Which of the following is NOT a problem with learning about brain function from people with damage to specific areas?
A) It doesn't allow causal conclusions about what brain areas cause specific behaviours.
B) Patients with brain damage may have undetectable damage as well that cause behavioural changes.
C) Reorganization in the brain after damage may further distinguish the damaged brain from the intact brain.
D) Patients with brain damage have different concentrations of oxygenated hemoglobin that is not easy to measure with today's technologies.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Option D is not a problem with using people with damage to specific areas to learn about brain function. The issue with D is a limitation in the technology used to measure brain activity, rather than a problem with the study of brain function in patients with brain damage.

A, B, and C are all valid concerns with using people with brain damage to study brain function. A is a problem because it is difficult to determine causality when studying brain damage; it is possible that other factors beyond the brain damage itself could be responsible for observed behavioural changes. B is a problem because there may be other, undetected areas of damage that are contributing to observed changes in behaviour. C is a problem because the brain has the ability to reorganize itself after damage, potentially complicating the extent to which insights gained from studying a patient with brain damage can be generalized to the broader population.

Which of the Following Is NOT a Problem with Learning