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= Biopsychology = > Studying the Brain > Flashcards

Studying the Brain Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 4 types of techniques used to study the brain?

A

fMRI

EEGs

ERPs

Post-mortem examination

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2
Q

Outline what is meant by an fMRI?

A

1= Measures blood flow in the brain when a person performs a task.

2 = fMRI works on the premise that the most active neurons in the brain use the most energy.

3 = An fMRI creates a dynamic (moving) 3D map of the brain, highlighting which areas are involved in different neural activities.

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3
Q

What does fMRI stand for?

A

Functional magnetic resonance imaging

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4
Q

What are the strengths of using fMRI scans?

A
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5
Q

What are the weaknesses of using fMRI scans?

A
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6
Q

Outline EEGs as a way of studying the brain. [4 marks]

A

1 = EEGs works on the premise that info is processed in the brain as electrical activity in the form of action potential or nerve impulses, transmitted along neurons.

2 = EEG scanners measure electrical activity through electrodes attached to the scalp.

3 = Small electrical charges that are detected by the electrodes are graphed over a period of time, indicating the level of activity in the brain.

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7
Q

What is meant by amplitude in terms of EEGs?

A

The intensity or size of the activity.

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8
Q

What is meant by frequency in terms of EEGs?

A

The speed or quantity of activity.

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9
Q

What does EEGs stand for?

A

Electroencephalogram

Electro ence phalo gram

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10
Q

Outline ERPs as a way of studying the brain. [4 marks]

A

1= Uses similar equipment to EEG (electrode is attached to the scalp).

2 = However, key difference is that a STIMULUS is presented to a pps.

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11
Q

What does ERPs stand for?

A

Event-Related Potentials

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12
Q

What are the strengths of using EEGs & ERPs?

A
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13
Q

What are the weaknesses of using EEGs & ERPs?

A
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14
Q

Outline post-mortem examinations as a way of studying the brain. [4 marks]

A

1 = Studying the physical brain of a person who displayed a particular behaviour while they were alive that suggested possible brain damage.

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15
Q

What are the strengths of post-mortem examinations?

A
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16
Q

What are the limitations of post-mortem examinations?

A
17
Q

Describe how fMRI scans work.

A

Measures the changes in blood flow that occur across parts of the brain while people perform tasks

Indirectly measures brain activity in different regions of the brain.

When there is more electrical activity in a brain region, more oxygen is needed, so blood flow increases.

18
Q

What is the difference between MRI and fMRI?

A

MRI only shows brain structure and not brain activity.

fMRI shows both brain structure and brain activity.

19
Q

What does an electroencephalogram (EEG) do in simple words?

A

Measures neural activity

Used because fMRIs cannot measure neural activity, only bloodflow.

20
Q

How is an electroencephalogram (EEG) conducted?

A

It detects electrical activity by placing electrodes on people’s scalps.

An electrode can only pick up electrical signals from the cortex.

A signal can only be detected by the electrode if enough cells generate electrical activity.

21
Q

How is an Event-Related Potential (ERP) conducted?

A

ERPs are measured by presenting the same stimulus across hundreds of trials.

ERPs are small electrical signals recorded using EEG that occur in response to the presentation of a stimulus.

Measures peak in electrical signals.

(Since EEGs are messy, ERPs basically clean up the mess and make it easier to see peaks and patterns)

22
Q

How is a post-mortem examination conducted?

A
23
Q

What is meant by spatial resolution?

A

The level of detail at which our method allows us to examine the brain.

24
Q

Which method of studying the brain has the highest spatial resolution, and which method follows after?

A

Post-mortem examinations - look through a microscope.

Then fMRI

25
Q

Which method of studying the brain has the lowest spatial resolution?

A

EEG and ERPs

26
Q

What is a post-mortem examination in simple words?

A

When a person’s brain is examined in detail after-death to look for evidence of brain abnormalities.

Post = after
Mortem = death

27
Q

What is meant by temporal resolution?

A

How precise measurements are with respect to time.

28
Q

Which method of studying the brain has the highest spatial resolution, and which method follows after?

A

EEG and ERPs

Followed by fMRI

29
Q

Which method of studying the brain has no temporal resolution?

A

Post-mortem examinations

= Biopsychology = (10 decks)

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