brain scans

Question 1

intro

Answer 1

brain scans are used in psychology to investigate which areas of the brain are involved in certain processes that link to our behaviour ee.g. agression
they are also used to investigate out memory, thinking, attention, problem solving and foregertting in other areas, but in bio psyc mainly look at which areas of the brain are associated with expression of a behaviour

Question 2

A01.1-PET scans

Answer 2

PET scans involve people carrying out a task during thee scan t measure metabolic activity in the brain
firstly ppts are injected with a radioactive tracer, once they enter the scan they carry out a task to activate a certain area of the brain, once tracer enters brain cells it deoyenises them up taking oxygen in glucose and water, causingg the tracer to decay and emit positrons into the brain which collide with electrons forming gamma rays which produces the image of the brain, metabolic tic activity is shown on the scan, high activity, red/ yellow, low activity= blue, can then identify which areas of the brain are associated with what behaviour and link this to behaviour and thinking

Question 3

A03.1- PET

Answer 3

strength: PET scans tend to measure what they claim for example findings suggest that speech imparment are associated with the broncos area supported by PET scans, therefore we can be sure findings from PET scans are valid leading to useful conclusions about how our brains can lead to e.g. aggressive behavior

raine et all supports used PET scans to compare brain activity in non murderes and NGRI muderers measuring abnormal activity in areas of the brain associated with risk taking behaviour

weakness: although there may be some reliability issues with PET scans as in some cases people carrying out the same task may show activity in different areas of the brain as people may complete taks in different ways, meaning findings are harder to interpret and replicate for consistency if we may gather different findings in each ppt.

overall, good method indicate functioning of areas of the brain reasonably accurate and useful to psychologists investigating human behaviour

Question 4

A01fMRI scans

Answer 4

fMRI scans use radio waves to trace oxygen and blood flow In active areas of the brain.

firstly, individual is placed in a large electromagnet machine, they then will cary out a task to cause certain areas of the brain to become active, oxygen will go to the active areas of the brain therefore blood will also flow to these areas of the brain this activity will the be detected by radio waves and produce an image, in successive slices which will form a 3D image

Question 5

A03- fMRI scans

Answer 5

strength: develop very precise and valid images, allows explore brain in greate detail adding to validity and credibility of conclusions based on how areas of the brain are associated with behaviours

li et al used brain scans to trace how heroin effects areas of brain

weakness: either, not generalisable not available to all e.g. those with metal plates not able to use fMRI scans as can be dangerous to them therefore conclusions not representative of wider population

or: brain scans create correlational data, does not develop direct cause and effect, other factors may be causing these correlations as out brains are very complex and we cant say for sure that areas of the brain lead ….

overall, often preferred and widely used methods by psychplgoys very reliable valid and precise

Question 6

A01 CAT scans

Answer 6

CAT scans involve an individual being injected with a florescent dye into the back of their had or th e crook of their elbow, this will flow through blood stream highlighting blood vessels in brain or spinal cord, ppts are placed in a scanner which rotates around their head emitting X-rays from multiple angles, creating a cross section of their brain building a detailed picture with areas of their brain hughlighted

Question 7

A03 cat

Answer 7

strength: produces quant data, limiting researcher bias more valid conclusions

weakness: unethical exposes individuals to harmful x rays should only be used when pros outrigh cons meaning cant test for consistency to limit x ray exposure, not useful in psychology as need to test for consistency of findings