Exploring the mind

Understand the power and possibilities of neuroimaging techniques.  Learn about the differences between structural and functional imaging and how they can help diagnose and treat psychological conditions.

Neuroimaging techniques

Eeg & erp

Electroencephalography (EEG) records electrical activity from the scalp, offering excellent temporal resolution. Event-related potentials (ERPs) are averaged EEG responses time-locked to events, ideal for tracking cognitive processes in time.

Fmri

Functional MRI measures blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signals, correlating with neural activity. fMRI provides high spatial resolution but has slower temporal resolution.

Pet

Positron emission tomography measures metabolic activity via injected radioactive tracers. Historically important, it's now less common for cognitive studies due to its invasiveness and logistics.

Choosing the right method

Selecting the appropriate neuroimaging technique is crucial for accurate assessment. Use EEG/MEG when millisecond timing is essential; use fMRI when precise localization is needed; PET when metabolic or molecular measures are required. Each method has its strengths and limitations.

Structural vs functional imaging

Understand the distinction between structural and functional imaging. Structural imaging techniques like CT and MRI reveal brain anatomy, while functional imaging techniques like fMRI, PET, EEG/MEG show brain activity, each with its own set of tradeoffs between spatial and temporal resolution.

Limitations of neuroimaging

While powerful, neuroimaging techniques have limitations. fMRI BOLD is an indirect measure of neural activity, EEG spatial localization is limited by the inverse problem, and PET involves radioactive tracers and lower temporal resolution. Cognitive Psych ensures responsible and informed interpretation of these methods.