⭐️ ways of studying the brain✅ Flashcards
what are the 4 ways of studying the brain?
1️⃣ FMRI (functional magnetic resonance imagery)
2️⃣ EEG (electroencephalogram)
3️⃣ ERP (event related potentials)
4️⃣ post mortems
1️⃣ FMRI:
what is it used for?
how does it work?
what is haemodynamic response?
what do FMRI’s produce?
- to measure brain activity whilst an individual performs a task
- detects radio waves from changing magnetic fields, changes in blood oxygenation
- when a brain area is active it needs more oxygen so blood is directed to the active area
- 3D images showing who parts of the brain are involved in mental processes …. helps understood localisation of function
2️⃣ EEG: (think egg = skull cap)
what does it measure and how?
why is this useful?
what does the scan represent?
- electrical activity in the brain via electrodes that are fitted to the persons head using a skull cap
- can be used to help diagnose certain brain conditions such as epilepsy
- represents brainwave patterns that are generated from thousands of neurons, providing an overall account of brain activity
3️⃣ ERPs: (events)
what is it the brains reponses too?
what happens during the statistical averaging?
what then remains?
what has research shown?
- sensory, cognitive or motor events
- extraneous brain activity from original EEG recordings is filtered out, leaving the responses that relate to the presentation of a specific stimulus or performance of a task
- event related potentials = brainwaves that are triggered by particular events
- there are many diff types of ERP linked to cog. processes such as attention and perception
4️⃣ post mortems:
what is it?
why?
- the analysis of someones brain after they die
- can explain cause of death and if they have any rare conditions, can be analysed for psychology
AO3 ERP:
✅strength
❌ weakness
✅Non-invasive - No insertion of instruments unlike PET and no exposure to radiation – Virtually risk free and is avoidant of any danger to the brain itself.
❌ Lack of standardisation in methodology between studies – Different groups will use varying averages on what neural activity they decide to filter out – Hard to replicate experiments and confirm findings in a peer review study.
AO3 FMRI:
✅ strength
❌ weakness
✅ Non-invasive – No insertion of instruments unlike PET or post mortem and no exposure to radiation – Beneficial to the economy as there is no recovery time so people don’t have to be off work.
❌FMRI is expensive – Other neuroimaging techniques such as EEG may be cheaper and it can only capture a clear image if the person stays still – May not be worthwhile for the NHS to fund it. - poor temporal resolution
AO3 - EEG
✅ strength
❌ weakness
✅ . Non-invasive - No insertion of instruments unlike PET and no exposure to radiation – EEGs are virtually risk free and is avoidant of any danger to the brain itself. CHEAPER , EEGs have medical applications in diagnosing disorders such as epilepsy and Alzheimer’s
❌ EEG is Uncomfortable – Hard for the patients as electrodes are attached to their head – Could result in an unrepresentative reading as the patients discomfort could trigger cognitive responses to the real time situation
AO3 - POST MORTEM
✅ 2 strengths
❌ 1 weakness
✅ Allow for detailed examinations and measurement of deep brain structures (e.g. the hypothalamus) not measurable by brain scans. Brain tissue can be examined in detail – Deep structures of the brain can be investigated after death – PM is more appropriate than EEG or ERP when examining any brain structure other than the neocortex.
✅ can find cause of death for closure for families, psychology and educatatonal purposes
❌ Ethical issues – Deceased people are not able to provide informed consent such as HM because of his lack of short term abilities – There will be problems with replicability because future ethical guidelines will be stricter. the individual may not have wanted that ti be done to them - highly invasive
