Post mortems

• Post mortem

  Involves the analysis of a persons brain following their death.

  Often used in those who have a rare disorder or particular difficulties in mental processes during their lifetime .

  Areas of damage within the brain are examined which may help in establishing a cause of the death
• Strengths of post mortems

  • Allow more detailed examination of neuroanatomical and neurochemical aspect's of the brain
  • Play a central part in our understanding of the origins of schizophrenia
• Weakness of post mortems

  • Causation is an issue. Observed damage to the brain may not be linked with particular behaviours
  • This is limited because the person is already dead so the researcher is unable to follow up on anything that arises.