Ways of investigating the brain

What does fMRI stand for and what does it do

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging - It detects changes in blood oxygenation and flow due to neural activity, producing a 3D image of active brain regions

What are the strengths of fMRI

• Non-invasive (does not use radiation)

• High spatial resolution( clear image of localised brain activity)

• Straightforward to use

What are the weaknesses of fMRI

• Expensive

• Patient must remain still for a clear image

• Poor temporal resolution (delay between neural activity and image)

• Measures blood flow, not individual neurons

What does EEG stand for and what does it do

Electroencephalogram (EEG) record electrical activity in the brain via electrodes on the scalp providing an overall view of brainwave patterns

What are the strengths of EEG

• Diagnoses conditions like epilepsy

• Helps understand stages of sleep (ultradian rhythms)

• High temporal resolution (~ 1 millisecond)

What are the weaknesses of EEG

• Generalised data - hard to pinpoint exact neural activity source

What does ERP stand for and what does it do

Event - Related Potentials (ERPs) analyse specific brain responses to cognitive, sensory, or motor events by isolating EEG data

What are the strengths of ERPs

• More specific than EEG for studying neural processes

• High temporal resolution

• Used to assess cognitive functions and deficits

What are the weaknesses or ERPs

• Lack of standardisation across studies, making comparisons difficult

• Background noise must be eliminated for accurate data, which is challenging

What are post-mortem examinations, and what do they do

The brain is examined after death to link behaviour with brain abnormalities, often compared to neurotypical brains

What are the strengths of post-mortem examinations

• Improve medical knowledge and generate hypotheses

• Used by Broca and Wernicke to link brain regions with functions

• Foundation for early brain research

What are the weaknesses of post-mortem examinations

• Causation issue - brain differences may be due to trauma or decay

• Ethical concerns - informed consent issues (e.g. HM case study)