Discuss the use of technology in investigating cognitive processes.

Introduction

  • State what you are doing in the essay 
    • The following essay will attempt to offer a balanced review of the use of technology in investigating cognitive processes. 

  • State the different types of brain imaging technologies 
    • PET: Positron Emission Topography
    • MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
    • fMRI: functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging EEG: Electroencephalogram
    • CAT: Computerised Axial Tomography 
      • Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages and are appropriate in varying situations

  • Explain why Brain imaging technologies are used at the CLA
    • Brain imaging technologies are methods used in psychology to examine the human brain. 
    • Brain imaging technologies are quite useful in neuropsychology...
      • As it provides an opportunity to study the active brain
    • Allows researchers to see where specific brain processes take place
    • Predominantly used to define brain differences in groups while they perform cognitive tasks 
    • Enables researchers to study localisation of function in a living human brain

  • State the cognitive processes being discussed
    • The cognitive processes being discussed in this essay are:
      • Memory 
      • Language

  • State the brain imaging technology being discussed
    • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) 
    • Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

  • Example Response
    • In the following essay, the brain imaging technology that will be discussed are MRI and PET Scans and will be investigated in terms of its role in investigating the correlations/relationships between cognitive processes of memory and language.

Body

Cognitive Process 1: MEMORY
Brain Imaging Technology 1: MRI Scans
  • Introduce the cognitive process of memory 
    • The first brain imaging technology, MRI scans, will be firstly investigated with the cognitive process of memory. 
  • Describe the MRI brain imaging technology 
    • This technique uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce 3D computer-generated images.
    • MRI scans involve people to remove all metal objects and clothing where they lie within an MRI machine.
    • It can distinguish among different types of soft tissue and allows researchers to see structures within the brain. 


Supporting Study: Maguire et al. (2000)

Introduce Study Connection of study to question:

  • An example of a study which utilizes MRI scans to investigate the cognitive process of memory is a study conducted by Maguire et al. (2000). 
Aim: 

  • Maguire hypothesised that full licensed taxi drivers in London would have a different hippocampi structure in their brains compared to ‘normal’ people. 
Methods: 

  • This was based on the knowledge that London taxi drivers must do a two-year training course where they end up being able to find their way around the city without a map. 
  • MRI scans were used to scan the structure of their hippocampi, which were compared to already existing MRI scans of healthy males who did not drive taxis. 

Results: 

  • Taxi drivers’ left and right hippocampi had a larger volume compared to the non-taxi drivers. 
  • Some parts of the hippocampi were smaller in the taxi drivers. 

Conclusions: 

  • Maguire concluded that there was probably a redistribution of grey matter in the hippocampi of taxi drivers due to the regular use of the spatial memory skills required to remember roads; the neurons are stronger in areas of the brain which are used most. 
Connection of study to question 

  • By using an MRI, Maguire was able to observe the structures in the brain and find a correlation between the hippocampi (biological factor) and memory skills (cognitive process). 
  • Maguire used MRI scans to investigate the structure of the hippocampi, which would not be able to be seen using other technologies such as an EEG or a PET scan 

Supporting Study 2: HM Milner and Scoville (1957)

Introduce StudyConnection of study to question: 

  • Another study which utilizes MRI scans to investigate memory is a study conducted by Milner and Scoville (1957). 

  • Background: 
    • HM suffered epileptic seizures after a head injury at age 9 
    • Doctors performed surgery to stop seizures 
    • Tissue from temporal lobe, and hippocampus was removed 
    • HM suffered anterograde amnesia 
      • He could recall information from early life but could not form new memories 
    • HM was studied using an MRI in 1997 
  • Findings: 
    • The brain scan showed that there was damage to the hippocampus, amygdala, and areas close to the hippocampus 
Connection of study to question 
  • By using MRI scanning technology, researchers were able to investigate the cognitive process of memory and make a correlation between certain brain areas (biological factor) and memory (cognitive process). 
  • MRI scans were used to see the structures of the brain to determine the extent of brain damage 
    • The structures would not be able to be clearly seen using other technologies such as EEGs or CTs. 
Cognitive Process 2: LANGUAGE
Brain Imaging Technology 2: PET Scans 

  • Introduce the cognitive process of language
    • The next cognitive process which will be discussed with the brain imaging technology of PET Scans is language.
  • Describe PET brain imaging technology
    • PET scans require patients to be injected with a radioactive glucose tracer which shows the areas where glucose is absorbed in the active brain.
    • More glucose metabolism means more brain activity.
    • PET scans show a coloured visual display of brain activity; where radioactive tracer is absorbed
      • Red indicates areas with the most activity 
      • Blue indicates areas with the least activity 


Supporting Study 3: Tierney et al (2001)

Introduce Study --> Connection of study to question:

  • An example of a study which utilizes PET scans to investigate the cognitive process of language is a study conducted by Tierney et al. (2001). 
Aim: 

  • To evaluate, using PET scans, the bilingual language compensation following early childhood brain damage 
Background: 

  • 37 year old man (known as MA) with normal speech functions who was participating in a normal speech study 
  • It was discovered that he had a lesion in his left frontal lobe 
    • Probably as a result of encephalitis he suffered at the age of 6 weeks 
    • He had no significant long-term, clinically consequences 
  • Both his parents were deaf and he used sign language at home from a very young age. 
  • Researchers were curious to know if this might have had something to do with his ability to speak despite the brain damage (that should have prevented him from doing so. 
Methods: 
  • Researchers compared MA to 12 control participants, who were fluent in sign language 
  • PET scanning technologies were used while the participants produced narrative speech or signs 
Results: 
  • MA's right hemisphere was more active than the controls' during the production of both speech and sign language 
Conclusion: 
  • Language function seems to have developed in the right hemisphere instead of the left hemisphere as an adaptation following his early brain damage 
Connection of study to outcome 
  • Tierney utilised PET scans to investigate the cognitive processes of language and observe the areas of the brain (biological factor) that activated while MA produced language (cognitive process). 
    • The ongoing activity in the brain would not be able to be seen using other technologies such as EEGs or MRIs. 

Conclusion

  • What is the significance of using brain scans? Answer the question
    • In conclusion, brain imaging technologies are very useful in investigating cognitive processes. 
    • Useful in different situations.
    • All these methods have their own advantages and disadvantages, primarily involving invasiveness and levels of radioactivity.
    • However, all of these methods contribute to investigating the relationship between cognitive processes and behaviour.
    • It is important to note that different brain scans are used depending on the individual, the cause of the problem and or the cognitive process being investigated.