmitters (e.g. GABA) make them less likely to fire.
29
Neurotransmitters can emit 2 different charges, negative or positive.
Name the type of neurotransmitter associated with each charge.
Excitatory - Positive
| Inhibitory - Negative
30
What does an excitatory neurotransmitter do?
Excitatory neurotransmitters, when they bind onto a complementary receptor on the dendrite of the post synaptic neuron, emit a positive charge that makes it more likely for the neuron to pass on and fire the electrical impulse.
31
What does an inhibitory neurotransmitters do?
Inhibitory neurotransmitters, when they bind onto a complementary receptor on the dendrite of the post synaptic neuron, emit a negative charge that makes it less likely for the neuron to pass on and fire the electrical impulse.
32
Some Neurotransmitters come up a lot in Psychology.
Name three.
```
GABA
Acetylcholine
Dopamine
Serotonin
Noradrenaline
Epinephrine (Adrenaline)
```
33
Name two excitatory neurotransmitters.
Acetylcholine
Noradrenaline
Adrenaline
Dopamine
34
Name two inhibitory neurotransmitters.
Serotonin
| GABA
35
Describe Dopamine.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps with movement, attention and learning.
Too much is linked to schizophrenia, while too little could result to depression or Parkinson's Disease.
36
Describe Serotonin.
Serotonin is an inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in emotion, mood, sleeping and eating.
Too little is associated with depression.
37
What is the endocrine system also known as?
The Hormonal System
38
What are hormones?
Hormones are chemical messengers, which are usually proteins.
They travel in the bloodstream and are complementary to certain cells as to stimulate them to act in certain ways, known as target cells.
39
What is a gland?
A gland is a crop of cells that are specialized to secrete a substance, such as a hormone.
40
List 5 glands.
```
Thyroid Gland
Thymus Gland
Pancreas
Adrenal Gland
Pituitary Gland
The Gonads (Ovaries & Testes)
Pineal Gland
```
41
What is the function of the Thymus Gland?
The Thymus Gland is involved and responsible in the stimulation of the immune system, mainly the maturing of certain lymphocytes.
42
What is the function of the gonads?
The gonads, being the ovaries and the testes, are responsible for the production of functional sex organs required for reproduction.
43
What is the function of the Pituitary gland?
The Pituitary Gland's function is so secrete hormones to activate other glands when commanded so by the hypothalamus.
44
What is the function of the Pancreas?
The Pancreas secretes a hormone called insulin, and is required for the regulation of glucose concentration in the blood.
45
What is the function of the Thyroid Gland?
The Thyroid Gland secretes a hormone called thyroxine required to regulate metabolism.
46
What is the function of the Hypothalamus?
The Hypothalamus produces hormones that control the pituitary gland.
47
Give one key difference between the endocrine system and electrical communication in nerves referring to their effects on the body.
The endocrine system communication is slower, longer-lasting and more widespread than electrical communication.
48
Describe why the endocrine system is relatively slow compared to neural communication.
Hormones aren't released directly onto the target cell, compared to neurons, which do - hormones must travel through the blood to get to their destination, meaning that they are slower.
49
Describe why the endocrine system is much more longer lasting compared to neural communication.
Hormones are broken down much slower than neurotransmitters, so the effects of hormones can last for much longer.
50
Describe why the endocrine system is much more widespread compared to neural communication.
Hormones are transported all over the body, so the response may be widespread, as long as the target cells are widespread.
51
Describe the activation and process of the fight or flight response.
In the initial shock response, the hypothalamus triggers activity in the sympathetic branch of the ANS.
This stimulates the pituitary gland to produce ACTH, which stimulates the adrenal medulla in the adrenal glands, which releases adrenaline into the bloodstream.
Adrenaline affects the body in several different ways:
Blood pressure and heart rate increase, in tandem with an increase in breathing rate, to get more oxygenated blood quicker to areas of the body where it's needed for activity.
Unnecessary processes for the time being halt, such as Salivation and digestion so that energy can be used for 'necessary' processes.
Perspiration increases so that the body can cool down.
Pupils dilate to allow more light to enter the eye to allow for better vision.
The result of these changes is that the body is ready to use energy to deal with the stressful situation, e.g. running away from the rhino that's escaped from the zoo.
52
Is the pancreas a gland?
Yes
53
Define the theory of localization of function.
Localization of function states that certain areas of the brain are thought to be responsible for certain functions.
54
Outline the structure of the brain as part of the localization of function theory.
Firstly, the upper end of the brain contains the frontal lobe. From there, the back of the frontal lobe contains the motor cortex.
The left frontal area contains the Broca's Area.
Right past the motor cortex is the somatosensory cortex, which is housed by the parietal lobe.
Under the parietal lobe and at the very back of the brain is the occupital lobe, which has the visual cortex.
Directly under the frontal lobe is the Auditory lobe which houses the Wernicke's area at the upper end, as well as a smaller auditory cortex.
55
Label A to H:
https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/352951793187029005/842495584002375690/unknown.png?width=900&height=564
```
A = Frontal Lobe
B = Broca's Area
C = Temporal Lobe
D = Wernicke's Area
E = Occupital Lobe / Visual Cortex - both count
F = Parietal Lobe
G = Somatosensory cortex
H = Motor Cortex
```
56
What is the function of the Motor Cortex?
The motor cortex is responsible for voluntary movement.
57
What is the function of the Somatosensory Cortex?
The somatosensory cortex processes information from our surroundings into sensation, such as touch, pain and temperature.
58
What is the function of the Visual Cortex?
Processes information detected by the light in our eyes.
59
What is the function of Wernicke's Area?
Wernicke's Area is responsible for the comprehension of language.
60
What is the function of the Auditory Cortex?
The Auditory Cortex is responsible for processing information from our ears.
61
What is the function of Broca's Area?
Broca's Area is responsible for the production of coherent language.
62
Where does the word 'Broca' from 'Broca's Area' come from?
It comes from Paul Broca, who discovered it.
63
Where does the word 'Wernicke' from 'Wernicke's Area' come from?
It comes from Carl Wernicke, who discovered it.
64
The brain in one theory is divided into 2 hemispheres. Give the name for this theory.
Lateralization of function
65
In the lateralization of function theory, what is said about the brain?
The brain is split into two hemispheres, the right and left hemisphere.
The two hemispheres are connected by the corpus callossum.
Different functions are dominant in each hemisphere. For example, the left hemisphere is better for the comprehension and production of speech, while the right hemisphere facilitates emotion and drawing, etc.
66
In the lateralization of function theory, both hemispheres are dominant at different things.
Describe what they are dominant in.
The left hemisphere is dominant in functions such as problem solving, language comprehension and production, as Broca's and Wernicke's area are in the left hemisphere for most people.
The right hemisphere is dominant in functions such as emotion and creativity.
67
An individual processes information by their right visual field.
What hemisphere gets this information first, and from where?
Information from the right visual field goes to the visual cortex in the left hemisphere.
68
An individual processes information by their left visual field.
What part of the brain gets this information first, and from where?
Information from the left visual field goes to the visual cortex in the right hemisphere.
69
Split Brain Surgery gives an opportunity for research into lateralization of function.
What is Split Brain Research?
Split brain research refers to a series of studies that started in the 1960s, and are still going on, which focused on a certain rare group of individuals that went through a neurosurgical procedure called a commissurotomy - a lesioning of the corpus callosum and it's associated tissues.
This procedure meant that research into the specific functions of only one hemisphere could be done in order to get information for advances into what we know about the lateralization of function theory today.
70
What is a commissurotomy?
A commissurotomy is a neurosurgical procedure that involved the severing of the corpus callosum and it's associated tissues.
This severing means that the hemispheres can no longer communicate between each other.
71
What is a split brain patient?
A split brain patient is a patient that underwent a commissurotomy, a lesioning of the corpus callosum.
72
Describe Sperry's research into split brain surgery.
Sperry was interested in researching about the lateralization of function theory by using split brain patients, patients which underwent a commissurotomy and could not communicate between their two hemispheres.
The study involved 11 participants, known as split brain patients, which had their corpus callosum severed to treat their severe Epilepsy which was so severe it could not be controlled by medication.
Sperry devises a general procedure, wherein each participant would cover one eye and look at a fixation point on a projection screen. A word was then projected onto the right or left of the screen at high speeds so there was no time for eye movement.
If the word was shown in the right visual field, all of the split brain participants would have processed it into their left hemisphere, meaning that they could say it out loud, meaning that they comprehended and produced coherent language.
If the word was shown in the left visual field, all of the split brain participants would have processed it into their right hemisphere, recalling that they 'didn't see' any words and didn't have a recollection of it, however, they were able to draw images associated with the word.
Sperry's research showed that different hemispheres of the brain specialize in different functions, as language comprehension and production was in the left and creativity in non-verbal communication was on the right.
73
Evaluate Sperry's research into split brain surgery.
Advantages:
- Scientific method, and also observable as a commissurotomy took place and that was the only difference between the OCD sufferers and the normal individuals.
- This is a laboratory experiment, and so due to controlled, scientific conditions, the reliability and validity of the experiment is extremely high, it is also thus highly replicable.
- Used a control group
Disadvantages:
- A small sample size of 11 people means that the results of the study are not very generalizable to the entire population; replications of the study will need to be carried out to make sure that the information generated is significant.
- This was an extremely specialized sample of individuals that underwent neurosurgery, and so getting a representative sample of these people will be
extremely hard.
- You can argue that there is already an imbalance in brain chemistry in individuals with severe OCD that causes their disorder by overcommunicating between
the two hemispheres, which would mean that how they reacted to being shown certain stimuli in the initial test may not be representative to normal people,
and the only way of testing this is by conducting a commissurotomy on a normal individual and seeing the difference, which is highly unethical.
- The control group Sperry used had individuals with no history of epilepsy, thus this variable was not matched, making the control group less meaningful.
74
What is plasticity?
Plasticity is the ability of the brain to alter it's structure and function in response to changes in the environment.
75
If neural pathways are used very often, what happens to them?
The stronger the connections between the neurons become, making them faster and better.
76
If neural pathways are not used often, what happens to them?
The weaker the connections between the neurons become, making them slower and worse.
77
When is the rate of plasticity high in a human?
At a very young age. It slows down as we get older.
78
Describe one study showing evidence for plasticity.
Kuhn has shown that playing video games results in new synaptic connections in the brain areas involved in spatial recognition and motor performance.
This supports plasticity as it shows the ability of the brain to adapt and change to different conditions, shown in the higher amount of synaptic connections in the brain associated with playing video games, implying these individuals adapted by plasticity.
Other studies, such as Miguire's, Danelli's and potentially Lashley's will be sufficient as well.
79
Outline Kuhn's study on plasticity.
Kuhn has shown that playing video games results in new synaptic connections in the brain areas involved in spatial recognition and motor performance.
This supports plasticity as it shows the ability of the brain to adapt and change to different conditions, shown in the higher amount of synaptic connections in the brain associated with playing video games, implying these individuals adapted by plasticity.
80
What is functional recovery?
Functional recovery is the transfer of functions from a damaged area of the brain after trauma, to other undamaged areas.
81
What is neural unmasking?
Functional recovery can take place through a process termed neuronal unmasking, where ‘dormant’ synapses (which have not received enough input to be active), open connections to compensate for a damaged area of the brain.
82
What is axon sprouting?
Axonal sprouting is the growth of new nerve endings which connect with other undamaged cells to form new neuronal pathways.
83
Outline one study showing evidence for functional recovery.
Danelli cited the case of a 2.5 year old boy who had a large benign tumor removed which took most of his left hemisphere away, which is associated with language production and comprehension, and therefore his abilities associated with the left hemisphere went away.
However, by age 5, his language ability was reported as normal for his age.
84
Describe the study done by Maguire which supports plasticity.
According to Maguire, the role of the hippocampus is to facilitate spatial memory, in the form of navigation.
'Black cab' Taxi drivers undergo extensive training, having to take a test known as ‘The Knowledge’, which is known for testing the navigation of the drivers to a highly sophisticated level, therefore making them an ideal group for the study of spatial navigation.
Structural MRI scans were obtained. 16 right-handed male London taxi drivers participated; all had been driving for more than 1.5 years. Scans of 50 healthy right-handed males who did not drive taxis were included for comparison. The mean age did not differ between the two groups.
Results:
1) Increased grey matter was found in the brains of taxi drivers compared with controls in two brain regions, the right and left hippocampi. The increased volume was found in the posterior (rear) hippocampus.
2) Changes with navigation experience – A correlation was found between the amount of time spent as a taxi driver and volume in the right posterior hippocampus.
The older the taxi driver was, the larger, on average, the volume of the posterior and rear hippocampus was.
85
Evaluate the study done by Maguire which supports plasticity.
Advantages:
- A highly controlled scientific method was used, which was highly unbiased as results were collected through observable changes between the control. This means that causal relationships can be established.
- The variables the participants were matched on, such as gender and health, meant that certain participant variables that were controlled, making the experiment more reliable and thus replicable.
- Further evidence for Maguire's conclusion was found with the positive correlation between the experience in driving and the volume of the rear and posterior hippocampus, making the results more meaningful.
Disadvantages:
- Only 16 individuals were in the non-control condition, being licensed taxi drivers in London. This is a small sample size, and thus more research will need to be made in this field before results are concluded to the general population.
86
Describe a practical application of plasticity.
Although the brain has the capacity to fix itself, recovery can be further improved through intensive neuro-rehabilitation as the more experience you are exposed to, the more likely it is that new neural connections will be made, and more dormant ones will become stronger as they are used more often.
This lead to the use of neuro-rehabilitation in hospitals, to help individuals recover from lost function associated with the brain.
87
Phantom limb syndrome is a possible symptom of plasticity.
What is phantom limb syndrome?
Phantom limb syndrome is a condition in which patients experience sensations, whether painful or otherwise, in a limb that does not exist.
It has been reported to occur in 80-100% of amputees, and typically has a chronic course, often resistant to treatment.
It is said this has occurred due to the brain re-wiring itself to compensate for the loss of the limb, seeming to refuse to accept the fact that the limb has gone.
88
List the 2 main methods of studying the brain.
```
Post mortems (invasive)
Scanning (non invasive) which includes EEGs, fMRIs, and ERPs.
```
89
Describe post-mortem examinations of the brain.
Post mortem examinations involve dissecting the brain of a person who has died - it is invasive.
This allows researchers to physically look at the internal structure of the brain.
If a person has a medical condition when they were alive, a post-mortem could show up any structural abnormalities that could explain their condition. Before modern techniques were found, post-mortems were the main way for research into the brain.
90
Describe how post mortems have been useful for providing evidence for localization of function theory.
Post-mortems have provided evidence for localization of function in the brain.
This can be seen with Paul Broca, who had two patients developing speech problems as a result of brain damage. Both patients had damage to the same area of the brain, so Broca concluded this area (known as the Broca's Area today) was involved in speech production.
91
Describe the disadvantages and advantages of post mortem examinations of the brain.
Advantages:
Provides detailed examinations into the brain, and post mortem examinations were responsible for many medical advances, such as the discovery of the Broca's area.
Disadvantages:
Post mortem examinations require the patient to be dead before the examination can be carried out, meaning they don't benefit from any findings.
Consent may be extremely hard to obtain and this can stop you from getting potentially useful pieces of information as the family may not allow you to examine their brains after death - it may be seen as disrespectful, and so carries ethical problems.
Cause and effect can't be established in all post mortem examinations as not all brain problems are visible by the brain's physical structure.
Causation is also problematic because it is likely that further brain damage has occurred after death which will then be observed, and thus it becomes a confounding variable.
92
What do fMRIs stand for?
Functional magnetic resonance imaging
93
What is an fMRI?
fMRI scans are 3D scans providing structural and functional information, and are a method of observing the brain in a non-invasive way.
The scan is able to provide a 3D moving image of the brain during specific tasks, such as singing and problem solving.
94
How do fMRIs work to form an image?
They work by detecting blood oxygenation and flow as a result of neural activity - when a brain area is more active, it picks up more oxygen and this is picked up by the scan.
95
What is the function of an fMRI?
fMRIs are able to provide a 3D moving image of the brain during specific tasks, and so can be used to highlight the areas of the brain being used during the task, as the part of the brain that is associated with the function will be more active.
fMRI scans can be used to diagnose medical problems because they can also show damaged or diseased areas of the brain.
96
Evaluate the use of fMRIs.
Advantages:
- fMRIs are essential in diagnosing certain medical conditions and so are extremely useful to scientifically detect and diagnose them, having a high practical benefit.
- fMRIs are great for research into the brain as they show the exact areas of the brain stimulated during the performance of certain functions.
- Mostly risk free, not dangerous.
- It has an extremely high spatial resolution, showing highly detailed images of the brain and exactly where in the brain is being stimulated.
- fMRIs produce a moving image, meaning that the brain is constantly being observed and recorded, which is helpful as it shows us the whole brain in real time.
Disadvantages:
- fMRIs are extremely expensive to buy and run.
- They also require people to lie very still in an enclosed space for a period of time, which can be a problem for people with claustrophobia.
- They have poor temporal resolution, which means they don't show changes over time as well as they could.
97
What is an EEG?
An EEG, also known as an electroencephalogram, shows the overall electrical activity of the brain.
EEGs are seen as multiple electrodes placed on the scalp, and electrical activity in the brain is recorded for a period of time.
98
What do EEGs record?
EEGs pick up and record a pattern of waves in the brain - the signal of many neurons firing together.
They measure different brain waves, being in the form of Alpha, Beta, Delta and Theta, as well as the aptitude (size) of the activity and frequency (speed) of activity.
99
Name 3 types of brain waves recorded by EEGs.
Alpha
Delta
Theta
Beta
100
What are EEGs often used to investigate?
EEGs are often used to investigate issues surrounding sleep disturbances and epilepsy, as the brain waves can indicate problems - these will be shown in the form of abnormal EEGs, which then inform the user about a potential problem.
As a result, EEGs can be used as a diagnostic tool.
101
Evaluate EEGs.
Advantages;
- High temporal resolution, brain waves occurring in the individual are instantly shown on EEGs
- Causes no disruption to brain functioning
- Has contributed dramatically to our understanding of the brain during sleep, as it's commonly used in sleep research, as well as epilepsy.
- Cheaper than fMRIs and don't carry the problem of claustrophobia - not physically invasive to the individual.
Disadvantages:
- Low spatial resolution, as it is impossible to find out what part of the brain is being stimulated. This means that EEGs can be pretty shallow with the information you can get from them, and you don't know where the brain waves exactly originate from.
102
Bio-psychologists can also look at how an EEG wave pattern changes in response to a stimulus.
What is this known as?
Event-related potential (ERP)
103
When a specific stimulus is presented to an individual with an EEG, what may happen?
The brain waves may change in response to the stimulus, known as event related potential.
104
What are the uses of ERPs?
ERPs have been used a lot in memory research, as they give psychologists a lot of clues about information processing in the brain.
ERPs have been shown in research to have a useful medical purpose, being a good tool in assisting the diagnosing of certain psychiatric conditions.
This is because the brain wave reaction to a stimulus being presented can be compared to other brain wave reactions of healthy individuals to potentially seek out a problem.
105
Outline the study involving ERPs that feature their diagnostic and medical ability.
Milner et al found that people with phobias had an ERP of greater amplitude in response to images of the objects they feared, compared to non-phobic individuals.
106
ERPs can be more reliable than other techniques in research methods, such as self report techniques.
Suggest why, referring to a study in your answer.
In ERPs, individuals' reaction to a stimulus when using an EEG is scientific and unbiased, and self report techniques, such as questionnaires and interviews, can often be biased by certain extraneous variables (social desirability bias).
Costa conducted research on 19-29 year old women and males - they were shown nude pictures of both sexes.
They were asked how the pictures made them feel, and the men said they felt aroused, however the women said they didn't feel anything. However, the ERP had a similar level of activity in both the females and the males.
This demonstrates that ERPs are a more reliable and unbiased technique than self-report measures.
