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Describe and evaluate methods of investigating cortical specialisation. (10 marks)
There are many different methods of cortical specialisation and these are: MRI scan, PET scan, Electroencephalogram, Post Mortem and Neurosurgery. These are developed methods of studying cortical specialisation in the brain in order to be able to predict, control and explain non –human and human behaviour. Neurosurgery is considered to be an invasive way of investigating cortical specialisation as it involves manipulating structures within the brain. There are two ways in which neurosurgery can be performed and these are lesions which is a surgical procedure used to cut neural connections in the brain, and ablation which is a surgical procedure used to remove areas of the brain. Post mortem studies are a research method of the brain of a patient, who has had something wrong with them such as struggling to speak, so this is examined after death. There are also used in police force and crime investigations to see how the person has died. EEG is a non – invasive measurement which is electrical activity of the brain which is produced by recording from electrodes which are placed on the individuals scalp. A PET scan is a procedure where the brain is assessed in various locations depending on different level of neural activity whilst the brain is active; likewise the MRI scan is taken whilst the brain is active and is where scanners use strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce an image of the brain of an individual.
An issue with PET and MRI scans is that the patient has to stay still, and cannot move as this could interfere with the investigation and not give accurate results. So this will not be the easiest procedure for people who are claustrophobic with the MRI scan and the space where the person can go between the scanners is not the biggest, so there will be no room to move and is not very beneficial for the obese. There are scanners which are made to be bigger and have
There are many different methods of cortical specialisation and these are: MRI scan, PET scan, Electroencephalogram, Post Mortem and Neurosurgery. These are developed methods of studying cortical specialisation in the brain in order to be able to predict, control and explain non –human and human behaviour. Neurosurgery is considered to be an invasive way of investigating cortical specialisation as it involves manipulating structures within the brain. There are two ways in which neurosurgery can be performed and these are lesions which is a surgical procedure used to cut neural connections in the brain, and ablation which is a surgical procedure used to remove areas of the brain. Post mortem studies are a research method of the brain of a patient, who has had something wrong with them such as struggling to speak, so this is examined after death. There are also used in police force and crime investigations to see how the person has died. EEG is a non – invasive measurement which is electrical activity of the brain which is produced by recording from electrodes which are placed on the individuals scalp. A PET scan is a procedure where the brain is assessed in various locations depending on different level of neural activity whilst the brain is active; likewise the MRI scan is taken whilst the brain is active and is where scanners use strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce an image of the brain of an individual.
An issue with PET and MRI scans is that the patient has to stay still, and cannot move as this could interfere with the investigation and not give accurate results. So this will not be the easiest procedure for people who are claustrophobic with the MRI scan and the space where the person can go between the scanners is not the biggest, so there will be no room to move and is not very beneficial for the obese. There are scanners which are made to be bigger and have