Studying the brain

Question 1

What is fMRI?

Answer 1

Functional magnetic resonance imagining

Question 2

How does fMRI work?

Answer 2

detecting changes in blood oxygenation and its a result of neural activity in specific parts of the brain

Question 3

What happens when the brain is more active? (fMRI)

Answer 3

It consumes more oxygen and to meet this increased demand, blood flow is directed to the active area

Question 4

What does fMRI produce?

Answer 4

3D images showing which parts of the brain are involved in a particular mental process and this has important implications for our understanding of localisation of function

Question 5

What are the strengths of using fMRI?

Answer 5

It does not rely on radiation unlike PET
It is virtually risk free, non-invasive and straightforward if done correctly
Images have high spatial resolution, providing a clear picture of resolution

Question 6

What are the weaknesses of using fMRI?

Answer 6

Expensive compared to other techniques
Can only capture a clear image if the person stays completely still
Poor temporal resolution
It can only measure blood flow in the brain and cant home in on the activity of individual neurones
It is difficult to tell exactly what kind of brain activity is being represented on the screen

Question 7

What does EEG stand for?

Answer 7

Electroencephalogram

Question 8

What is a EEG?

Answer 8

Measures electrical activity within the brain via electrodes that are fixed at a certain point

Question 9

What does the recording from EEG show?

Answer 9

Represents the brain wave patterns that are generated from the action of billions of neurones, providing an overall account of brain activity

Question 10

Who is EEG most often used by?

Answer 10

clinicians as a diagnostic tool as unusual patterns of activity as they indicate neurological abnormalities

Question 11

What are the strengths of using EEG?

Answer 11

It is invaluable in the diagnosis of conditions such as epilepsy as random bursts of activity in the brain can be easily detected
It helps us understand the stages involved in sleep
High temporal resolution
EEG technology can accurately detect brain activity at a resolution of a single millisecond

Question 12

What are the weaknesses of using EEG?

Answer 12

The nature of the information received is generalised
The EEG signal is not useful for pinpointing the exact source of neural activity
Does not allow researchers to distinguish between activities originating in different but adjacent locations

Question 13

What does ERP stand for?

Answer 13

Event-related potentials

Question 14

What are ERP’s?

Answer 14

Shows electrical activity in the brain in response to a stimulus

Question 15

In ERP, what happens if a specific stimulus is presented?

Answer 15

It produces a specific change in the wave pattern

Question 16

What are the uses of ERP?

Answer 16

Used in memory research - gives clues about information processing
Shows differences in those suffering from certain psychiatric disorders

Question 17

What are strengths of using ERP?

Answer 17

Different types with different roles in cognitive functioning
Excellent temporal resolution

Question 18

What are weaknesses of using ERP?

Answer 18

Lack of standardisation

Background noise and extraneous materials

Question 19

What are post-mortem examinations?

Answer 19

Examining the brains of those who have a certain rare disorder once they have died
Areas of damage are examined and can include a comparison with a neurotypical brain

Question 20

What are the strengths of using a post-mortem?

Answer 20

Vital in establishing early processes in the brain

Improve our medical knowledge

Question 21

What are the limitations of using a post-mortem?

Answer 21

Observed damage may not be due to deficits but due to some other trauma
Raise ethical issues such as consent

Question 22

What is a real life application of fMRI?

Answer 22

lie detectors