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Biological Approach (The brain and behaviour (Hormones Hormones are…

- - - - FMRI scan
        
        What is it?
        
        'Functional magnetic resonance imaging'
        
        It tracks the blood flow and oxygen level as a measurement of neural activity
        
        Shows actual, real time brain activity so can show brain activity when engaged in a certain behaviour or cognitive process
        
        What does the scan look like?
        
        Colours are used to indicate areas of the brain which have increased blood flow
        
        What equipment is used?
        
        A large tunnel which uses magnets
        
        What the patient should expect from the process?
        
        Patients have reported to feel claustrophobic. The machine is very loud so headphones may be provided. The entire process takes approximately two hours
        
        What may the technique detect?
        
        Abnormalities in brain activity, areas which are over or under used
        
        What are the strengths?
        
        higher resolution than PET scans
        
        Easier to carry out
        
        Non-invasive
        
        No radioactivity
        
        Can demonstrate changes over time
        
        What are the weaknesses?
        
        Strongly magnetic, people with pacemakers cannot use them, all magnetic metal must be removed
        
        Anxiety may be experienced due to tight space which may influence the scan
        
        Brain activity can happen passively and may not be linked to the stimulus
        
        Not a natural environment for cognition
        
        The use of colour may exaggerate the data
      - CAT scan
        
        What is it?
        
        It scans the brain
        
        A 2D, still image
        
        What does the scan look like?
        
        Black and white 2D image to show brain structure
        
        what equipment is used?
        
        Similar to FMRI. A tunnel
        
        What should the patient expect?
        
        It lasts between 15 and 30 minutes
        
        It's quite quiet
        
        What may the technique detect?
        
        It can detect damaged tissue
        
        It shows the structure of the brain
        
        What are the strengths?
        
        Good to show the structure of brain
        
        Bit cheaper
        
        What are the weaknesses?
        
        Ionising radiation
        
        Pregnant women cannot have one
        
        Asthmatics may react
      - MRI scan
        
        What is it?
        
        'Magnetic resonance imaging'
        
        Uses magnets and radio waves to track hydrogen molecule activity in the brain
        
        What does the scan look like?
        
        A slice of the brain or a 3D image
        
        What equipment is used?
        
        Large tube containing magnets
        
        What may the technique detect?
        
        Abnormalities in brain structure
        
        What are the strengths?
        
        Non invasive
        
        No radioactivity
        
        high resolution
  - - - Limbic system
        
        'The emotional brain'- memory and emotion
        
        Components of the limbic system
        
        Amygdala- function of emotional memory and fear responses
        
        Basal ganglia- habit forming and procedural memory
        
        Hippocampus- transfers short term memory into long term memory
        
        Hypothalamus- involved in homeostasis, emotion, thirst, hunger, circadian rhythms and controls the automatic nervous system, also controls the pituitary gland
        
        Nucleus accumbens- addiction and motivation
      - Brain stem
        
        Regulates life functions, e.g. breathing, heart rate
      - Cerebellum
        
        balance, motor function, speech production and learning
      - Cerebrum
        
        Lobes of the cerebrum
        
        Frontal
        
        Executive functions: planning, decision making and speech
        
        Occipital
        
        Visual processing
        
        Parietal
        
        Perception of stimuli
        
        Temporal
        
        Auditory processing and memory
    - - Dendrite branching- When the dendrites of the neurons grow in numbers and connect with other neurons
  - - - Acetylcholine- Plays a role in consolidation of memory in the hippocampus
      - Dopamine- helps control the brain's reward and pleasure centres. Plays a key role in motivation, low levels are linked to addiction
      - Norepinephrine- arousal and elertness
      - Serotonin sleep, arousal levels and emotion
  - - - Pituitary
      - Thyroid
      - Adrenal
      - Pancreas
      - Ovaries/uterus
      - Prostate/testes
- - - - Because they share genetic information