Evaluation of ways of investigating the brain


	Post Mortem Examinations
	Advantages enables researcher to examine deep regions of the brain= hypothalamus, hippocampus allows for more detailed examination of the anatomical and neurochemical aspects of the brain	Disadvantages The problem a patient displays during their lifetime (e.g. an inability to speak) may not be linked to the deficits found in the brain (e.g. a damaged Broca’s area)= could have been the result of another illness TF= unable to conclude that the deficit is caused by the damage found in the brain. EG: confounding variable= length between death and post-mortem= brain could have decayed in some places= researchers may think this decay caused the deficit ethical issue= informed consent= did the patient give informed consent before their death?= EG= patients like, HM= lost ability to make memories= lost ability to give consent as he would forget he gave it
	Evaluation

enables researcher to examine deep regions of the brain= hypothalamus, hippocampus
allows for more detailed examination of the anatomical and neurochemical aspects of the brain

The problem a patient displays during their lifetime (e.g. an inability to speak) may not be linked to the deficits found in the brain (e.g. a damaged Broca’s area)= could have been the result of another illness TF= unable to conclude that the deficit is caused by the damage found in the brain. EG: confounding variable= length between death and post-mortem= brain could have decayed in some places= researchers may think this decay caused the deficit
ethical issue= informed consent= did the patient give informed consent before their death?= EG= patients like, HM= lost ability to make memories= lost ability to give consent as he would forget he gave it

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