Ways of Studying the Brain Flashcards
What are the 4 ways of studying the brain?
fMRI
EEG
ERP
Post Mortem Examination
What is an fMRI measuring?
Haemodynamic response.
What is a haemodynamic response and to which way of studying the brain does it relate?
How much oxygen is being used, when a brain area is more active, it consumes more oxygen.
fMRI.
What type of imaging does an fMRI produce?
A 3D activation map.
Does fMRI look at structure or function?
Both.
It shows what is there and what is working.
What are the two strengths of fMRI?
Does not rely on the use of radiation unlike a PET scan does.
Easy to use.
What are the two weaknesses of fMRI?
Expensive.
Poor temporal value - slow real time image, slow from showing a stimulus to response showing on screen.
What does an EEG measure?
Electrical activity.
How does an EEG measure electrical activity?
Via a skull cap.
What type of imaging does an EEG produce?
An electrical wave map.
Is EEG looking at function or structure?
Function.
What is an EEG often used as?
A diagnostic tool - sleep disorders, epilepsy.
What are the two strengths of an EEG?
Invaluable (really valuable) in the diagnosis of conditions.
High temporal value - very fast, real time imaging.
What is the weakness of an EEG?
Information received in generalised, you cannot pinpoint the exact source of neural activity.
ERP (not specifically questioned).
What is an ERP measuring?
Specific brainwaves that are triggered from particular events.
Cognitive processes.
Is an ERP looking at function or structure?
Function.
What is an ERP in relation to a EEG?
Basically pinpointing specific parts of an EEG.
What is a real life example of how an ERP and an EEG are different?
General activity = pic of beach.
Specific activity = sandcastle in pic of beach.
What are the two strengths of using an ERP to study the brain?
More specificity to measurement.
Really high temporal resolution.
What are the two weaknesses of using an ERP to study the brain?
Difficult to eliminate background noises and extraneous material.
Lack of standardisation in methodology - have to do a lot of trials.
What is a post mortem examination doing?
An analysis to brain structure after death.
Usually, what is the Brian that s being studied with a post mortem examination being compared to?
A neurotypical (normal) brain.
Is a post mortem examination looking at structure or function?
Structure because the are dead so no activity is going on.
What are the two strengths of using a post mortem examination?
Improve medical knowledge.
Helps to generate hypothesis for further study.
What are the two weaknesses of using a post mortem examination?
Hard to establish causation.
Ethical issues regarding consent before death - you cannot give fully informed consent.
- psychologists often want non-neurotypical brains and these tend to belong to people who are less able to give informed consent.
