How can scientists study the living brain since it is protected by the skull? The textbook notes several methods for this type of study. Describe the different approaches that have been used to explore the workings of the brain
What will be an ideal response?
Answer: A good answer will include the following key points.
? Electroencephalogram or EEG—recording brain waves through electrodes attached to the scalp.
? Transcranial magnetic stimulation or TMS—uses magnetic fields to stimulate or to temporarily inactivate a part of the brain to explore its function.
? Positron-emission tomography or PET scan—records biochemical changes in the brain after injection of radioactively labeled glucose allowing researcher to "see" which areas of the brain are most active.
? Magnetic resonance imaging or MRI—using powerful magnetic fields and radio frequency to produce vibration in the nuclei of atoms, then recording the vibrations and converting them into a three-dimensional image of the brain.
? Functional MRI or fMRI—similar to PET scans, fMRI uses MRI technology to measure blood flow which is closely correlated with brain activity.
? Magnetoencephalography or MEG—measures the tiny magnetic fields created by the electrical activity of nerve cells in the brain. This allows researchers to quickly record brain activity milliseconds after it occurs.
You might also like to view...
Zora notes that every time she laughs or smiles that her students usually pay more attention
When the students pay more attention, Zora most often relaxes, which usually resulting in her students paying even more attention. What method is Zora using to assess such behavioral development? A) sequential analysis B) multivariate correlational design C) time sampling D) experimental approach
All of the following are characteristics of androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) except:
a. Breast growth at puberty b. Descended testes c. Female external genitalia d. Male gonads