Ways of studying the brain

• What are the two concepts modified in studying the brain?

  • Spatial resolution: accuracy of the exact position of brain structures or activity.
  • Temporal resolution: accuracy of when 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.
• What types of brains are chosen for 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 was significant about Paul Broca's discovery?

  He studied the brain of a patient who could only say "tan" and found damage in the frontal lobe.
• 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 of brain structures.
• What is a major disadvantage of post-mortem studies?

  They cannot observe the brain in action.
• What is fMRI used for?

  Functional magnetic resonance imaging is used to detect blood flow in the brain.
• What does fMRI detect in the brain?

  Magnetic variations between oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin.
• How does fMRI display areas of brain activity?

  It uses colors to represent areas of high or low activation.
• What is a major advantage of fMRI?

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

  There is a delay between neuron activation and blood flow increase.
• What is the resolution of fMRI images?

  Up to one millimeter.
• What is a limitation of fMRI regarding participant movement?

  Participants must be perfectly still for clear images.
• What does EEG stand for?

  Electroencephalogram.
• How many electrodes are typically used in an EEG?

  Around 22 to 34 electrodes.
• What do EEG readouts represent?

  Patterns of activation in the brain in the form of lines.
• What are the distinct patterns of brainwaves measured 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).
  • Cheaper than fMRI.

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Poor spatial accuracy.
  • Only measures activity on the cortex.
  • Takes time to set up electrodes.
• What does ERP stand for?

  Event-related potentials.
• How does ERP differ from EEG?

  ERP focuses on the brain's response to a specific stimulus.
• How is data collected in ERP studies?

  The stimulus is presented hundreds of times, and the brain activity is averaged.
• What do the peaks in ERP waveforms indicate?

  They indicate positive or negative polarity and timing after the stimulus.
• What is a significant advantage of ERP over EEG?

  ERP allows isolation and study of individual neurocognitive processes.
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of combining EEG and fMRI?

  Strengths:

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

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • EEG has poor spatial resolution.
  • fMRI has delays in temporal resolution.
• What groundbreaking research was published in 2018 regarding brain scanning?

  Neuroscientists connected the brains of three individuals using EEG and transcranial magnetic stimulation.
• What was the purpose of connecting three brains in the 2018 research?

  To play a game similar to Tetris without verbal communication.
• What potential future application was suggested by the 2018 research?

  Direct brain-to-brain computer-aided communication.
• What resources are available for psychology students from the channel mentioned?

  • Over 140 psychology videos.
  • Free resources on a website.
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