Methods of Studying 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 discoveries in psychology significant?

  They would have been impossible without the tools now available to researchers.
• 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 brain studies?

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

  It is 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 certain texture.
• Why are certain brains chosen for dissection?

  They are chosen based on conditions like mental illness or unusual behavior.
• What is a neurotypical brain?

  A neurotypical brain is considered a healthy brain without mental illness or trauma.
• 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?

  It is located in 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 show the brain in action since they occur after death.
• What is fMRI used for?

  It is used for functional magnetic resonance imaging to study brain activity.
• How does fMRI detect brain activity?

  It detects blood flow by measuring magnetic variations between oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin.
• What does increased blood flow in the brain indicate?

  It indicates that the area is more active and needs more oxygen.
• What is a major advantage of fMRI?

  It creates detailed spatial images of the brain with a resolution of up to one millimeter.
• 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 in terms of participant movement?

  Participants must be perfectly still for clear images, limiting certain studies.
• What does EEG stand for?

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

  There are normally around 22 to 34 electrodes.
• What do EEG patterns represent?

  They represent the total activity of the brain just under each sensor.
• What are the distinct patterns of brainwaves measured by EEG?

  Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Theta waves.
• What is amplitude in EEG readings?

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

  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 rather than general activity.
• How is data collected in ERP studies?

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

  The peaks show positive or negative polarity and indicate timing after the stimulus.
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of ERP?

  Advantages:

  • Fantastic temporal resolution (milliseconds).
  • Isolates individual neurocognitive processes.

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Poor spatial resolution.
  • Limited to activity on the cortex.
• How can combining EEG and fMRI enhance brain study research?

  • EEG provides excellent temporal resolution.
  • fMRI offers detailed spatial resolution.
  • Combining both allows for a deeper understanding of brain activity.
• What groundbreaking research was conducted in 2018 at the University of Washington?

  They used EEG and transcranial magnetic stimulation to connect three individuals' brains via a computer.
• What was the purpose of connecting brains in the 2018 research?

  To play a game similar to Tetris with two brains acting as senders and one as a receiver.
• What potential future application was suggested by the 2018 research?

  Direct brain-to-brain computer-aided communication.
• What is the significance of the research paper mentioned in the video?

  It is open access, allowing anyone to read it for free.