A01

• What is the primary purpose of techniques for investigating the brain?

  Diagnosis of illness
• What is the purpose of scanning in psychological research?

  To investigate localisation of brain functions
• What does fMRI stand for?

  Functional magnetic resonance imaging
• How does fMRI detect brain activity?

  By measuring blood oxygenation and flow changes
• What is the haemodynamic response in fMRI?

  Increased blood flow to active brain areas
• What type of images does fMRI produce?

  Three-dimensional activation maps
• What is the significance of fMRI for understanding brain function?

  It helps identify brain areas for specific processes
• What does EEG stand for?

  Electroencephalogram
• How does an EEG measure brain activity?

  By using electrodes on the scalp
• What do EEG recordings represent?

  Brainwave patterns from neuron activity
• Why is EEG used as a diagnostic tool?

  To identify unusual brain activity patterns
• What neurological abnormalities can EEG detect?

  Epilepsy, tumours, sleep disorders
• What are event-related potentials (ERPs)?

  Brainwaves triggered by specific events
• How are ERPs isolated from EEG data?

  Using statistical averaging techniques
• What cognitive processes are linked to ERPs?

  Attention and perception
• What is a post-mortem examination?

  Analysis of a brain after death
• Who are likely subjects for post-mortem examinations in research?

  Individuals with rare disorders
• What is examined in a post-mortem examination?

  Areas of damage in the brain
• Why might researchers compare damaged brains to neurotypical brains?

  To ascertain the extent of differences