Overview: Techniques to Study the Brain (HL IB Psychology)

Exam Tip

Take care not to confuse MRI with fMRI as one measures brain structure (MRI) and the other measures brain function (fMRI).

Exam Tip

Remember to use studies that you are also using for other aspects of the course. For example, the case of HM is also relevant to localisation of function in the Biological Approach and as evidence for the Multi-Store Model of Memory in the Cognitive Approach. Maguire (2000) is also relevant for localisation of function, neuroplasticity and neural networks.

Worked Example

Describe one technique for studying the brain, using relevant research to support your answer. [9]

‘Describe’ means you need more detail than ‘Outline’ but a bit less than ‘Explain’.

Your first paragraph should clearly identify the technique and it should be relevant e.g. not a lab experiment, correlation, self-report etc.

Note the lack of evaluation/critical thinking in the answer: this is not required for an SAQ and you will receive no marks if you do evaluate. 

Let’s assume you use MRI as the technique. You should describe what each is, e.g:

MRI is a non-invasive test used to diagnose medical conditions. MRI uses a powerful magnetic field, radio frequency pulses and a computer to produce detailed pictures of the brain. The researcher compares the size and distributions of the bright and dark areas on the scan detect brain structure anomalies e.g. injury, stroke, dementia.

‘Relevant research’: The next section of the answer should be on the use of the technique as the focal point of the answer. Simply giving a straightforward description without referencing the question won't gain you marks. For example:

Maguire (2000) used MRI to compare the brains of taxi (16) and non-taxi drivers (50 pre-existing matched scans). The resulting scans were analysed by a blind expert using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to measure grey matter volume in brain structures. Pixel-counting was also used to calculate hippocampal volume: pixels were counted on photographic ‘slices’ made through the brain using an MRI scan. Pixels were counted for the anterior, posterior and body of the hippocampus.

The next section of your answer will comment on how the technique enabled the researchers to form meaningful conclusions about the brain and its associated behaviour. For example: 

Maguire’s (2000) results suggest that spatial navigation is localised to the left posterior hippocampal region, as this is where the volume of grey matter was greatest in the taxi drivers compared to the controls. The use of MRI scanning was an appropriate technique for this research as it scans the structure of the brain, allowing researchers to form conclusions as to possible biological correlates of brain and behaviour.