ways of studying the brain

Question 1

Functional magnetic resonance imaging FMRI

Answer 1

Detects chnages in the blood oxygen and flow as a result of neural acitvity in specific parts of the brain
-More active =more blood flow
Produces 3d images shwoing parts involved

Question 2

FMRI strengths

Answer 2

-Doesnt rely on radiation
-Non invasive
-basically risk free
-High resoloution

Question 3

FMRI weakness

Answer 3

-Expensive
-Bad temporal resolution
-5 sec time lag
-Doesnt represent moment of brain activity

Question 4

electroencephalogram EEG

Answer 4

Measures electrical activity via electrodes on a skull cap, scan recording represents brainwaive patterns generated from actions of neurons used to diagnose unusual arrhythmic patterns

Question 5

EEG strengths

Answer 5

Useful for studying stages of sleep
useful dor diagnosing conditons
High temporal resoloution

Question 6

EEG weakness

Answer 6

-General info recieved
-Cant pinpoint exact source
-Cant distinguish between adjacent locations

Question 7

Event related potentials ERP

Answer 7

Types of brainwaves triggered by specific events, done through a statistical averaging technique which filters extraneous brain activity leaving only response to specific stimulus or task from original EEG recording

Question 8

ERP strengths

Answer 8

ver specific measurement of neural processes
good temporal resolution

Question 9

ERP weakness

Answer 9

-Lack of standardisation between studies so difficult to confirm findings
-Not easy to remove all extraneous variables

Question 10

Post mortem examinations

Answer 10

Brain examined for rare disorders or unusual deficits to establish likely cause. may also involve comparison with neurotypical brain

Question 11

Post mortem examinations strengths

Answer 11

Provides foundations for understanding processes of the brain

Question 12

Post mortem examinations weakness

Answer 12

causation observed damage may not be relevant
ethical issues
informed consent