Biological Contribution - Brain Scanning Techniques

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  • Created by: Laura
  • Created on: 04-05-13 13:30
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  • Biological - Brain Scanning
    • Ideas/Theories
      • PET
        • changes in metabolism
        • radioactive tracer injected
        • function - blood flow
        • functional scans
      • MRI
        • uses magnetic field to take photo inside body
        • structural scans
        • remove all metal objects
        • used for injury/tumor of soft tissue
    • Who/How it's helped
      • PET = find functional abnormalities & comparisons
        • e.g Sz + non Sz
      • MRI = find structural abnormalities & comparisons
        • e.g brains of drug users + non-users
      • allows accurate diagnosis = effective treatment + see effects
      • non invasive way of learning about brain
    • Strong
      • scientific = valid tool for diagnosis + comparisons made
      • objective method
      • scans help confirm/generate hypothesis
        • Raine et al = murders have decreased flow to frontal lobe
      • ethical - non invasive = no damage
    • Weak
      • can not infer cause and effect
        • validity depends on interpretation of findings
      • anxiety of patient may affect results
      • truthfulness of drug use can affect validity
      • distressing + small risk with PET due to radioacivity
      • only test limited range of activities - patient has to remain still

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