Ways of studying the brain

Question 1

Psychologists use medical techniques to investigate brain localisation.

Techniques for investigating the brain are often used for medical purposes in the diagnosis of illness.

AO1: Scanning and other techniques

Answer 1

The purpose of scanning in psychological researchis often to investigate localisation - to determine which parts ofthe brain do what.

Question 2

fMRI Highlights active areas of the brain

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detects changes in both blood oxygenation and flow that occur due to neural activity in specific brain areas.

AO1: Scanning and other techniques

Answer 2

When a brain area is more active it consumes more oxygen and blood flow is directed to the active area (haemodynamic response).

MRI produces a 3D image showing which parts of the brain are active and therefore must be involved in particular mental processes.

Question 3

EEG Shows overall electrical activity

Electroencephalogram (EEG) measures electrical activity within the brain via electrodes using a skull cap (looks a bit like a swimming cap with the electrodes attached).

AO1: Scanning and other techniques

Answer 3

The scan recording represents the brainwave patterns generated from thousands of neurons. This shows overall brain activity.

EEG is often used as a diagnostic tool. For example unusual arrhythmic patterns of brain activity may indicate abnormalities such as epilepsy, tumours or sleep disorders.

Question 4

ERPs Brainwaves related to particular events

Event-related potentials (ERPs) are what is left when all extraneous brain activity from an EEG recording is filtered out.

This is done using a statistical technique, leaving only those responses that relate to the presentation of a specific stimulus (for example).

AO1: Scanning and other techniques

Answer 4

ERPs are types of brainwave that are triggered by particular events.
Research has revealed many different forms of ERP and how these are linked to cognitive processes (e.g. perception and attention).

Question 5

Post-motem examinations

A technique involving the analysis of a person’s brain following their death.

Areas of the brain are examined to establish the likely cause of a deficit or disorder that the person experienced in life.

This may also involve comparison with a neurotypical brain in order to assess the extent of the difference.

AO1: Scanning and other techniques

Question 6

Strength of fMRI; it is risk-free and high spatial resolution.

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Question 7

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