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

• 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). 
  

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

• 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. 
  

• 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 

• 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. 

• 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). 
  

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

• 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. 
  

• 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 
  

• MA's right hemisphere was more active than the controls' during the production of both speech and sign language 
  

• Language function seems to have developed in the right hemisphere instead of the left hemisphere as an adaptation following his early brain damage 
  

• 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.