AO3

• Eval: fMRI

  Pros:

  • high spatial resolution - It can detect activation in specific brain areas, allowing researchers to identify the localisation of function

  Cons:

  • Poor temporal resolution - 5 second delay between neuronal activity and produced image
• Eval: EEG

  Pros:

  • temporal resolution - Detects neural activity changes in milliseconds, ideal for real-time tracking (e.g., during sleep).

  Cons:

  • low spatial resolution - Difficult to pinpoint the exact origin of brain activity due to overlapping electrical signals.
• Eval: Post Mortem examination

  Pros:

  • Research evidence - Useful for medical/further knowledge, eg, Tan

  Cons:

  • Ethical issues - patients can't always give informed consent before they die
  • Reductionist - may falsely create cause/effect when it may be due to other factors
• EEG vs ERP:

  • EEG is a recording of general brain activity usually linked to states such as sleep and arousal, whilst ERPs are elicited by specific stimuli presented to the participant
• Eval: ERP

  Pros:

  • High Temporal Resolution - ERP tracks brain activity in real-time with millisecond precision, ideal for fast cognitive processes.

  Cons:

  • Time consuming - Requires averaging data from many stimuli to filter out background noise, reducing practicality.