Neuroscience Methods: Tests
What test is taking x-rays from multiple angles (computer analysis of X-ray absorption at several positions around head) and then constructing a structural image of brain?
Computed Tomography or Computerized Axial Tomography (CT or CAT)
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
What test uses a single or an array of electrodes to directly record neuro activity in live subjects?
Electrophysiology
Spontaneous electrical rhythms that can be recorded from the surface of the scalp are?
generated by the activity of populations of neurons.
Does a CT have good spatial resolution or temporal resolution? What does it examine/what do the results show? Is it safe?
- Pretty good spatial resolution
- Temporal resolution = N/A
- No activity (function) is recorded it is pure structural
- has X ray emission from the imaging device which is ionizing radiation which can caused harm to organisms
What test uses diffusion of water in a confined space is exploited to produce images of axonal fiber tracts? It is also a modified form of which test/method?
Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) and it is a modified form of a MRI specifically a subtype of MRI
What test detects small changes in brain metabolism, such as oxygen use and blood flow, therefore identifying regions of the brain that are particularly active during a given task?
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
What test inserts a gene into the brain via a virus. The gene is then expressed and photo-sensitive ion channels in neuros are created and the neuros can then be controlled with a fiber optic cable?
What was the result of Phineas Gage's accident? And what type of method would this be called if observed/experimented on?
He experienced dramatic changes in his personality and impulsivity. This would also be called a patient study specifically a lesion as we are to map brain-behavior relationships due to his traumatic brain injury
Does a MRI have good spatial resolution or temporal resolution? Is its resolution better or worse than a CT? What does it examine/what do the results show? Is it safe?
- Has even better spatial resolution than CT
- Temporal resolution = N/A
- no activity is recorded(constructs a structural image of the brain)
- no ionizing radiation, so much safer than X Ray and CT but takes much longer than CT and is also a lot more expensive
What test is a recording of gross electrical activity of the brain via large electrodes placed on the scalp.The recording of gross electrical activity of the brain via large electrodes placed on the scalp?
Electroencephalograms (EEG)
What test creates brain maps of brain activity during cognitive tasks by measuring tiny magnetic fields produced by active neurons?
What test gives injection with something that derives from root of horseradish plant (horseradish peroxide solution) this then goes and travels all the way back to the brain and look where we see patterns of labeling (might need to look at lecture for definition)?
Tracer Injection
What disorder has TMS been useful for treating?
Depression
Does a DTI have good spatial resolution or temporal resolution? What does it examine/what do the results show? Is it safe? What other test is it a subtype of?
- good spatial resolution
- temporal resolution = N/A
- Uses MRI to visualize water in axons, creating a neuro connection image (so we get to see like neuron connections and tiny strains of axon) but no (function) activity is recorded
- No ionizing radiation
- also subtype of MRI
What test/method damages part of the brain and records changes in behavior?
Lesion
What test uses electrodes to stimulate the brain?
Electrode Stimulation
What is the difference between correlational (connectional? look at lecture) vs casual methods?
Look at lecture
If researcher wanted to know which brain region(s) is/are active when a person is listening to music, the imaging technique that would be most appropriate is?
fMRI
Does a fMRI have good spatial resolution or temporal resolution? What does it examine/what do the results show? Is it safe?
- good spatial resolution
- bad temporal resolution
- Detecting small changes in brain metabolism, such as oxygen use, in active brain areas - Showing the location of brain activation over time so it is function
- no ionizing radiation
What test uses magnetic field to align protons then measure their radio waves to construct a structural image of the brain?
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
What test examines brain function that applies strong magnetic fields to stimulate cortical neurons in order to identify discrete areas of the brain that are particularly active during specific behaviors?
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
What are the the methods specifically used in animal studies discussed in our lecture?
Electrophysiology, Electro Micro Arrays, and Optogenetics
Does a EEG/MEG have good spatial resolution or temporal resolution? What does they examine/what do the results show (what is different between the EEG and MEG)? Are they safe?
- bad spatial resolution
- good temporal resolution
- both show the location of brain activation (function) but EEG detects electrical activities in the brain while MEG detects magnetic activities in the brain
- No emission (N/A for ionizing or non-ionizing radiation)
Does a PET have good spatial resolution or temporal resolution? What does it examine/what do the results show? Is it safe?
- good spatial resolution
- bad temporal resolution
- Emissions of radioactive tracer in the bloodstream indicate their destination - Showing the location of brain activation over time (meaning shows function)
- Does have ionizing radiation from the positron radiation from the tracer