Biopsychology- Ways Of Studing The Brain

Question 1

/fmRI AO1

Answer 1

-detects changes in blood oxygenation and blood flow that occur due to neural activity to specific brain areas
-head inside large powerful electromagnet which detects changes
-produces detailed 3d images- high spatial resolution
-study abnormal brain activity e.g damaged + diseased areas

Question 2

EEGs AO1

Answer 2

-overall electrical activity in the brain
-multiple electrodes placed on scalp + electrical activity recorded for period of time
-produces pattern of waves
-used to study amplitude and frequency of patterns

Question 3

ERPs AO1

Answer 3

-measures brain activity in form of waves
-electrodes attached to scalp, stimulus presented to participant and researcher looks for activity related to stimulus
-produces waves
-studies sensory responses to stimulus

Question 4

Post- mortem A01

Answer 4

-can examine deeper regions of brain
-post mortem examination studies physical brain of a person
-produces more detailed investigation of the brain
-studies anatomical and neurochemical aspects of the brain

Question 5

fmRI AO3

Answer 5

-non invasive (no injections of radioactive substances)
-poor temporal resolution (1-4 seconds) worse than others
-good spatial resolution (1-2 mm) greater than other techniques
-expensive, sophisticated, costly to purchase maintain and run, high level knowledge

Question 6

EEGs AO3

Answer 6

-non invasive (no exposure to radiation)
-ethical
-good temporal resolution (takes readings every millisecond)- records brain activity in real time
-poor spatial resolution (only detect activity in superficial regions of brain
-cheap compared to fmRIs- portable so accessible- some training but not extensive
BUT:
-electrical activity often detached in several regions simultaneously difficult to pinpoint and draw conclusions

Question 7

ERPs AO3

Answer 7

-non invasive (no exposure to radiation)
-ethical
-good temporal resolution (takes readings every millisecond)- records brain activity in real time
-poor spatial resolution (only detect activity in superficial regions of brain
-cheap compared to fmRIs- portable so accessible- some training but not extensive
-use more experimentally robust method can eliminate extraneous neural activity

Question 8

Post-mortem AO3

Answer 8

-invasive but not issue because they’re dead
-informed consent may not be given (because may have no received it before they died)
-can carry out extensive examination of brain
-difficult to establish causation
-cant be used as a method to measure developmental changes over time (longitudinal)