Compare and contrast MRIs, PET scans, and fMRI.
What will be an ideal response?
The MRI measures variations in magnetic fields. It then computes and depicts cross sections of organs such as the brain with great clarity. It is noninvasive and allows for visualization of all but the tiniest brain structures. Its major problem is the claustrophobic reaction some people have to the procedure. PET scans track substances as they are metabolized by the brain. They can show how the brain is functioning-and they can help identify areas that are functioning abnormally, even in ways that might not be obvious anatomically. Their major problem is their low-fidelity pictures, which have so far limited their value. The fMRI measures changes in blood flow in the brain. It is possible to map ongoing psychological activity and show which areas of the brain are involved in different activities. However, like MRIs, these are very sensitive to movement, which can cause false results. Also, fMRIs are often very hard to interpret. GRADING RUBRIC: 6 points, 2 for accurately describing each imaging technique.
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A high school student asks a guidance counselor, parents, and friends for suggestions before deciding on a college to attend, and on an academic major. This student's behavior is:
A) typical of those with dependent personality disorder. B) typical of those who will develop dependent personality disorder. C) normal for those in high school. D) reflective of an anxiety disorder, not of dependent personality disorder.
When a study looked at the fMRI scans of women who had anorexia nervosa, the researchers found that
a. there were no differences between the fMRI scans for women with and without anorexia. b. fMRI scans showed greater activation for both groups in areas that allow people to have accurate perceptions of the external world. c. women with anorexia showed less activity in brain regions that allow people to obtain accurate information from the outside world. d. women who did not have anorexia showed less activation in areas of the brain that allow people to form accurate perceptions of the outside world.