Ways Of Studying The Brain - Scanning Techniques Flashcards
What are the two AO3 PEELS to evaluate functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI)?
Strength - safer technique
High spatial resolution but low temporal resolution
P
(safer technique)
Strength - FMRI - much safer technique to measure brain activity
E
as it is non invasive and doesnt use radiation to identify differences in brain area
E
unlike use of PET scans which uses radiation
L
therefore FMRI is a more appr technique to use as it reduces risk of potential harm to indv
P
(comparison of features)
Moreover, FMRIs have higher spatial resolution than EEG and ERP
E
- which is an imp feature of brain scans as it can accurately identify specific brain areas involved in bhv
- by displaying detail by the mm, providing a clear image of how the brain is localised
E
however, FMRI has poorer temporal resolution as there is a time lag bw image on screen and the initial firing of neuronal activity
L
therefore, FMRIs may not truly represent moment to moment brain activity
What are the three AO3 PEELS to evaluate electroencephalogram?
Strength - high temporal resolution
Weakness - low spatial resolution
P
(high temporal resolution)
strength - use of EEG - high temporal resolution
E
this allows researcher to take a real time recording of brain activity unlike an FMRI or post mortem providing a still image
E
this means researcher can measure brain activity during a specific task much more accurately
L
therefore, providing a greater insight into processes of the brain e.g. brain activity during sleep, inc val of using EEG as a way of studying the brain
P
(low in spatial resolution)
However, weakness - use of EEG - low in spatial resolution
E
meaning it can only provide info on general activity in the brain
E
- it cannot provide the exact source of neural activity that is involved with the bhv
- unlike ERPs which allow a researcher to identify specific brain activity in a particular task
L
therefore, findings may be less valuable in developing our und than by using other brain scans like ERPs
What are the two AO3 PEELS to evaluate ERPs?
Strength - high temporal resolution
Weakness - hard to obtain meaningful data
P
(high temporal resolution)
Strength - high temporal resolution, esp when compared to an FMRI
E
meaning ERPs can identify brain activity ever millisecond so researchers can see brain activity in real time
E
however, ERPs have poorer spatial resolution than FMRI as they can only detect brain activity in general areas rather than specific
P
(hard to obtain meaningful data)
Weakness - hard to obtain meaningful data
E
as ERPs can be affected by ext factors such as background noise
E
which means it can take many trials to obtain meaningful data as it is hard to control these other factors
L
therefore this limits the val of ERPs as a means of studying the brain for a range of brain processes
What are the two AO3 PEELS to evaluate post mortems?
Strength - gain a detailed examination
Weakness - hard to establish cause and effect
P
(gain a detailed examination)
Strength - it is the only invasive way to get a detailed examination when studying the brain
E
this isnt possible solely using brain scanning techniques such as EEGs or ERPs
E
e.g. it has meant researchers have been able to study into deeper areas of the brain such as the hypothalamus
L
therefore the use of post mortems as a way of studying the brain can help und brain functioning in many diff bhvs
P
(hard to est c + e)
However, it is hard to est cause and effect with post mortems
E
as there are many confounding variables which cannot be controlled
E
such as how long a person has had the disorder, age, time of death or previous treatment
L
therefore it limits the int val of the findings of these studies and the appropiateness of using post mortems to study the brain
