Ways of studying the brain Flashcards
What are the 4 ways of studying the brain?
fMRI, EEG, ERP and post-mortimer
How does fMRI work?
Detects changes in blood organisation and blood flow as a result of neural activity and more activity = more oxygen flow = haemodynamic response
What is the spatial resolution of fMRI?
Very high as you can see which part of the brain is active
What is the temporal resolution of fMRI?
Low as delay of 5s between when brain engages and activity is seen
How does EEG work?
Brain activity is electrical and each neuron produces an electrical impulse when it fires so small electrodes fixed to scalp detect electric field to measure overall brain activity as a wave
What does the amplitude of an EEG indicate?
Intensity of electrical activity
What does the frequency of an EEG indicate?
Speed of electrical activity
What is the spatial resolution of EEG?
Very low as unsure where activity comes from
What is the temporal resolution of an EEG?
Very good with a delay of 1 millisecond
What is an ERP?
A statistical way of analysing EEG data
How does an ERP work?
It identifies brainwaves triggered by particular events so requires same stimulus to be shown many times during an EEG reading and the wave can be isolated and shown on its own so could map all cognitive functions
What is the spatial resolution of an ERP?
Same as an EEG
What is post-mortem?
The brain is analysed after death to locate areas of difference and identify structures of a neurotypical brain as can investigate deep areas of brain at cellular level
What are areas of research for an fMRI?
Localisation of function, investigating cause of mental illness, memory and EWTs and brain activity can be localised
What are areas of research for an EEG?
Used as a diagnostic tool, detects arrhythmic patterns of activity to indicate neurological abnormalities such as sleep disorders and abnormalities
