Brain scanning techniques Flashcards

1
Q

fMRI

A

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

oxygen, task

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2
Q

fMRI 2

A
  • measures brain activity while a task is performed.
  • uses MRI technology (detecting radio waves from changing magnetic fields)
  • enables researchers to detect which regions are rich in oxygen (active) when involved in a particular mental activity.

part of the brain becomes more active, oxygen demand increases, increased blood flow to the brain, perceive areas activated by certain stimulus.

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3
Q

Pros of fMRI

A
  • non invasive- no harmful radiation/ invasion with tools.
  • objective/ reliable measure of psychological processes. useful in investigating psychological phenomena not present in verbal report.
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4
Q

Cons of fMRI

A
  • not direct measure of neural activity in the brain. Not quantitative.
  • ignores networked nature of brain- focuses on localisation.
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5
Q

EEG

A

Electroencephalogram.

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6
Q

EEG 2

A
  • Measures electrical activity in the brain.
  • electrodes placed on scalp detect small ECs from activity of brain cells.
  • electrical signals graphed = EEG
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7
Q

Uses of EEGs

A
  • To detect types of brain disorders (eg. epilepsy) or to diagnose disorders that influence brain activity (eg. Alzheimer’s)- from spikes of slowing of brain electricity.
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8
Q

Pros of EEG

A
  • Records brain activity in real time, not a still image. More accurate measurement.
  • useful in clinical diagnosis (epilepsy in someone experiencing seizures)
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9
Q

Cons of EEG

A
  • cannot reveal deeper processes such as the hypothalamus (reaches superficial regions). Electrodes in non humans to achieve this = unethical.
  • activity picked up by neighbouring electrodes- cannot pinpoint exact source. Cannot differentiate between close areas.
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10
Q

ERPs

A

Event- related potentials

In it’s raw form EEG is a general measure of brain activity- contained within the data is useful info about sensory, cognitive and motor events.
Isolates these responses through statistical averaging technique- where all activity filtered to leave responses relative to a stimulus.

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11
Q

ERP Pros

A
  • addresses limitations of EEG- specificity of measurement of neural processes.
  • derived from EEG measures = high temporal resolution, led to widespread use in measurement of cognitive functions and deficits.
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12
Q

ERP Cons

A
  • lack of standardisation in ERP methodology between research studies, difficult to conform findings.
  • background noise and extraneous material must be completely eradicated, may be challenging
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13
Q
A
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14
Q

Post mortem examination

A
  • involves analysis of the brain following death- likely to be those who have a rare disorder and have experienced unusual deficits in mental processes or behaviour during life.
  • areas of damage are examined to establish likely cause of the personal affliction.
  • may involve comparison with neurotypical brain in order to ascertain the extent of difference.
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15
Q

Pros of post-mortem

A
  • vital in providing a foundation for early understanding of key processes in the brain- Broca and Wernicke (before neuroimaging was possible)
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16
Q

Cons of post-mortem