Studying the Brain^

Question 1

Spatial Resolution

Answer 1

the extend to which a brain scan is able to pinpoint a regions of the brain
- general VS specific

Question 2

Temporal Resolution

Answer 2

how close to real time you see thing happen
- 2 delay between what the brain is doing/ how long it takes to show on the scan

Question 3

what does fMRIs stand for

Answer 3

functional magnetic resonance imaging

Question 4

fMRIs Info

Answer 4

it monitors the amount of blood oxygenation in diff parts of the brain
- the regions used will have more blood and will flag up on the scan

Question 5

fMRIs Haemodynamic Response

Answer 5

more blood sent to used parts as more blood is sent there
blood balances out the increased oxygen level

Question 6

fMRIs BOLD

Answer 6

Blood Oxygen Level Depend
activation maps produced to show which areas are used during certain tasks
- allow us to localise functions
participants must be still
- cog tasks are mainly monitored

Question 7

No Radiation

Answer 7

risk free, non invasive, easy to use

Question 8

Spatial Resolution +

Answer 8

images of spatial resolution
- detailed, clear pic of how brain act is localised
safe clear pic

Question 9

Expensive

Answer 9

to build and operate
VS other scans

Question 10

Temporal Resolution

Answer 10

poor
5 sec delay between brain’s neural response and seeing the pic
not accurate display of localised brain function

Question 11

Still Participants

Answer 11

they need to be completely still
difficult to achieve
can study phy reactions, only cognitive

Question 12

what does EEGs

Answer 12

Electroencephalogram

Question 13

EEGs info

Answer 13

skull cap with 22-34 electrodes fixed on scalp with conductive glue
- measures electrical activity
the reading from each electrode is the total activation of the brain cortex under that particular electrode
neurons - brainwave pattern
diagnose arrhythmic patterns of activity (epilepsy, tumour, sleeping disorder)
can more with it on
- allows to monitor diff brain functions

Question 14

Uses

Answer 14

used to study medical conditions
- epilepsy, sleep disorder

Question 15

Temporal Resolution

Answer 15

high
sees everything in real time
brain activity can be localised

Question 16

money

Answer 16

cheaper than fMRIs
participant allowed to move

Question 17

Brain Activity

Answer 17

brain activity is general
- not specify the source of neural activity
- researchers get info from areas near the one they want to investigate

Question 18

Spatial Resolution

Answer 18

poor
can’t detect activity deep in the brain

Question 19

What does ERPs stand for?

Answer 19

Event Related Potential

Question 20

ERPs Info

Answer 20

tests sensory, cognitive, motor events/responses
use the same technique as EEGs but present the stimuli more times
recorded the responses
-study in detail the brainwaves triggered

Question 21

Temporal Resolution

Answer 21

great
more used to measure cognition

Question 22

VS EEGs

Answer 22

more specific reading than EEGs

Question 23

Standardisation

Answer 23

lack of standardisation of methods
- ERPs carried out in diff ways
- studies difficult to replicate
- implicates the reliability of ERPs

Question 24

Not Easy

Answer 24

Not easy to conduct
- complete silence
- hard to achieve

Question 25

Spatial Resolution

Answer 25

very poor

Question 26

Post Mortems

Answer 26

compare dead and alive brains for differences in structure
usually use brains with rare disorder
Broca - left frontal lobe with PM

Question 27

Provide Evidence

Answer 27

crutial to provide evidence before scans
- foundation for future

Question 28

Spatial Resolution

Answer 28

high
place segments under a microscope
study down to neuronal level

Question 29

Unclear

Answer 29

the damage could be due to something other than disorder
- subject not alive, so can’t confirm
- info gathered is correlational

Question 30

Ethical Issues

Answer 30

the subject mat not be able to provide informed consent
- because of condition