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Questions and Answers
What allowed neuroscientists to establish large-scale correlations between cognitive functioning and specific brain areas?
What is one of the earliest methods of studying functional specialization in the brain?
What did Korbinian Brodmann identify in 1909 using staining techniques?
What was the outcome of Phineas Gage's frontal lobe damage?
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What is the term for the study of brain function at the level of the single neuron?
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What was the effect of the stroke on the man mentioned in the text?
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What is the primary limitation of anatomical wiring diagrams?
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What is the primary purpose of injecting a marker chemical into a particular brain region?
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What is the primary index of activity in neurons?
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What is the result of the entry of positively charged ions during an action potential?
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What is the function of sodium-potassium pumps in neurons?
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What is the difference between resting membrane potential and action potential?
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What is the primary way neurons represent intensity?
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What is the limitation of tract tracing in studying anatomical connectivity?
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What is the primary technique used to study anatomical connectivity in vivo?
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What is the primary function of potassium channels during an action potential?
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What is the primary purpose of single-cell recordings in the context of neuroscience?
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What is the primary difference between EEG and MEG techniques?
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What is the frequency range of gamma waves in the brain?
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What is the primary purpose of Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)?
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What is the primary function of an electroencephalogram (EEG)?
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What is a potential advantage of Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) compared to ECT?
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What is the primary difference between alpha and theta waves?
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What is the primary function of a PET scan?
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What is the purpose of optogenetics?
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What is the primary advantage of MEG over EEG?
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What is the potential consequence of prolonged and excessive use of ECT?
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What is the name of the neurosurgical procedure that involves placement of a neurostimulator and implanted electrodes?
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What is the primary function of a CT scan?
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What is the primary characteristic of delta waves?
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What is the result of using light to switch on the neurons for vertical stripes in the optogenetics experiment?
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What is the primary function of event-related potentials (ERPs)?
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What is the purpose of combining neuroimaging techniques?
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What is the limitation of fMRI and PET neuroimaging techniques?
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What is the purpose of using optogenetics in the study of memory?
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What is the advantage of using EEG over fMRI and PET?
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What is the effect of increasing voxel size in neuroimaging?
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What is the purpose of using paired-subtraction paradigm in PET experiments?
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What is the main advantage of network neuroscience compared to traditional localizationist research?
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What is a potential application of network neuroscience in diagnosing and treating psychological disorders?
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What is a potential advantage of using network neuroscience to understand the effects of deep brain stimulation?
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What is a potential benefit of using network neuroscience to study brain function in individuals with schizophrenia?
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What is a potential application of network neuroscience in treating disorders like Parkinson's?
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What is a potential benefit of using network neuroscience to study brain function in individuals with tumors?
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What is a limitation of using radioactive isotopes in brain imaging?
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What does fMRI measure in brain activity?
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What is the name of the technique that uses a diamond-tipped knife to slice through brain tissue?
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What is the purpose of using rTMS in depression treatment?
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What is the term for the difference in magnetic response between oxygenated and deoxygenated blood?
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What is the region of the brain associated with memory and places?
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What is the name of the technique that uses a coil to stimulate neural activity?
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What is the purpose of using event-related fMRI?
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What is the name of the pioneering researcher who mapped the body in the brain?
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What is the advantage of fMRI over PET scans?
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Study Notes
The Turn to the Brain in Cognitive Science
- Early models of cognitive functions focused on top-down analysis with little discussion of neural implementation
- Neuroimaging techniques (e.g., PET and fMRI) allowed for correlations between cognitive functioning and specific brain areas
- Other techniques (e.g., single-cell recordings) enabled the study of brain activity in nonhuman animals at the level of the single neuron
Methods for Studying Functional Specialization in Brain
- Lesion studies: examining the effects of destruction of brain tissue through stroke, accident, or surgery
- Examples: Phineas Gage, the man who died laughing
Early Research on Structure and Function of the Brain
- The cerebral cortex is divided into segregated areas with distinct neuronal populations
- Brodmann identified 52 different cortical regions using staining techniques in 1909
- Single-cell recordings:
- Placing a microelectrode close to an individual neuron to record the discharge of action potentials
- Examples: mirror neurons that respond to specific stimuli
Measuring the Electrical Activity of Populations of Neurons
- Electroencephalogram (EEG): attaching electrodes to the skull to record waves of electrical activity
- Provides amplified recording of electrical activity on the brain's surface
- Useful for diagnosing epilepsy and tumors
- Measures event-related potentials (ERPs) in response to specific stimuli
- Magnetoencephalography (MEG): measuring magnetic fields created by brain's electrical activity
- Allows for finer spatial resolution than EEG
- Currently used in medical diagnosis
Types of Brain Waves
- Gamma waves: high-frequency waves (26-42+ Hz) associated with active information exchange between brain areas
- Beta waves: irregular, low-amplitude waves (12-25 Hz) associated with arousal or alertness
- Alpha waves: synchronous waves (7.5-13 Hz) associated with a relaxed awake state
- Theta waves: synchronous waves (3.5-7.5 Hz) associated with transition between sleep and wakefulness
- Delta waves: low-frequency, high-amplitude waves (< 4 Hz) associated with deep sleep and loss of consciousness
Neuroimaging Techniques
- Computed Tomography (CT) or CAT Scan: combines x-ray photographs to create a composite representation of the brain
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan: displays brain activity during specific tasks
- Shows where a radioactive form of glucose goes while performing a task
Exploring Anatomical Connectivity
- Tract tracing: using marker chemicals to explore anatomical connectivity
- Injecting a marker chemical into a brain region to identify where it projects to
- Limited to studying anatomical connectivity independently of cognitive functioning
Mapping the Brain's Electrical Activity
- Cognitive functioning involves the coordinated activity of networks of different brain areas
- Techniques for studying electrical activity: EEG, MEG, etc.
Communication within a Neuron: Electrical Transmission
- Resting membrane potential: -70mV due to ion concentration differences
- Action potential: brief electrical impulse that provides the basis for conduction of information along an axon
- Sodium channels open, causing a rapid influx of Na+ ions, followed by potassium channels opening to bring the membrane potential back to resting state
Network Neuroscience
- Studying networks or functional connectivity, rather than just brain regions themselves
- Applications: understanding schizophrenia, diagnosing PTSD, developing new treatments
Other Important Topics
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): a treatment for major depression
- Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS): a non-invasive brain stimulation technique
- Deep brain stimulation: a neurosurgical procedure for treating depression and other disorders
- Optogenetics: using light to control specific neurons in the brain
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Description
Explore the shift in cognitive science from top-down analysis to neural implementation, enabled by neuroimaging techniques like PET and fMRI. Learn how these techniques have established correlations between cognitive functions and specific brain areas.