Ways of studying the brain

Question 1

what is FMRI scan

Answer 1

a brain scanner which measure increased blood flow to brain sites when an individuals are asked to perform cognitive/physical talks

Question 2

evaluation of FMRI scans

Answer 2

advantage:
high temporal resolution: as up to 4 images can be produced per second
non invasive: no insertion of instrument unlike PET and no exposure to radiation-beneficial to the the economy as there is no recovery time so people don’t have to be off

limitation: may overlook the interconnectivity of brain sites. only focusing on brain sites receiving blood flow fails to account for the importance of brain sites connecting/ communicating with each other.

Question 3

what is EEG scans

Answer 3

through the use of electrodes to the scalp, EEGs scan measures and amplifies the electric activity across the whole brain

Question 4

evaluation of EEGs

Answer 4

advantage:
have medical application in diagnosing such as epilepsy and Alzheimer’s
much higher temporal resolution that FMRI scans- so more appropriate for monitory of ongoing cerebral states of activity

limitation:
uncomfortable: hard for the patient as electrodes are attached to their head- could result in an unrepresentative reading as the patients discomfort could trigger cognitive responses to the real time and situation

Question 5

what are ERPs

Answer 5

measures small voltages of electrical activity when a stimulus is presented

Question 6

evaluation of ERPs

Answer 6

limitation: ERPs only monitor electrical activity in outer layers of the brain, therefore cannot reveal electrical activity in deeper brain sites

Question 7

what is a post mortem examination

Answer 7

this involves the comparison of the patients brain with that of a healthy neurological brain

Question 8

evaluation of post-mortem examination

Answer 8

advantages
brain tissues can be examined in detail - deep structures of the brain can be examined after death-PM is more appropriate than EEG + ERPs when examining brain structures

ethical issues: deceased people are not able to produce informed consent sucj as HM because of lack of short term abilities- there will be a problem with replicability because future ethical guidelines will be stricter

incorrect assumption: that differences compared with neurotypical brain must be the explanation for neurological defects. prolonged drug use, stress and genetic factors may be plausible explanation