Brain Scans

What is an invasive technique?

A method that involves physically entering the body or brain to study its function.

What is temporal resolution?

How precisely a technique can measure when brain activity occurs.

What is spatial resolution?

How precisely a technique can measure where brain activity occurs.

What type of scan is MRI?

A structural brain scanning technique.

What does MRI stand for?

Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

What does an MRI show?

A 3D picture of the brain's structures.

How does an MRI work?

It uses magnetic fields and radio waves to map hydrogen molecules in brain tissue.

What is one strength of MRI? - NI

It is non-invasive with no radiation exposure.

What is another strength of MRI? - HR

It has high resolution, giving a detailed view of brain structure.

What is one limitation of MRI? - A

It may pick up slight abnormalities unrelated to the complaint.

What is another limitation of MRI? - M

People with metal in their body cannot participate.

What is a third limitation of MRI? - C/A

It can cause claustrophobia or anxiety due to the narrow tube.

What type of scan is fMRI?

A functional brain scanning technique.

What does fMRI stand for?

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

What does an fMRI show?

It shows brain activity and which areas are active during tasks.

How does an fMRI work?

It measures changes in blood flow and oxygen levels as indicators of neural activity.

Why does blood flow increase in active brain areas?

Because active areas use more oxygen.

What is one strength of fMRI? - NI

It is non-invasive.

What is another strength of fMRI? - HQ

It provides high-quality images showing brain changes over time.

What is a third strength of fMRI? - BP

It shows ongoing brain processes.

What is one limitation of fMRI? - EV

It has low ecological validity as it is not a natural setting.

What is another limitation of fMRI? - C/A

It can cause anxiety due to noise and claustrophobic conditions.

What is a third limitation of fMRI? - IV

It may have low internal validity as activity could be due to anxiety or the machine itself.