Techniques to Study the Brain Flashcards
What is post-mortem analysis of the brain?
Examining the brain (usually in slices) to determine the cause of behaviors or dysfunctions experienced when the patient was alive.
What is Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)?
Uses a large magnet and radio waves to scan the brain, producing images of brain structures.
What is Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)?
Measures oxygenated blood flow in the brain, indicating brain activity.
What is Positron Emission Tomography (PET)?
Uses a radioactive tracer to measure glucose metabolism in specific regions of the brain.
What is a strength of post-mortem analysis?
It enables researchers to study a brain without any harm to the living person.
What is a limitation of post-mortem analysis?
It is not possible to compare what is measured post-mortem to a living brain.
What is a strength of MRI?
It enables researchers to pinpoint specific brain structures which may be damaged or have increased grey matter to identify the link between brain and behaviour.
What is a limitation of MRI?
MRI scanners are prone to disturbances caused by noise, temperature, and human error in calibration, making them not always reliable.
What is a strength of fMRI?
It enables researchers to measure oxygenated blood in specific brain regions, informing them of brain activity linked to cognitive processes such as emotion.
What is a limitation of fMRI?
fMRI is slow, having a 5-second delay between brain activity and measurement, potentially missing some important information.
What is a strength of PET?
It is more sensitive than other scanning techniques and can highlight abnormalities and illness more successfully.
What is a limitation of PET?
Using a radioactive tracer involves some risk to the patient.
