Ways to study the brain

• What have psychologists discovered about states of sleep and language disorders?


  They have made impressive discoveries about these psychological phenomena.
• Why are the tools available to researchers important for studying the brain?


  These tools enable researchers to make discoveries that would otherwise be impossible.
• What are the two concepts modified in brain studies?

  • Spatial resolution: accuracy of the exact position of brain structures or activity.
  • Temporal resolution: accuracy of when brain activity took place.
• What is spatial resolution in the context of brain studies?


  It refers to how accurate the study can be about the exact position of a brain structure or activity.
• What is temporal resolution in brain studies?


  It refers to how accurate the study can be about when the brain activity took place.
• What is the oldest method of studying the brain?

  Post-mortem dissection.
• How are brains treated for post-mortem dissection?


  They are usually treated chemically or fixed to give them a thermo texture for precise cutting.
• What types of brains are chosen for post-mortem dissection?


  Brains of individuals with mental illness, trauma, or unusual behavior.
• What is compared during post-mortem studies?


  The brain of the individual is compared to a neurotypical brain.
• What significant discovery was made by Paul Broca?


  He studied the brain of a patient named Tan who had language production issues.
• What area of the brain is associated with Broca's aphasia?


  The frontal lobe just above the temporal lobe.
• What is the primary advantage of post-mortem studies?


  They allow for microscopic detail study of brain structures.
• What is a major disadvantage of post-mortem studies?


  They cannot observe the brain in action.
• What can discoveries of abnormalities in post-mortem studies lead to?


  They can lead to the generation of hypotheses tested with other measures.
• What is fMRI and how does it work?


  • fMRI stands for functional magnetic resonance imaging.
  • It detects blood flow in the brain using large magnets.
  • It identifies magnetic variations between oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin.
• What does fMRI measure in the brain?


  It measures blood flow to identify active brain regions.
• What does a high level of brain activity indicate in fMRI imaging?


  It indicates that more oxygen is needed and blood supply increases in those areas.
• What is the resolution of fMRI imaging?


  Up to one millimeter.
• What is a major advantage of fMRI?


  It creates detailed spatial images of brain activity.
• What is a disadvantage of fMRI regarding timing?


  There is a delay of a few seconds between neuron activation and blood flow increase.
• What is a limitation of fMRI regarding participant movement?


  Participants must be perfectly still for clear images.
• What is an EEG and how does it work?


  • EEG stands for electroencephalogram.
  • It uses electrodes placed on the scalp to measure brain activity.
  • It produces patterns of activation in the form of lines.
• How many electrodes are typically used in an EEG?


  Around 22 to 34 electrodes.
• What do the patterns produced by an EEG represent?


  They represent the sum total activity of the brain just under each sensor.
• What are the distinct patterns of brainwaves that can be checked by EEG?


  Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Theta waves.
• What is amplitude in the context of EEG waves?


  Amplitude is how much the waves go up and down.
• What is frequency in the context of EEG waves?


  Frequency is how close together each wave is to the next.
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of EEG?


  Advantages:

  • Non-invasive and non-surgical.
  • Useful for diagnosing disorders like epilepsy.
  • Fantastic temporal accuracy (milliseconds).

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Poor spatial accuracy.
  • Only measures activity on the cortex.
  • Takes time to set up electrodes.
• What is ERP and how does it differ from EEG?


  • ERP stands for event-related potentials.
  • It uses similar equipment as EEG but focuses on responses to specific stimuli.
  • Data is averaged to remove electrical noise and isolate brain responses.
• What does the peak in ERP waveforms indicate?


  The peak shows positive or negative polarity and is labeled P or N with a number indicating time after the stimulus.
• What is a significant advantage of ERP over EEG?


  ERPs allow researchers to isolate and study individual neurocognitive processes.
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of combining EEG and fMRI?


  Strengths:

  • EEG provides fantastic temporal resolution.
  • fMRI offers detailed spatial resolution.

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • EEG has poor spatial resolution.
  • fMRI has delays in temporal resolution.
• What groundbreaking research was conducted at the University of Washington in 2018?


  They used EEG and transcranial magnetic stimulation to connect the brains of three individuals for a game.
• What potential future application was suggested by the brain-to-brain interface research?


  It could lead to direct brain-to-brain communication.
• What is the purpose of the Cyprus video mentioned in the study material?


  To provide educational resources for psychology students.
• How many psychology videos does the Cyprus video claim to have made?


  More than 140 psychology videos.
• What is the call to action at the end of the Cyprus video?


  To subscribe and like the channel and share with others studying psychology.
• What is the significance of the research paper mentioned in the Cyprus video?


  It is open access and can be read for free.