ways of investigating the brain Flashcards
spatial resoualtion
level of accuracy in identifying the exact location of the brain activity in space (where it happened)
temporal resolution
level of accuracy in identifying the exact location of the brain activity in time (when it happened)
FMRI (functional magentic resonance imaging)
detects changes in blood oxygenation
brain is active, requires more oxygen so oxygenated blood is directed towards the active area
HAEMOGLOBIN RESPONSE
produces 3D activity maps where it shows where oxygenated blood is flowing and where it is more concentrated
ADV of FMRI
virtually risk free
straightforward to use
has good spatial resolution-provides clear picture of how function is localised
DIS of FRMI
expensive and can only capture a good image if person is staying completely still
measures blood flow in brain, we are not looking at the neurons in the brain
EEG
meaures electrical activity within the brain via elctrodes attached to indiviudlas scalp by a sjull cap
scan recordings show brainwave patterns
can be used as diagnosis tool for eplipey or tumours
adv of EEG
useful in diagnosis of psychological disorders and conditions such as epliepsy
very high temporal resoultion as it can detetc and record brain activity within a multisecond
dis of EEG
poor spatial resoualtion-cannot pinpoint exact location of neaural activity
signals can be missed
ERP
more specific EEG recording as eliminates all extraneous neural activity and takes statistical avergae
brainwaves which are triggered by particular events
adv of erp
more specific. good temporal esoultion which means we have clear undertaning of the time at which the activity happened
dis of erp
to establish purer data, background noise, extraneous variables must be eliminated which is not alwyas easy to achieve
post mortems
involves looking at the brain after a persons death
usually those who have a rare disroder r ahve experinced unusual deficits in their lifetime
areas of damage are examined after death to find orignial deficit
may also include comparion to a control brain (brain form someone who suffered no deficits)
adv of post mortems
provides foundation for the undertsaing of processes in the brain e.g karl wernicke and paul broca both relied on this to establish links
dis of post mortems
ethical issues as in formed consent cannot alwasy be given before their death
cannot be sure that the observed damage to the brain is due to deficits. could be due to other factors e.g trauma
