Brain Scanning Techniques ERP

Question 1

What do ERPs stand for

Answer 1

Event related potential, types of brainwave triggered by a specific stimuli such as noises or images, showing the us the exact type of brain activity that is linked to different cognitive processes

Question 2

How do ERPs work

Answer 2

A stimulus is presented to a subject during EEG
The same stimulus is presented repeatedly at exactly the same interval for exactly the same time
Brain wave pattern after each presentation is added to previous ones and a computer program creates an average of the pattern
Filters out all the extraneous brain activity leaving just that is
Can establish which wave is linked to the processing of a certain type of stimulus as the amplitude of ERP will be stronger after that stimulus is presented

Question 3

Eg a wave known as the n170 (because it is a negative wave that occurs 170ms after the stimulus)

Answer 3

Those to represent facial processing as the amplitude or this wave is stronger after a face is shown than any other stimulus

Question 4

Eg lie detector

If a person is presented with familiar and unfamiliar info, the brain will recognise the familiar information and

Answer 4

Produce different reaction/ERP

Therefore if the person states they do not recognise the familiar information this lie will be detectable as an ERP

Question 5

Advantages over other techniques

Answer 5

Compared to fMRI have higher temporal resolution

Compared to EEG, ERPs determine processes involved in specific presentation of stimuli

Question 6

This means they provide a more

Answer 6

Specific and precise measurement of brain activity than other techniques

Question 7

The have contributed to cognitive neuroscience

Answer 7

Researchers able to identify the role of different ERPs in various cognitive functions eg N170 linked to facial processing
P300 involved with working memory

Question 8

This means ERP research has been

Answer 8

Valuable in developing our understanding neural processing underlying cognitive functions

Question 9

Flaws in methodology

Answer 9

Lack of standardised procedures across different research studies using this technique
Not always possible to completely eliminate all extraneous brain activity or noise so the data is not as pure as it is assumed to be

Question 10

This means that it is difficult

Answer 10

To confirm findings from ERP research, the may not be valid or reliable