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 used regions will have more blood and will flag up on the scan

Question 5

fMRIs Haemodynamic Response

Answer 5

more blood being sent to the used region because more oxygen was sent there
Blood is required to balance out the increased oxygen levels

Question 6

fMRIs BOLD

Answer 6

Blood Oxygen Level Depend
activation maps produced to show which areas are used for the task
- 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

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’t 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 electrode
neurons = brain activity in brainwave pattern
diagnose arrhythmic patterns of activity (epilepsy, tumour, sleeping disorder)

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
Responses analyzed via statistical averaging techniques
- creates smooth curve of activation

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 - compare to neurotypical brain 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

Question 31

fMRIs A03

Answer 31

No Radiation: risk free, non-invasive, easy to use High SR - detailed, clear pic of how and where brain act is localized Expensive - to build and operate VS other scans Low TR – poor, 5 sec delays between brain’s neural response and seeing the pic = not accurate display of localised brain function Still Participants - difficult to achieve, can’t study physical reactions, only cognitive

Question 32

EEGs A03

Answer 32

Measure general brain activity – don't see the depth or whole picture Low SR- Dont specify the source of activity. Get info from areas near, even if they perform diff functions High TR – can see all in real time so brain activity can be localised Can move – study diff things - sleep stages and medical conditions (epilepsy) Cheaper

Question 33

ERPs A03

Answer 33

High TR – usually used to measure cognitions (memory, attention) Low SR Lacks standardized methods – use diff events for all, hard to replicate Not easy to do – needs silence Give more specific reasoning than EEGs

Question 34

Post Mortems A03

Answer 34

Imp in giving evidence of brain activity before the other techiniques High SR – can place segments under microscope and study down to the neuronal level Damage could be due to somehting other thant he condition Can't know as patient isn’t alive so info is correlational Ethical Issues – can't give informed consent depending on condition