Brain Scans
This technique produces static 3D images of the brain, uses magnetic fields and radio wave energy to create pictures of the brain, and is useful for studying brain damage.
What is an MRI?
This type of research method involves an in-depth study of an individual or group to better understand something about behavior.
What is a case study?
This type of neurotransmitter INCREASES the probability of producing an action potential.
What is excitatory?
Communication between nerve cells
What is neurotransmission?
The left hemisphere is responsible for controlling movement of this half of the body.
What is the right side of the body?
One drawback of an MRI is its inability to be used on people who have plates, screws, or devices made of this material due to the machine’s strong magnetic field.
What is metal?
This type of research method measures the relationship between two variables, neither of which are manipulated.
What is a correlational study?
This type of neurotransmitter DECREASES the probability of producing an action potential.
What is inhibitory?
The process of additional neutral networks being formed. It can occur when learning new skills.
What is neurogenesis?
This portion of the brain is small but plays a major role in the processing of emotions, especially fear, anxiety, and aggression.
What is the amygdala?
This scan, also called a brain wave test, measures electrical activity of the brain and can be beneficial in diagnosing conditions such as epilepsy or sleep disorders.
What is an EEG?
In this type of research method, participants are assigned to groups based on pre characteristics.
What is a quasi-experiment?
This neurotransmitter is strongly associated with reward mechanisms in the brain. Drugs such as cocaine, opium, and alcohol increase the levels of this neurotransmitter.
What is dopamine?
The theory that different areas of the brain have different mechanisms for thought, behavior, and emotions. Also called the “jigsaw” perspective.
What is localization of function?
Region of the brain that is associated with speech production; located in the inferior frontal gyrus of the left hemisphere
What is Broca's area?
This technique creates images of brain activity using gamma rays created from an injectable radioactive sugar.
What is a PET scan?
This term refers to a case study that collects data from the same individuals over a long period of time.
What is a longitudinal study?
The chemical version of these increases the effect of a neurotransmitter. Analogous to oil applied to a lock.
What is an agonist?
The process of unused neural networks in the brain being severed or reduced in density.
What is neural pruning?
Region of the brain that is associated with language comprehension; posterior superior temporal lobe of left hemisphere
What is Wernicke's area?
This technique produces non-static brain imagery and shows which parts of the brain are active through radio waves and magnetic fields.
What is an fMRI?
This measurement, expressed as a decimal, refers to the likelihood of twins or siblings sharing a genetic trait.
What is concordance rate?
Substances that reduce the effect of a neurotransmitter. Analogous to chewing gum stuck in a lock.
What is an antagonist?
The process of the brain’s neural networks changing and developing, demonstrated in a study done of London taxi drivers.
What is neuroplasticity?
This portion of the brain is crucial in learning and memory formation, involved in processes such as long-term memory formation, episodic memory recollection, and spatial navigation.
What is the hippocampus?