*The Tools of Discovery*

Lakia Woods

Tanjaneek Roberts

A.P. Psychology 6th Period

Clinical Observation

• In the late 20 centuries, Physicians began systematically recording the results of damage to specific brain areas.

• Some noted that damage to one side of the brain often cause numbness or paralysis on the body’s opposite side, making the body wired to the brain’s left side, and vice versa.

• Others noticed that damage to the back of the brain disrupted vision, and that damage to the brain’s left-front part produced speech difficulties.

Manipulating the Brain • Scientist can electrically, chemical, or magnetically

stimulate different parts of the brain. • Scientist can also surgically lesion tissue in specific

brain areas in animals

Recording the Brain’s Electrical Activity

• The tip of modern microelectrodes are so small they can detect the electrical pulse in a single neuron, providing some astonishingly precise findings.

• The electroencephalogram is an amplifies readout of such waves. – By presenting a stimulus repeatedly and having a

computer filter out brain activity unrelated to the stimulus, one can identify the electrical wave evoked by the stimulus

Neuroimaging Techniques

• PET depicts the brain activity by showing each brain areas consumption of its chemical fuel, the sugar glucose.

• PET scans show that the brain areas light up when people silently say the name of a tool

• PET scans “HOT SPOTS” show which brain areas are most active as the person performs mathematical calculations, listens to music, or daydreams

Neuroimaging Techniques Cont.

• MRI scans the head is out in a strong magnetic field, which aligns the spinning atoms.

• MRI scans can also reveal enlarged fluid filled brain areas in some patients who have schizophrenia, or an disabling psychological disorder

• fMRI can reveal the brains functioning as well as the structure

THE END!!!!!