Brain Scanning Techniques:

Question 1

What are Brain Scanning techniques used for?

Answer 1

To investigate bio abnormalities. Investigate the difference between normal and abnormal brains.

Question 2

What does a PET scan do?

Answer 2

Produces a 3D image. Radioactive tracer is injected into the blood stream. Scans are colour coded. Scanned while inactive and performing an activity, it will show the difference and can be compared to the controls.

Question 3

One Strength of PET: Comparisons:

Answer 3

Useful as it can be used to compare brain activity between normal and abnormal brains so can identify clear causes of differences in behaviour which could be causing abnormality.

Question 4

One Strength of PET: Standardised:

Answer 4

Standardised method of measuring the metabolism of glucose in the brain to measure brain activity so higher reliability as can be replicated to check for consistencies in brain activity.

Question 5

One Strength of PET: Quantitative Data:

Answer 5

Produces quantitative data so objective with how PET scans are conducted by injecting glucose to measure brain level activity, which allows us to precisely pinpoint the specific areas of the brain activity without bias so more accurate.

Question 6

One Weakness of PET: Artifical:

Answer 6

Carried out in artificial setting using tasks that are unrealistic so cannot show how the brain responds in real life situations, therefore low in ecological validity as may not reflect brain activity in the real world.

Question 7

One Weakness of PET: Interpretation Bias:

Answer 7

The colour coded images may be open to interpretation bias from researchers in terms of the level of brain activity so may not be an true accurate measure of the brain activity.

Question 8

One Weakness of PET: Ethical Issues:

Answer 8

Ethical issue with an invasive injection as could be distressing or frequent exposure to radiation could make it unethical / hard to replicate to check consistencies of brain activity.

Question 9

What does a CAT scan do?

Answer 9

Shows structural change, produces multiple images. Produces many x-ray images, “slice by slice”. Convert 2D to 3D.

Question 10

One Strength of CAT: Comparison:

Answer 10

Useful as can be used to compare differences between different brain structures to identify causes of differences in behaviour and detect issues such as tumours.

Question 11

One Strength of CAT: Interpretation Bias:

Answer 11

Objective and no interpretation bias as allows us to precisely pinpoint the specific areas of brain structure without bias so more accurate measure of if brain structure and tumours are affecting behaviour.

Question 12

One Strength of CAT: Safer:

Answer 12

Safer as non-invasive procedure is used as just 2D images to create 3D image of the brain so less distressing for patients when measuring brain structure.

Question 13

One weakness of CAT: Low Validity:

Answer 13

Only produce black and white structural images so can be difficult to spot any subtle changes in affected brain areas so low validity as less accurate conclusions drawn about brain structure.

Question 14

One weakness of CAT: Subjective:

Answer 14

X-ray images require interpretation from the researchers as subjective due to subtle interpretations of the structure of the brain so may not be a true valid measure of the brain structure.

Question 15

What do fMRI scans do?

Answer 15

Detecting changes. Strong magnetic field detailed image. Detect brain disease.

Question 16

One strength of fMRI: Comparison:

Answer 16

Useful as can be used to compare to other brains to explain functional changes in different areas of the brain so can show the early onset of malfunction and differences in behaviour e.g. Alzheimer’s disease.

Question 17

One strength of fMRI: Quantitative Data:

Answer 17

Produces quantitative data so objective and no interpretation bias in terms of the blood flow in different areas of the brain so allows us to precisely pinpoint the specific areas of brain functioning without bias so more accurate.

Question 18

One strength of fMRI: Standardised:

Answer 18

Standardised method of measuring brain functioning and monitoring blood flow in the same way so higher reliability as can be replicated to check for consistencies in brain functioning.

Question 19

One weakness of fMRI: Ecological Validity:

Answer 19

Carried out in controlled settings so do not show functioning of the brain in real life situations, therefore low in ecological validity as brain functioning may be different in the real world.

Question 20

One weakness of fMRI: Interpretation Bias:

Answer 20

The brain scan images require interpretation which may differ between specialists so is highly subjective in terms of brain functioning and so may not be a true valid measure of brain functioning of the individual.

Question 21

One weakness of fMRI: Less practical:

Answer 21

Less practical as the scans cannot be used by everyone as the magnetic field reacts to metal and therefore not suitable or practical to measure brain functioning for pacemaker users.