techniques to study the brain

Question 1

fmri

Answer 1

• One research method used in the study of brain and behavior is functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
• fMRI detects blood flow in the brain, allowing researchers to identify which areas are most active during specific tasks.

Question 2

introduce study sharot

Answer 2

One study that used fMRI to explore brain activity and behavior is Sharot et al. (2007), which examined the relationship between emotion, memory, and the formation of flashbulb memories (FBM)—vivid, detailed memories of emotionally significant events.

Question 3

study shaort

Answer 3

Sharot’s study investigated whether personal connection to 9/11 influenced the likelihood of forming an FBM. Participants were placed in an fMRI scanner and asked to recall memories related to neutral words (e.g., “homework,” “breakfast,” “school”). Additionally, they were shown the words “summer” or “September”, prompting them to recall either a general summer memory or their memory of 9/11.

Question 4

link to q

Answer 4

The fMRI scans revealed increased activation in the amygdala when participants recalled memories of 9/11 compared to neutral memories.

Notably, those who were physically closer to the attack showed greater amygdala activation, supporting the idea that personal relevance enhances emotional memory formation.

This study demonstrates the effectiveness of fMRI in identifying neural correlates of behavior, as it provided objective evidence linking amygdala activity to the formation of flashbulb memories.