Important Methods for Studying the Brain
Method
Accidents
(e.g. Phineas
Gage)
Lesions
(removal,
destruction of
part of brain)
Method
Electroencep
halogram
(EEG)
Computerize
d Axial
Tomography
(CAT, CT)
scan
Positron
Emission
Tomography
(PET) scan
Accidents & Lesions
How It Works
Advantages
 Examine an
 Allows for educated
individual’s
guessed about links
behavior after
between brain
experiencing
structure & function
damage to a
 Allows research on
specific part of the
fluke circumstances
brain due to an
that are
accident
impossible/unethical
to recreate in lab
 Examine an
 Allows for educated
individual’s
guessed about links
behavior after
between brain
suffering brain
structure & function
damage due to
 Allows research on
disease,
fluke circumstances
psychosurgery,
that are
genetic factors,
impossible/unethical
etc.
to recreate in lab
EEG & Neuroimaging Techniques
How It Works
Advantages
 Amplified
 High temporal
recording of
resolution
brain’s electrical
 Non-invasive, painless
activity
procedure
(“brainwaves”) via
electrodes placed
on scalp
 X-ray cameras
 High resolution
rotate around head,
images of brain
combining images
structure
into 3D picture of
 Allows direct view of
brain structure
level of interest

Tracks brain’s
consumption of
radioactive
glucose injection,
providing images
of brain function

Allows researchers to
examine which brain
areas consume most
energy in a given task,
thus providing info
about brain function
Disadvantages
 Little or no
experimental
control
 Issues associated
with case studies


Little or no
experimental
control
Issues associated
with case studies
Disadvantages
 Low spatial
resolution





Potential damage
due to high
radiation levels
No information
about brain
function
Radiation injection
Lengthy process
Expensive
equipment needed
to create
radioactive isotopes

Magnetic
Resonance
Imaging
(MRI)
Functional
Magnetic
Resonance
Imaging
(fMRI)


Strong magnetic
field causes
disorientation of
atoms in brain;
reorientation =
signal as to soft
tissue density
(picture of brain
structure)
Type of MRI that
detects amount of
bloodflow in
different brain
regions (proxy for
oxygen
consumption;
brain function)





Allows researchers to
examine brain
structure without
exposure to radiation
involved with CT scan
Non-invasive, painless
procedure

High spatial resolution
(3-6 millimeters)
Non-invasive, painless
procedure
Quick imaging process


No information
about brain
structure
Can be an
uncomfortable,
claustrophobic
experience
No information
about brain
function
Can be
uncomfortable,
claustrophobic
experience