2.3: Clinical Observations

clinical observations

A method of analyzing and studying the brain through observations and patient reports.

Phineas Gage

Victim of accidental damage to his brain. Suffered very little major intellectual or physical handicaps despite big damage to his brain. However, suffered some emotional and personality changes and forever changed.

ablation method

A method of testing the brain by removing a portion of a brain and observing changes. Because humans rarely volunteer, usually done on animals.

stimulation

A method of observing and influencing brain activity by using electricity to stimulate a specific part of the brain.

electroencephalogram (EEG)

A measure of the amount of metabolic brain activity through a line graph.

PET (positron emission tomography) scan

Subjects are injected with low doses of radioactive sugar (glucose), which can be scanned to observe and measure the parts of the brain with the highest metabolic activity during specific thinking activities.

CAT / CT (computed tomography) scan

X-rays the brain to detect the location of brain abnormalities, lesions, or damage. This kind of scan is compiled by making a composite of individual x-ray pictures taken from many different perspectives.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

A topographical map of the brain. Uses magnetic and radio waves to create a detailed picture of the density or concentration of tissue in the brain.