How do we study living brains? - John Borghi and Elizabeth Waters
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As far as we know, there’s only one thing in our solar system sophisticated enough to study itself: the human brain. But this self-investigation is challenging because a living brain is shielded by skull, swaddled in tissue, and made up of billions of tiny cells. How do we study living brains without harming their owners? Elizabeth Waters and John Borghi explain how EEGs, fMRIs, and PETs work.
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Meet The Creators
- Educator John Borghi, Elizabeth Waters
- Director Joash Berkeley
- Script Editor Eleanor Nelsen
- Senior Animator Joash Berkeley
- Animator Eli Guillou, Leonardo G. Franchi, Jonas Elsgaard
- Designer Joash Berkeley
- Music Qbsound Studio
- Associate Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott, Elizabeth Cox
- Content Producer Gerta Xhelo
- Editorial Producer Alex Rosenthal
- Narrator Susan Zimmerman
- Fact-Checker Francisco Diez
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Techniques like EEG, fMRI, and PET can provide us with information about what is happening in a person’s brain when they look at a photo of their family. Do you think brain imaging can also provide information about how they are thinking and feeling?
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Sajida Moddaser
Lesson in progress
yes, because the scans will show some activity related to the task that is being done.
Hoàng Sơn
Hoàng Sơn
Lesson completed
In the future maybe, but now i think it is not possible. While there is a wide range of knowledge of different regions of brain and how they function in a variety of situations, we still have little insight of what exactly happening in the brain and how they co-operate so smoothly. For example we know there is a part of brain that is responsible for studying, however little do we know exactly how memory can be stored, which chemical is saving memory. Looking at a variety of thoughts and feelings people can have, I doubt in the near future scientists can approach such a great depth of the brain
sariah barra
sariah barra
Lesson completed
Yes, brain imaging could provide information with regards to how people are thinking and feeling.
Jenny Yuan
Lesson completed
in response to Ahmed Hadi Show comment
I don't think that is true. Some people, (like one of my prof), thinks that those unused areas are only there to support those 10% of our brain function properly.
Ahmed Hadi
Lesson in progress
Well scientist belive that we only use 10% of our brain, I think if we use about 13% we'Il be able to solve puzzles just by looking at them.
Stella W
Stella W
Lesson in progress
mhmmmm
Haley Hopson
Lesson completed
yes, i think if someone sees a loved one or a picture of a loved one, their brain may change, or something might happen indicating that they are happy.
Omar Adrayan
Lesson in progress
I think yes, brain imaging could also provide information somehow with regard to how people are thinking and feeling. If there is more brain movements or should I say activities on our right brain, maybe the person is engaged into thinking how he or she will draw something or make a sort of art since our right brain is concerned more on art and creativity. On the other hand, if we could see upon brain imaging that there are more sparks or brain activities/movements on our left brain, maybe the person is thinking to solve a puzzle or a mathematical problem since our left brain is concerned to such processes. Lastly, our brain releases certain hormones for a specific feeling e.g. intense happiness. (This is just my opinion)
