Ways of studying the brain

Question 1

What is the purpose of scanning in psychological research?

Answer 1

To investigate localisation

Question 2

What is the actual name for an FMRI?

Answer 2

Functional magnetic resonance imaging

Question 3

What does an FMRI do?

Answer 3

• Measures a person’s brain waves from changing magnetic fields whilst they complete a specific task.
• It detects the changes in blood oxygenation in specific parts of the brain.

Question 4

What does an FMRI produce?

Answer 4

3d images that show which parts of the brain are involved in certain mental processes

Question 5

What are 3 strengths of FMRI’s?

Answer 5

• It doesn’t rely on the use of radiation
• It has high spatial resolution, they produce clear images
• Non-invasive

Question 6

What are 2 limitations of FMRI’s?

Answer 6

• Expensive
• Poor temporal resolution, there is a lag between the image that is on the screen and the neuronal activity

Question 7

What does an EEG do?

Answer 7

Measures electrical activity within the brain via electrodes fixed to an individual’s skull using a skull cap - it records brainwave activity

Question 8

Why are EEG’s often used?

Answer 8

To help investigate unusual arrhythmic patterns of activity. This may indicate problems such as epilepsy or tumours.

Question 9

What are 2 strengths of EEG’s?

Answer 9

• Useful in studying the stages of sleep as random bursts of energy can be easily detected through the images produced
• High temporal resolution

Question 10

What are 2 limitations of EEG’s?

Answer 10

• The generalised nature of the information recieved
• The EEG signal is not useful for pinpointing the exact source of neural activity

Question 11

What are event-related potentials?

Answer 11

The types of brainwaves triggered by a specific event - the raw data left after an EEG

Question 12

How are ERP’s found from the EEG data?

Answer 12

Researchers use a statistical technique to remove all extraneous brain activity from the original recording

Question 13

What are 2 strengths of ERP’s?

Answer 13

• High temporal resolution
• Are the desired way to measure cognitive functions and deficits

Question 14

What are the 2 limitations of the ERP’s?

Answer 14

• There is a lack of standardisation of ERP methodologgy, making it hard to conform findings
• In order to produce pure data, all extraneous variables should be removed which can be hard to do

Question 15

What are post-mortem examinations?

Answer 15

The analysis of a person’s brain following their death. In psychology research, individuals who have post-mortems often have a rare disorder.

Question 16

What happens during a post-mortem?

Answer 16

Areas of the damage within the brain are analysed to establish the cause of the affliction the person experienced. They may compare it to a neurotypical brain.

Question 17

What are 2 strengths of post-mortems?

Answer 17

• Vital in providing a foundation for early understanding key processes in the brain.
• They have been helpful within case studies: e.g HM. It helped to identify in areas of the brain which could be associated with his memory deficits.

Question 18

What are 2 limitations of post-mortems?

Answer 18

• Observed damage to the brain may not be linked to deficits but an unrelated trauma or decay.
• Ethical issues of consent from the individual.