Ways Of Studying The Brain

Question 1

Invasive methods

Answer 1

• An invasive procedure is one in which the body is ‘invaded’ or entered by a needle, tube, device or scope

Question 2

Invasive methods example- Post mortem studies

Answer 2

• This is an examination of a corpse in order to determine the cause of death
• The brain is examined to try and correlate structural abnormalities/damage to behaviour

Question 3

Non-invasive methods- FMRI

Answer 3

• Functional Magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) are 3D scans using magnetic and radio waves
• They measure brain activity tracking blood flow
• It measure the change in energy released by haemoglobin reflecting activity of the brain (oxygen consumption)

Question 4

Non-invasive methods- EEG

Answer 4

• Electroencephalogram (EEG) is a measurement of electrical activity in the brain
• When the brain cells send messages to each other, they produce tiny electrical signals
• It uses electrodes to pick up the electrical signals from the brain to an EEG machine, which records the signals

Question 5

Non-invasive methods- ERPs

Answer 5

• Event related potentials (ERPs) enable researchers to work out the timing of cognitive and sensory processing
  ERPs are small volts generated by the brain in response to stimuli
• They reflect the activity of a large number of neurons firing while processing information. They are measured through analysis of EEG