ways of investigating the brain ao1

Question 1

Spatial resolution

Answer 1

Smallest feature or measurement scanner can detect
More spatial resolution means psychologists can discriminate between different brain regions with greater accuracy

Question 2

4 ways to study the brain

Answer 2

fmri
eeg
erp
post mortem examination

Question 3

Temporal resolution

Answer 3

Accuracy of scanner in relation to time
How quickly can scanner detect changes in brain activity

Question 4

fMRI

Answer 4

• used to measure changes in brain activity while a task is being performed
• detects changes in oxygenated blood flow whereby increased activity leads to increased need for o2
• produces a 3D image of the active areas in the brain
• shows activity about 1 second after it occurs
• it’s also accurate to within 1-2 mm within the brain

Question 5

Fmris temporal and spatial res

Answer 5

Bad temporal resolution
Good spatial resolution

Question 6

What is an EEG

Answer 6

electrodes placed on the scalp and they record the electrical activity of the brain
Electrodes measure the activity of the cells immediately under the electrode
Often used as a diagnostic tool eg for epilepsy and alzheimers

Question 7

List 4 types of EEG patterns and what do they give us info about

Answer 7

Alpha waves
Beta waves
Theta waves
Delta waves
each pattern indicates different level of activity

Question 8

2 properties of waves looked at in EEG

Answer 8

Amplitude - intensity or size of activity
Frequency - speed/how many are happening in a given time

Question 9

ERPS

Answer 9

Very small voltage changes in the brain triggered by specific events
a stimulus is presented many times and the researcher looks for a response
Responses are averaged together

Latency : the time or interval between the presentation of the stimulus and the response
- sensory ERPs occur within 100 ms
- cognitive ERPs occur after 100 ms

Question 10

Post mortem examinations

Answer 10

Examining brain after person died
Used to see where damage had occurred in the brain and how that might explain behvaiour exhibited by the individual prior to death

Question 12

Feature of fMRI

Answer 12

Indirectly measuring the electrical activity of neurons by recording changes in brain blood flow

Question 13

Difference between EEGS and ERPS

Answer 13

ERPS look at the response presented due to stimuli
EEGS don’t include a stimuli just look at brain waves

Question 14

Fmris detect changes in _______ to produce _______ in about ______ second

Answer 14

Fmris detect changes in blood oxygenation and flow to produce 3D images in about 1 second

Question 15

In an EEG______ to record _______. There are ______ types of _______. These are called…

Answer 15

In an EEG *electrodes are placed on scalp * to record electrical activity in the brain There are 4 types of waves These are called alpha, beta, theta, delta

Question 16

_____ is similar to EEGS, but a key difference is ______
It has 2 types of latency measure. The first is ______ and the second is _______

Answer 16

ERPS is similar to EEGS, but a key difference is *a stimulus is presented in ERPS but not EEGS, whereby researcher looks for a response *
It has 2 types of latency measure. The first is *sensory ERPS - within 100 milliseconds * and the second is cogntive ERPS after 100 ms

Question 17

Post mortem examinations are when ______ They can be used to _____
Such as in the case study of ______

Answer 17

Post mortem examinations are when a person is dead They can be used to see where damage has occured
Such as in the case study of deborgne

Question 18

Cortical specialisation means

Answer 18

Specific jobs each area of cortex performs

Question 19

Briefly evaluate the use if EEGs as a way of identifying cortical specialisation in the brain (3)

Answer 19

A limitation is the generalised nature of EEGS as no stimulus is given for researchers to record responses to like in ERPS, information found can be generalised to thousands of neurons. It’s not useful in finding which part of the brain is responsible for the brain activity. So it doesn’t allow researchers to link specific parts of the brain to specific functions or differentiate between activities in adjacent parts if the brain. Reducing its precision and efficiency.