Brain Scanning Techniques

Question 1

What are Strengths of CT Scans?

Answer 1

• see areas of brain damage e.g. tumours but doesn’t give information on how the brain is functioning
• non-invasive/painless = no tracers or injecttions
• reliable because it can replicate the same procedure

Question 1

What are CT Scans?

Answer 1

• CT scans can take any part of the body
• involved multiple x-ray beams from different angles
• this produces detailed 3D image of the structure of the brain

Question 2

What are the different types of Brain Scanning Techniques?

Answer 2

• CT scans
• PET scans
• fMRi scans

Question 3

What are the weaknesses of CT Scans?

Answer 3

• uses multiple xrays which poses risk of radiation to health e.g. pregnant women can’t use CAT scans affecting the baby
• only measures structure and 3d detail layout of brain it doesn’t record brain activity

Question 4

What are the strengths of PET scans?

Answer 4

• produces accurate valid objective images of brain to gain accurate conclusions and predictions
• ability to replicate since it’s the same procedure

Question 5

What are the weaknesses of PET scans?

Answer 5

• uses injections which is considered to be more invasive than CAT/fMRI scans even if it’s low risk to health
• image produces broad colours which can be hard to distinguish between warm and cold brain activity this can lead to subjective analysis
• artificial setting which lowers ecological validity

Question 6

Strength of fMRI scans

Answer 6

• safe with no risk to radiation or injections therefore it’s non-invasive
• produce high resolution images of structure and ACTIVITY/FUNCTION
• **same procedure **