Ways of Studying the brain

Question 1

What are the four different ways of studying the brain?

Answer 1

1) Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
2) Event relculted potentials ( ERPS)
3) Electroencephalogram (EEG)
4) Post Mortem Examinations

Question 2

What does EEG involve?

Answer 2

• An EEG is sued to Measure the electrical activity in the brain through electrodes being placed on the scalp
• These electrodes then detect small electrical charges that produce signals that produce wave shapes
• These signals are then graphed over time,resulting in a representation known as EEG

Question 3

What are the four basic patterns involved with EEG?

Answer 3

Alpha
Beta
Delta
Theta

Question 4

Advantages and disadvantages of EEG?

Answer 4

A- Useful in helping to do research into disorders such as epilepsy
- high temporal validity as only ales under one millisecond to detect
D- Doesn’t allow researchers to differentiate when different ideas are firing

Question 5

What does Functional Magnetic resonance involve?

Answer 5

• This measures the changes in a persons blood flow in certain areas of the brain whilst they are doing a task by looking at radio waves
• When theres an increase in demand for oxygen it means that ares has become more active so the brain responds by increasing the blood flow

Question 6

What can researchers do with the information given to them from Functional Magnetic Resonance?

Answer 6

The researchers can produce maps showing the areas of the brain involved during the different tasks

Question 7

Advantages and disadvantages of Functional Magnetic Resonance?

Answer 7

AD- Risk free as doesn’t include ant radio active materials
- the images produced are extremely accurate
DIS
- Expensive in comparison to alternatives
-Isnt suitable for every patient as it requires them to stay still for a certain period

Question 8

What does ERPS involve?

Answer 8

Within EEG data are contained all the neural responses associated with a specific sensory,cognitive and motor events that is of interest if the neuro scientists
-The neuro scientists are able to isolate these responses leaving only the repossess that relate to the presentation of a specific stimulus for a task

Question 9

Advantages and disadvantages of ERPS ?

Answer 9

ADV - more specific than EEG readings

Dis- Hard to compare and replicate

Question 10

What does post mortem examinations involve? & whats an example of this?

Answer 10

These are used to establish the underlying neurobiology of a certain behaviour
e.g Broca worked with a patient called Tan who displayed speech problems to the area of the brain now known as ‘Brocas area’

Question 11

Advantages and disadvantages of post mortem examinations?

Answer 11

Ad- vital during the early days of psychology
dis- issues with cause and effect
- no informed consent