Investigating The Brain Flashcards
What are 4 methods of investigating the brain?
- FMRI’s
- EEG’s
- Event-Related Potentials
- Post-Mortem Examinations
Describe FMRI’s
- A way of investigating brain activity by measuring changes in blood oxygenation and flow in particular areas of the brain whilst an individual performs a specific task
- It shows which regions of the brain are involved in different specific processes
Describe EEG’s
A way of investigating brain activity by measuring electrical activity via the use of a skull cap that records brainwave patterns generated by the action of neurons
Describe Event-Related Potentials (ERPs)
A way of investigating brain activity in response to a specific stimulus by reading electrical activity overtime, and then filtering out extraneous activity, so just the activity relating to the stimulus is left
Describe Post-Mortem Examinations (PMEs)
- A way of investigating the brain by analysing an individual’s brain after they’ve died
- This is typically carried out on individuals whom displayed abnormal behaviours and compared to individuals who didn’t display the same abnormalities to determine whether there are any structural differences it can be linked to
What does FMRI stand for?
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
What method of investigating the brain produces the highest quality imaging?
FMRI’s, which produce 3-dimensional, highly detailed, high spatial resolution images
What are EEG’s typically used for?
To determine abnormal activity and diagnose conditions like epilepsy and sleep disorders
What is a potential future application of ERP’s?
Diagnosing conditions such as autism and addiction by monitoring brain activity in response to specific stimulus (e.g.. the presence of substance)
Why can EEG’s be criticised? (2 Points)
- They only measure activity in the top layer of the brain, meaning researchers cannot investigate activity in deeper regions of the brain, such as the hippocampus, and are therefore limited
- They don’t pinpoint the exact source of neural activity, meaning it is difficult for researchers to distinguish between activities in different but closely adjacent regions of the brain
What method of investigating the brain is the cheapest compared to other methods, and what does this enable?
ERP’s, which allows larger samples to be investigated
What method of investigating the brain is most time-consuming?
ERP’s, as all extraneous activity as to be meticulously filtered out, which is difficult to do
What method of investigating the brain is poses the most ethical issues?
Post-Mortem Examinations, as investigators are likely to ever gain fully informed consent due to individuals already being dead
Why can FMRI’s be criticised? (2 Points)
- They aren’t a direct measure of brain activity, reducing their validity
- They have poor temporal validity, with there being an approximate 5-second time lag, meaning they may not represent moment-to-moment brain activity
What is the temporal validity of EEG’s?
High: it’s to the millisecond
What does EEG stand for?
Electroencephalogram
What method of investigating the brain lacks standardisation?
ERP’s, which casts doubt on the credibility of findings
What is a strength of FMRI’s?
They are non-invasive and virtually risk-free, as they don’t involve the insertion of any instruments or the use of radiation
What are 2 fields of research that Post-Mortem Examinations helped to further and provide a greater understanding of?
- Memory (e.g. HM)
- Localisation of Function (e.g. Broca’s area)
What method of investigating the brain doesn’t allow for cause-and-effect to be established?
Post-Mortem Examinations, as it’s almost impossible to rule out all potential confounding variables due to the inability to carry out further tests and studies
What do Post-Mortem Examinations allow for?
A more detailed, thorough examination of the brain than would be possible with other methods and the examination of deeper regions, such as the hippocampus, more easily
