Discuss the use of brain imaging technologies in investigating the relationship between biological factors and behaviours
Advances in brain imaging technology (BIT's) enable us to investigate the relationship between biological factors and human behaviours in greater depth. BIT's are used to move away from more invasive techniques of studying the brain, such as liasoning - intentional scarring of the brain, and ablation - intentionally cutting out pieces of the brain. The brain imaging technologies that will be examined are electroencephalography (EEP), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET). These brain imaging technologies are either functional or structural. Functional BIT's are ones that are used to identify metabolic disease and lesions on a finer scale, while structural BIT's are ones that deal with the structural of the brain and the diagnosis of gross, intracranial disease. This essay will offer a considered and balanced review of various brain imaging technologies in the relationship between biological factors and behaviour and related studies that include a range of factors that are supported by appropriate evidence.
In the biological level of analysis, BIT's are methods used in psychology to examine the human brain. They are useful particularly in the field of neuropsychology, as it provides an opportunity to study the brain in it's active state. BIT's also allow researchers to study localisation of function in a living brain as the BIT can show where specific processes take place. The BIT also allows researchers to form a correlation between human behaviour and physiological processes in the brain, however, this is not a causal relationship.
Electroencephalography (EEG) is a type of brain imaging that works through measuring electrical impulses. A large number of electrodes placed on the scalp measure the electrical activity in that area of the scalp. The resulting spikes and waves of electrical activity are recorded. The strengths of the EEG scan are numerous. It is a lot more
In the biological level of analysis, BIT's are methods used in psychology to examine the human brain. They are useful particularly in the field of neuropsychology, as it provides an opportunity to study the brain in it's active state. BIT's also allow researchers to study localisation of function in a living brain as the BIT can show where specific processes take place. The BIT also allows researchers to form a correlation between human behaviour and physiological processes in the brain, however, this is not a causal relationship.
Electroencephalography (EEG) is a type of brain imaging that works through measuring electrical impulses. A large number of electrodes placed on the scalp measure the electrical activity in that area of the scalp. The resulting spikes and waves of electrical activity are recorded. The strengths of the EEG scan are numerous. It is a lot more