Ways of studying the brain

Question 1

What is spatial resolution ?

Answer 1

• spatial accuracy
• smallest feature/ measurement
• Location of brain activity

Question 2

What is temporal resolution ?

Answer 2

• time between brain activity and the scan taking place

Question 3

What does fMRI stand for ?

Answer 3

Functional magnetic resonance imaging

Question 4

What is an fMRI ?

Answer 4

• measures changes in the brain activity while performing a task
• identifies changes in oxygen blood flow in specific brain regions as an indicator of activity
• detected through magnets
• 3D/ moving image
• helps understand localisation

Question 5

Do fMRI’s have a high or low spatial and temporal resolution ?

Answer 5

Spatial resolution = high
Temporal = Low

Question 6

What are the strengths of fMRI’s ?

Answer 6

• Risk free
• Non-invasive
• High spatial resolution - good for localisation

Question 7

What are the limitations for fMRI’s ?

Answer 7

• Expensive (cost and time)
• Low temporal resolution
• Small space and noisy (not suitable for everyone)

Question 8

What does EEG stand for ?

Answer 8

Electroencephalogram

Question 9

What is an EEG ?

Answer 9

• measures electrical activity in the brain
• uses electrodes placed on the scalp to detect electrical changes from activity of brain cells
• When these are graphed from different electrodes over time, it is an EEG
• spatial resolution is superficial
• temporal is high (1-5ms)

Question 10

Do EEG have a high or low spatial and temporal resolution ?

Answer 10

Spatial resolution = low
Temporal resolution = high

Question 11

What are the strengths of EEG’s ?

Answer 11

• Real world application to sleep studies
• High temporal resolution
• Noninvasive and safe

Question 12

What are the limitations of EEG’s ?

Answer 12

Doesn’t pinpoint the exact area of activity (low spatial resolution)

Question 13

What does an ERP stand for ?

Answer 13

event related potential

Question 14

What is an ERP ?

Answer 14

• task/activity relating to action potential
• ERP’s are small voltage changes in the brain triggered by stimuli
• Electrodes put on the scalp and they detect neuronal activity in response to a stimuli
• Stimuli is continually presented during an EEG to allow the research to cancel out extraneous activity and select the activity linked to the stimulus

Question 15

Do ERP have a high or low spatial and temporal resolution ?

Answer 15

Spatial resolution = low
Temporal resolution = High

Question 16

What are the strengths of an ERP ?

Answer 16

• High temporal resolution
• Looks into specific functions or behaviours

Question 17

What are the limitations of an ERP ?

Answer 17

• You cannot fully remove extraneous brain activity

Question 18

What is a post-mortem ?

Answer 18

• used to establish underlying brain abnormalities in people that have died
• Individuals who have shown unusual or abnormal behaviour whilst alive are subjected to their brains being examined by post-mortem
• no spatial or temporal resolution
• useful for structure

Question 19

What are the strengths of post-mortem ?

Answer 19

• Helps understand sturctures of the brain
• Starting point for further research

Question 20

What are the limitations of post-mortem ?

Answer 20

• correlation not causation
• Can be seen as invasive surgery