Biopsychology evaluation cues

Evaluation - localisation of function in the brain

Strength- localisation theory is that damage to areas of the brain has been linked to mental disorders - neurosurgery - OCD cingulotomy
strength - brain scans - Peter sent a towel - Wernicke's area active during listening task Broca's area active during reading task
counterpoint - limitation - contradictory research- Lashley removed areas of the cortex in rats that were learning the rate for maze - no area prevent to be more important
Limitation - language localisation questions - Dick and Tremblay found only 2% of modern researchers think language in brain is completely controlled by Broca's and Wernicke's area. Fmri
Limitation- case study-gage- generalisability

evaluation - Lateralisation and split brain research

lateralisation in the connected brain - strength - reset support - fink et al used pet scans identify which brain is active during visual processing task
Limitation - one brain - LH as the analyser RH as synthesiser might be wrong - Neil Ellison - brain scans from over 1000 people - people used certain hemispheres for certain tasks(laterisation)

Evaluation for plasticity and functional recovery of the brain after trauma

limitation - negative plasticity - brain adapt to prolonged drug use increase risk for dementia

Evaluate fMRI scans.

Advantages:
Shows brain function.
Non-invasive.
Low risk.
No radiation.
High spatial resolution (1-2mm) depicting detail by the mm and providing a clear picture of how brain activity is localised.
Disadvantages:
Expensive.
Interpretation is complex
Requires removal of metal objects- not suitable for patients with pacemakers
Poor temporal resolution
5-second time lag behind the image on screen and initial firing of neuronal activity.
May not truly represent moment-to-moment brain activity.

Evaluate Electroencephalograms (EEG)

Advantages:
useful in studying stages of sleep
Useful in diagnosis of conditions such as epilepsy
Extremely high temporal resolution(detects activity in 1-10ms)
cheaper that fMRI's- allows for large sample size
Disadvantage:
Poor spatial resolution (superficial general regions only)- lack exposition/electrodes not sensitive enough

Evaluate ERPs (event related potentials)

advantages:
Good temporal resolution (detects activity in 1-10 ms)
Cheaper than fMRI's

Evaluate of post-mortem exams

advantages:
-Enables deeper regions of the brain to be investigated the non-invasive techniques
-was vital in providing a foundation for early understanding of key processes in the brain
disadvantages:

• Ethical issues - special permission needs to be granted/small sample size
  -Can be affected by changes which occurred during/after death
• Can't investigate brain activity during specific tasks/activities

Evaluation of biological rhythms: Circadian rhythms

strength - shift work - consequences when circadian rhythms are distrupted- poor health
limitation - use correlational methods

evaluation of biological rhythms

infradian and ultradian rhythms

evaluation of endogenous pacemakers and exogenous zeitgebers

Strength - beyond the master clock - numerous circadian ribbons in many organs and cells in the body - influenced by actions of SCN( suprachiasmatic nucleus) but also act independently- complex links on sleep wake cycle
Limitation - interactionist system - cannot be studied in isolation- total isolation studies are extremely rare- in every day pacemakers and zeitgebers interact