brain scans.

Question 1

what does FMRI stand for?

Answer 1

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Question 2

what are FMRI scans?

Answer 2

a brains canning technique that measures blood flow in the brain when a person performs a task by exposing the brain to multiple magnetic fields.

Question 3

How long are the scans and how much do they cost?
invasive or non-invasive?

Answer 3

£4oo per scan.
2 hours
non-invasive.

Question 4

what is the first step in FMRI scans?

Answer 4

1.Patients head is placed inside a powerful magnetic field in FMRI machine, it affects certain atoms, making them spin a certain way.

Question 5

What happens when the atoms spin a certain way?(FMRI)

Answer 5

2.They give of signals to help create still images of the brain.

Question 6

what does the scanner detect?(FMRI)

Answer 6

3.Scanner detects different levels of hydrogen in various areas, adding detail to the images.

Question 7

What happens when certain areas of the brain become active? (FMRI)

Answer 7

4.When certain areas of the brain are active, they require more oxygen and blood flow. It behaves differently in a magnetic field when it is used up (deoxygenated).

Question 8

what does the scanner pick up? (FMRI)

Answer 8

5.The scanner picks up the changes in the brain to create 3d images, helping us see the brains structure and check for damages or tumours.

Question 9

what are 2 strength of FMRI scans?

Answer 9

1.provides high level of detail about brain activity.
-they can identify which specific areas of the brain are active during different tasks by detecting changes in blood flow.
-This allows researchers to accurately link certain brain regions to specific mental functions, enhancing the understanding of the brain.

2.non-invasive
-means that individuals behaviours can be investigates without their physical, mental and psychological health is at risk.

Question 10

what are 2 weaknesses of FMRI scans.

Answer 10

1.some people cant have it due to the strong magnetic field.
-people with pace makers or metal implants in their body are at risk as the magnetic field could interfere with the metal.
-affects the population that can participate in FMRI studies, reducing the generalisability.

2.takes place in artificial settings.
-participants have to lay down in a still confined noisy scan, which can feel uncontrollable and unnatural. setting may cause them to behave/ feel differently than they would in everyday situations.
-findings from FMRI studies may lay ecological validity as they might not apply fully to real life behaviour.

Question 11

what do CAT scans stand for?

Answer 11

computerized axial tomography.

Question 12

what are CAT scans?

Answer 12

a brain scan than uses x rays to take multiple cross-sectional images (2d slices) of the brain.

Question 13

How do CAT scans work?

Answer 13

The machine rotates around the patient, emitting x rays from different angles.

as x rays pass through the brain, they are absorbed by tissues at different rates.

once detectors measure x rays that pass through the body, it sends data to a computer then reconstructs 3D slices.

Question 14

how long are CAT scans?
How much?
invasive or non-invasive?

Answer 14

15-30 minutes.
£450-600 per scan.
non-invasive.

Question 15

What is a strength of CAT scans?

Answer 15

-provide detailed images of internal structures in a quick and non-invasive manner.

-the ability to visualise 3D images from multiple cross-sectional slices allows better precision in detecting issues that might not be visible on traditional x rays.

-makes it easier to identify and diagnose conditions such as brain damage or internal bleeding.

Question 16

what is a weakness of CAT scans?

Answer 16

-Involves risks, particularly due to radiation exposure.
-it emits radiation which has been linked to small but significant increase in health risks over time, especially with repeated use.
-meaning moderate high levels of health conditions.

Question 17

What do PET scans stand for?

Answer 17

Positron emission tomography.

Question 18

what are PET scans?

Answer 18

a brain scan that produces detailed 3D images of inside the brain.

Question 19

Whast is the first step of PET scans?

Answer 19

1. a radioactive substance (tracer, FDG) is injected intravaneously (through the veins) and is absorbed by brain cells.

Question 20

what does the tracer interact with? (PET)

Answer 20

2. the tracer interacts with oxygen and glucose in the brain, and as it decays, it emits tiny particles called positrons.

Question 21

what do the emitted positrons collide with? (PET)

Answer 21

3. electrons, producing gamma rays.

Question 22

What does the PET scanner detect.

Answer 22

4.The pet scanner detects the gamma rays and uses them to create 3D images of the brain.

Question 23

What do the 3D images show in PET scans?

Answer 23

they show areas of low activity in blue and high activity in red, helping to identify damage or tumours.

Question 24

Why do the PET scan participants perform tasks?

Answer 24

5. to stimulate specific brain regions, allowing researchers to observe abnormal levels and predict potential issues. EG: tumours, bleeds and other damages.

Question 25

How long do pet scans take and how much do they cost?
invasive or non-invasive?

Answer 25

30-60 minutes.
around £1400.
invasive.

Question 26

what are two strengths of PET scans?

Answer 26

-They provide real-time images of the brain, allowing researchers and doctors to study the brain functions during different task.
The scans can show which areas of the brain are active when a person is thinking/solving problems.
-makes it useful for understanding how the brain works and for diagnosing conditions.

-useful to detecting brain activity.
-Pet scans show areas of high and low activity by detecting gamma rays emitted after a radioactive tracer.
-helps doctors see active areas in the brain and check for any problems earlier.

Question 27

What are limitations of PET scans?

Answer 27

-involves radiation exposure.
-requires the injection of a radioactive tracer, which carries a low dose of radiation. Although low dosage is considered safe, repeated exposure and use in children/pregnant women is limited.
-makes it less suitable for frequent monitoring compared to non-radioactive techniques like FMRI.

-not easily accessible, costly.
-limits access for many participants as there’s a need for specialised facilities. The cost makes is challenging to use the scans as a routine imaging tool in medical practice, reserving it for mostly complex cases.