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Questions and Answers
What does biological psychology primarily aim to discover?
What does biological psychology primarily aim to discover?
Which technique is NOT used in biological psychology?
Which technique is NOT used in biological psychology?
What is phrenology associated with?
What is phrenology associated with?
What does EEG measure in biological psychology?
What does EEG measure in biological psychology?
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Which condition is characterized by the inability to respond but awareness of self and environment?
Which condition is characterized by the inability to respond but awareness of self and environment?
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What does FMRI help detect in patients with a vegetative state?
What does FMRI help detect in patients with a vegetative state?
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Which of the following offers a way for locked-in syndrome patients to communicate?
Which of the following offers a way for locked-in syndrome patients to communicate?
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What is a misconception about behavioral assessments in vegetative patients?
What is a misconception about behavioral assessments in vegetative patients?
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Study Notes
Biological Psychology
- Aims to understand how biological processes create psychological phenomena (learning, memory, emotions, perception)
History of Biological Psychology
- Phrenology (19th Century): Gall proposed personality and abilities are revealed by skull bumps.
Techniques
- Observational studies: Behaviour after head injuries
- Animal brain dissection
- Post-mortem human brain dissection
- Microscopic nerve cell examination
- Neuroimaging
Neuroimaging Techniques
Brain Structure
- CT scan (Computed Tomography): Computerized scan of brain structure
- MRI scan (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): Detailed images of brain structure using magnetic fields
Brain Function
- EEG (Electroencephalography): Measures electrical activity in brain
- PET scan (Positron Emission Tomography): Shows brain activity by detecting radioactive substances
- fMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging): Measures changes in blood flow in the brain related to activity
- MEG (Magnetoencephalography): Measures magnetic fields generated by brain activity
- TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation): Uses magnetic pulses to stimulate or disable brain areas
Disorders of Consciousness
- Coma: No wakefulness or awareness; no response to commands
- Vegetative State: Awake but unaware; sleep-wake cycles and reflexes present, no response to commands
- Locked-In Syndrome: Aware and awake but unable to respond due to paralysis and speech impairment; communication via eye movements
EEG and Vegetative Patients
- EEG can investigate brain activity in vegetative patients
- Healthy brains show complex, connected networks.
- Some vegetative patients show preserved networks similar to healthy adults.
Conclusions about the Vegetative State
- Behavioural assessments may underestimate awareness in patients with severe motor impairments.
- fMRI can detect residual cognitive function and awareness, even in locked-in syndrome cases.
- fMRI and other brain activity measures allow individuals in vegetative states potential communication.
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Description
Explore the fascinating field of Biological Psychology, which examines how biological processes underlie psychological phenomena such as learning, memory, and emotions. Delve into historical perspectives, influential techniques, and modern neuroimaging methods that reveal the complexities of the brain.
