Biopsychology- Ways of studying the brain- TB

Question 1

How many ways of studying the brain are there?

Answer 1

4

Question 2

What are the 4 ways to study the brain?

Answer 2

1) Post-mortem examination
2) Scanning techniques- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
3) Electroencephalograms
4)Event related potentials

Question 3

What is a post-mortem examination?

Answer 3

A study of the brain done after an individual has died if it is suspected that their behaviour was caused by brain damage

Question 4

What 2 things does a post-mortem examination allow?

Answer 4

1) Make it possible to identify brain structures involved in memory
2) Establish a link between psychiatric disorders & underlying brain abnormalities

Question 5

What happens in a MRI?

Answer 5

Measures changes in blood flow & oxygen, indicating increased neural activity in specific areas whilst the person is actually performing the task

Question 6

What are MRI’s useful for?

Answer 6

Identifying which areas of the brain are involved in particular mental activities

Question 7

What happens in electroencephalograms?

Answer 7

Measures electric activity in the brain using electrodes on scalp, showing brainwaves over time

Question 8

What are 2 examples of the use of electroencephalograms?

Answer 8

1) Individuals with epilepsy show spikes of electrical activity
2) Alzheimer patients show slowing of electrical activity in the brain

Question 9

What happens in ‘event related potentials’?

Answer 9

Takes raw electroencephalogram data & averages multiple readings (repeated task) to investigate the cognitive processing of a specific event. It measures very small voltage changes triggered by specific stimuli/ cognitive activity

Question 10

When do ‘Sensory ERP’s’ occur?

Answer 10

Within the first 100ms after stimulus presentation

Question 11

When do ‘Cognitive ERP’s’ occur?

Answer 11

After first 100ms of stimulus presentation

Question 12

What can be revealed in a post-mortem exam that can’t when the person is alive?

Answer 12

Underlying neurology of a behaviour

Question 13

What are Broca’s findings?

Answer 13

Her patient (speech problems) was found to have a lesion (damage) of Broca’s area of brain- important for speech production

Question 14

What is used to measure electrical charges using an EEG?

Answer 14

Electrodes on scalp

Question 15

What are the 4 basic EEG patters?

Answer 15

1) Alpha waves
2) Beta waves
3) Delta waves
4) Theta waves

Question 16

How do ERP’s establish a specific response?

Answer 16

Many presentations of stimulus & responses are averaged together & unrelated date is filtered out

Question 17

What are 2 strengths of fMRI as a way of studying the brain?

Answer 17

1) Non-invasive- doesn’t expose brain to radiation
2) Objective & reliable measure compared to verbal reports

Question 18

What are 2 limitations of fMRI as a way of studying the brain?

Answer 18

1) Not a direct measure of neural activity
2) Overlooks networked nature of brain activity

Question 19

What are 2 strengths of electroencephalograms as a way of studying the brain?

Answer 19

1) Recording of brain activity in real time
2) Useful in clinical diagnosis e.g. abnormal neural activity in epilepsy

Question 20

What are 2 limitations of electroencephalograms as a way of studying the brain?

Answer 20

1) Doesn’t reveal deeper regions e.g. hypothalamus (would be too invasive-ethics)
2) EEG signal not useful for pinpointing exact location of activity

Question 21

What are 2 strengths of ERP’s as a way of studying the brain?

Answer 21

1) Continuous measure of processing in response to a stimulus- can determine how it is affected by specific experiment manipulation
2) Measure processing of stimuli in absence of a behavioural response

Question 22

What are 2 limitations of ERP’s as a way of studying the brain?

Answer 22

1) Large no. of trials needed- limitation on type of questions ERP’s can answer
2) Deep, important brain activities not recorded e.g. hypothalamus

Question 23

What are 2 strengths of post-mortem examinations as a way of studying the brain?

Answer 23

1) More detailed explanation of anatomical & neurochemical aspects of the brain than would be with non-invasive scans
2) Played a centre part (Harrison 2000) in understanding of schizophrenia origin