Biopsychology bk3- Ways To Study The Brain

Question 1

Fmri

Answer 1

Measures brain activity by blood flow in specific areas when completing tasks.
Higher demand for oxygen in areas that become active.
Allows to identify which areas are invloved in particular tasks

Question 2

Fmri AO3

Answer 2

+ high spatial resolution,
Clarity of image, detail by the millimetre, pinpoint accuracy, increases validity
+ risk free, pain free, non avasive unlike PET scan which uses radiation
- expensive, machine and running it, qualified professionals to run it and specialists to analyse images
- poor temporal resolution because of time delay, 5 second delay, effects accuracy of interpretation, influences cause and effect

Question 3

Eeg

Answer 3

Measurement of electrical activity in the brain. Electrodes placed on the scalp. Use instead of fmri in people with epilepsy. Can be used to detect brain disorders such as insomnia, epilepsy, narcilepsy

Question 4

Eeg AO3

Answer 4

+ high temporal resolution, recording of brains activity in real time
+ cost effective compared to fmri
- low spatial resolution, cant pinpoint specific area can only tell general area, lacks validity, e.g. cant identify area= hypothalamus
- not suitable for everyone e.g. autistic, sensitive to touch can be uncomfortable

Question 5

Erp

Answer 5

Eeg in response to particular tasks such as seeing particular word or picture on a computer screen

Question 6

Erp AO3

Answer 6

+ high temporal resolution, real time unlike fmri has 5 second delay
+ more cost effective than fmri
+ suitable for patients who cant go in fmri
- large number of trials to gather meaningful data, time consuming potentially and costs more
- low spatial resolution, cant pinpoint area only general e.g. hypothalamus
- not suitable for everyone e.g. autism hypersensitive to touch

Question 7

Post mortem

Answer 7

Persons body and brain investigated after they have died. Insight into where damage had occured in the brain and how that might explain behaviour by individual prior to death

Question 8

Post mortem AO3

Answer 8

+ identify features other scanning techniques cant e.g. texture, colour, softness
+ lead to further research identify key features of illness which havent been found e.g. schizophrenia- disect brain - living through fmri to see if match
- expensive , specialist to conduct (qualified)
- time consuming, prepare and analyse properly
- cant establish cause and effect as brain is dead, damage could be caused by death not living condition
- informed consent from patient may not be able

Question 9

Scanning techniques

Answer 9

Fmri
Eeg
Erp
NOT post mortem