PSYCH 101 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2.2: Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Paul Broca

• School: UW
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYCH 101
• Professor: Mc Laughlin Judith

Document Summary

Early 19th century psychologists agreed mental processes were a result of brain function: questions emerged: First evidence that brain regions perform specialized functions came from physician and anatomist. Over the last century, scientists developed various methods to study the brain in action. First method was to record electrical activity of neurons firing in the brain: researcher fits electrodes onto participant"s scalp, acting like small microphones and pick up brain"s electrical activity. Useful because different behavioral states produce different and predictable eeg patterns. Can reveal when someone is falling asleep. Has shown the brain is very active even when the body is asleep (dreaming) Brain"s electrical activity is associated with changes in blood flow carrying oxygen and nutrients to active brain regions. Three main divisions of the brain: (1) hindbrain. Brainstem - breathing, heart rate, other survival mechanisms. Cerebellum (little brain) - motor learning/memory, coordination, balance. Damage to different parts of it causes different effects.