Studying the brain

• Spatial resolution is the accuracy of identifying the exact location of brain activity
• temporal resolution is the level of accuracy when identifying the exact timing of brain activity
• Post-mortem examination is used when a person has died to examine their brain to examine abnormalities and explain unusual behaviour from their lifetime
• EG of post mortem examination is Broca's patient Tan who determined his issues with speech was due to damage to his Broca's area
• Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) measures blood flow to areas of the brain to indicate specific brain activity as it displays increased oxygen intake and the haemodynamic response
• Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) measures oxygenated and deoxygenated haemoglobin's different magnetic qualities
• Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) produce a 3d image of the brain
• Eletroencephalogram (EEG) measures electrical activity in the brain
• During an electroencephalogram (EEG) electrodes are places on the scalp to detect small charges resulting from activity in brain cells
• Electroencephalogram (EEG) are useful in detecting neurological conditions such as epilepsy
• Electroencephalograms (EEG) detect brain wave patterns generated by action potentials on neurones
• Event Related Potentials (ERPs) use electroencephalogram (EEG) data and statistical averaging to isolate specific neural responses
• Postmortem examination strength; vital for early research into brain activity such as Broca's research into patient Tan showing it as important to the development of psychology
• Postmortem examination strength; allows for detailed first hand analysis of deeper regions of the brain such as the hippocampus that other methods cannot access
• Postmortem examination weakness; lacks spatial and temporal resolution
• Postmortem examination weakness; ethical issues of consent
• Postmortem examination weakness; cannot establish cause and effect
• Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) strength; does not use radiation and is therefore safe for participants
• Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) strength; high spatial resolution showing specific brain areas as active during tasks
• Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) strength; non-invasive compared to electroencephalograms (EEGs) as it does not cause participant discomfort
• Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) weakness; expensive as it uses high grade medical equipment
• Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) weakness; low temporal resolution as there is 5 second time delay between a neurone firing and it being detected
• Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) weakness; requires participants to remain completely still limiting who it can be used on EG children
• Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) weakness; cannot show causation as it only correlational
• Electoencephalogram (EEG) strength; useful in studying sleep and epilepsy
• Electroencephalogram (EEG) strength; high temporal resolution to the milisecond
• Electroencephalogram (EEG) weakness; low spatial resolution as it only detects many neurones firing at once so cannot specify the location of function
• Event Related Potentials (ERP) strength; specify data from an electroencephalogram (EEG)
• Event Related Potentials (ERP) strength; high temporal resolution of a millisecond as it uses electroencephalograms (EEG)
• Event Related Potentials (ERPs) strength; can be used to identify and measure specific cognitive processes such as the attentional processes of the working memory