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Psychology P2: Biopsychology > Ways Of Studying The Brain > Flashcards

Ways Of Studying The Brain Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the 4 ways of studying the brain

A

Post Mortem
EEG (electroencephalogram)
FMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging)
ERP (event related potentials)

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2
Q

How does post mortem studies of the brain work

A

After an individual who once displayed unique behavior dies we examine their brain comparing it with a control brain

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3
Q

What is the temporal resolution of post mortem studies

A

Poor
As it looks at the brain after the event

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4
Q

What is the spatial resolution of post mortem studies

A

Medium
We can see an area is damaged HOWEVER we cannot be sure how it was involved

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5
Q

Is post mortem studies direct or Indirect

A

Indirect
As we can’t see specific neural activity

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6
Q

Is post mortem studies direct or Indirect

A

Indirect
As we can’t see specific neural activity

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7
Q

Is post mortem invasive or non invasive

A

Invasive
As patients head is cut open

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8
Q

What are the strengths of Post mortem studies

A

Cost - cheap as it’s part of general after death investigation
Risk - none

Was the only took for brain measurement in early psychology

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9
Q

What are the limitation of post mortem studies

A
    • we can’t be sure of cause and effect between the brain area and behaviour
    • some patients couldn’t give informed consent due to the issues that make them of interest e.g speech production
    • limitation for sample size as many people will not have these deficiencies so obviously
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10
Q

How does EEG work

A

Electrodes are placed on a persons head to measure electrical waves. This happens through voltage fluctuations from ionic flows within brain neurons. This is monitored and can map what part of the brain is involved

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11
Q

What is the temporal resolution of EEG

A

Good
It’s a functional method and measures their current signals at that precise time

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12
Q

What is the spatial resolution of EEG

A

We can only pin point a region of the brain not a specific neuron/cluster

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13
Q

Is EEG a direct or indirect measure

A

Direct
As were looking specifically at neural activity

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14
Q

Is EEG invasive or noninvasive

A

Non invasive
As electrodes are on the surface of the skin

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15
Q

What are the strengths of EEG

A
  • cost - cheap as this is a simple measuring device
  • risk - none
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16
Q

What is the limitation of EEG

A
  • it’s too broad a measure as the signal from and individual neuron therefore only indicates areas rather than specific neurons
  • we cannot tell the difference if 2 areas in the same region are firing
17
Q

Who is an example of a researcher using Post mortem to study the brain

A

BROCA

18
Q

How did Broca use post mortem methods on his participant Tan

A

He used post mortem to investigate Tans failure to produce language

Broca studied similar patients left hemisphere frontal lobe and noticed those with damage in the right hemisphere didn’t have these deficiencies same difficulty — led him to believe this was the language centre of the brain

19
Q

Who used an EEG in their research

A

DEMENT and KLIETMAN

20
Q

What was the aim of Dement and Kieran’s research using the EEG

A

To investigate changes in brain waves during sleep using a EEG

21
Q

What was the procedure of Dementia and Klietmans research using EEG

A

Monitored sleep patterns of 9 p.t
Brain activity was monitored using EEG

22
Q

What were the findings of Dement and Klietmans research using an EEG

A

REM sleep was highly correlated with dreaming
As those woken during REM gave a more accurate recall of the dream

23
Q

What did Dement and klietman conclude from the results

A

REM stage of sleep is associated with dreaming making it different from the other stages

24
Q

How does FMRI work

A

Measures the amount of blood flow to a particular area of the brain — as if an area of the brain is used it requires more oxygen therefore more blood

It uses radio waves and magnetic field inside a scanning tube

A pulse is sent through the magnetic field on a 3D scale and the longer it takes to register The thicker the blood flow in that area — it’s done when p.t performance tasks to identify specific cortical areas

25
Q

What is the temporal resolution of FMRI

A

Medium
Allows us to see which area of the brain was active however, it’s delayed

26
Q

What is the spatial resolution of FMRI

A

Good
We can pinpoint which area of the brain is active however

27
Q

Is FMRI direct or indirect

A

Indirect
As we cannot see specific neural activity

28
Q

Is FMRI invasive or non invasive

A

Non invasive
As this is scanned w/o touching the body

29
Q

What are the strengths of using FMRI

A

Risk - none as it doesn’t require radiation to scan unlike PET scans

Produces high resolution images accurate to 1mm

Shows brain structure

30
Q

What is a limitation of using FMRIs

A

Cost - expensive as the device costs £50,000

Requires the patient to stay still which isn’t always possible depending on patients situation

31
Q

Who conducted research that used an FMRI

A

Mcguire et al

32
Q

What did McGuire study using an FMRI

A

London taxi drivers

33
Q

What did McGuire find when researching London taxi drivers

A

He found higher amounts of great matter in the posterior hippocampi than control group (non cabbies)
This part of the brain is associated with development of spatial and navigation skills in people

34
Q

How does ERP work

A

Uses a statistical averaging technique to isolate specific areas of the brain.

This is done through filtering our extraneous brain activity and just looking at responses to stimuli or a task performance allowing researchers to identify specific areas of the brain that produce the activity

35
Q

What is the temporal resolution of ERP

A

Good
Functional method and measures their current signals at that precise time

36
Q

What is the spatial resolution of ERP

A

Poor
Greater depth of area analysis however, we can’t be sure all extraneous variables are eliminated

37
Q

Is ERP a direct or indirect measure

A

Direct
As it looks at specific neural activity

38
Q

Is ERP invasive or non invasive

A

Non invasive
The electrodes are on the surface of skin

Psychology P2: Biopsychology (11 decks)

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