Applied research methods

What are the types of brain scans?

PET, MRI, CAT, fMRI

Advantages and disadvantages of CAT scans?

Advantages - compare brain structure differences in specific groups with controls, highs quality, reveals tumours

Disadvantages - radiation can cause tissue damage, only structural info gathered

Advantages and disadvantages of MRI scans?

Advantages - takes sections in planes so can be 3D and more sensitive to detail, does not use radiation so safer

Disadvantages - only structure info, not suitable for everyone such as claustrophobics, obese may not fit, cannot scan metal such as pacemakers

Advantages and disadvantages of PET scans?

Advantages - measure blood flow in brain, views chemical activity so spot different tumours, dont have to stay as still as fMRI

Disadvantages - expensive, radioactive isotopes, not as precise as MRI,

Advantages and Disadvantages of fMRI?

Advantages - If done correctly no risk, easy to use, high quality, more objective

Disadvantages - expensive, only tracks blood flow not neurons

Advantages and Disadvantages of EEG scans

Advantages - Reveals changes in brain state associated with differing levels of arousal or experimental conditions, temporal precision

Disadvantages - poor spatial resolution, skull behaves like a low pass filter and distorts brain electrical activity