ways of studying the brain

• What does fMRI detect in the brain?

  Changes in blood oxygen levels and flow
• Why does blood flow increase to active brain areas?

  Active areas consume more oxygen
• What type of images does fMRI produce?


  3D images
• How does fMRI help in understanding brain function?

  Shows which parts are involved in mental processes
• What is the primary function of EEG?

  Measures electrical activity in the brain
• How are electrodes used in EEG?

  Fixed to the scalp using a skull cap
• What do EEG recordings represent?

  Brainwave patterns
• What generates the brainwave patterns in EEG?

  Action of millions of neurons
• What is the overall account provided by EEG?

  Overall brain activity
• For what conditions is EEG used to diagnose?

  Epilepsy and sleep problems
• What limitation does ERP address in EEG?

  EEG is too general
• How does ERP isolate certain responses?

  A statistical averaging technique is applied
• What happens to extraneous brain activity in ERP?

  It is filtered out
• What do ERPs represent?

  Brainwaves triggered by particular events
• What is a post-mortem analysis?

  Analysis of a brain after death
• Who is likely to undergo post-mortem analysis?

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

  Areas of damage in the brain
• Why might a post-mortem analysis be compared to a neurotypical brain?

  To determine the likely cause of damage