1
Q
Describe fMRI brain scans
A
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) measures brain activity
- Detects changes in blood oxygenation and flow that occur in response to neural activity (when a brain area is more active it consumes more oxygen, blood flow increasing to meet increased demand)
- Can be used to produce activation maps showing which parts of the brain are involved in particular mental processes
2
Q
Describe PET brain scans
A
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET) uses trace amounts of radioactive material to map functional processes in the brain
- A positron is emitted during radioactive decay, picked up by the detector
- High radioactivity associated with high brain activity in a particular area
3
Q
Describe CAT/CT brain scans
A
- Computed tomography (CT) scans build up a picture of the brain based on the differential absorption of x-rays
- Subject lies on a table that slides in and out of a cylinder containing an x-ray source riding on a ring inside the tube around the patient’s head
- Images are made using x-rays depending on the absorption of the beam by the tissue it passes through
Biological Psychology - Methods
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