Experimental Ablation in Neuroscience

A method of studying brain function by damaging a specific area of the brain and observing the resulting behavioral changes.

A wound or injury in the brain.

Experiments in which part of the brain is damaged and the individual's behavior is subsequently observed.

Removing brain tissue by suction through a glass pipette.

Lesions created by passing electrical current through a steel wire, localized to a specific brain region.

A more precise method of creating lesions by injecting an excitatory amino acid, selectively killing neurons.

A surgical technique that uses a frame to precisely position instruments within the brain.

A surgical procedure that uses a stereotaxic apparatus to implant a permanent electrode into a human's brain, stimulating specific brain regions to reduce symptoms of chronic pain, movement disorders, epilepsy, depression, and OCD.

Visualizing the structure of the living human brain.

A technique, like a standard X-ray, where a beam of radiation is passed through an object, and the unabsorbed portion creates an image. This is not effective for the brain due to overlapping structures.

A specialized X-ray where a substance (contrast agent) is injected into a body compartment to highlight specific areas by altering their X-ray absorption. This enables visualization of brain structures.

A contrast x-ray technique where a dye is injected into the cerebral artery, allowing visualization of the brain's blood vessels during X-ray photography. Useful for detecting vascular damage and tumors by their impact on blood vessel position.

A computer-aided X-ray procedure using a doughnut-shaped ring that emits X-rays through the patient's head. The detector measures the radiation that passes through, creating an image.

Images depicting brain activity.

A device used in stereotaxic surgery to precisely position instruments for interventions within the brain.

A process that involves locating a specific anatomical landmark on the skull, typically the bregma, to provide a reference point for stereotaxic surgery.

A functional imaging technique that uses radioactive glucose (2-DG) to measure brain activity. It detects the amount of glucose uptake by neurons, reflecting their metabolic activity.

The formal name for the signal used in fMRI, which measures changes in blood oxygen levels in the brain.

The type of resolution that refers to the ability to distinguish different points in a spatial image. In imaging, higher spatial resolution means clearer images.

The type of resolution that refers to the ability to distinguish different events in a time series image. In imaging, higher temporal resolution means capturing fast-changing events.

A functional neuroimaging technique that measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood oxygen levels. It works based on the principle that active brain regions require more oxygen.

A positive wave that occurs approximately 300 milliseconds after a meaningful stimulus is presented to a participant.

A technique used to reduce the noise of the background brainwaves by averaging multiple recordings of the same event.

A method employed to record brain activity through electrodes implanted directly into the brain tissue.

A method of studying brain activity by measuring the magnetic fields produced by electrical currents in the brain.

A device used in MEG to detect the tiny magnetic fields generated by the brain's electrical activity.

The measurement of the brain's metabolic activity by injecting a radioactive form of glucose into the bloodstream.

A technique used to visualize the distribution of radioactivity in a tissue sample by exposing it to photographic film.

A type of gene that is quickly activated in response to neuronal stimulation, leading to the production of specific proteins.

A medical imaging technique using X-rays to create detailed pictures of the inside of the body. CT can detect tumors and bleeding in the brain.

A medical imaging technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed pictures of the inside of the body. MRI provides high-resolution images of the brain and can distinguish between gray and white matter.

A type of MRI that measures the movement of water molecules in white matter, allowing visualization of even small bundles of nerve fibers and tracking of fiber tracts. This helps understand brain connectivity.

The change in electrical potential across a neuron's membrane. This is a key indicator of neural activity.

Recording the moment-by-moment changes in a neuron's membrane potential. This technique provides direct information about the activity of individual neurons.

The use of a device to stimulate a neuron, causing it to generate an action potential. This technique helps to understand the function of individual neurons.

The area of the brain that processes visual information. It receives input from the eyes and is responsible for our ability to see.

The area of the brain that processes auditory information. It receives input from the ears and is responsible for our ability to hear.

The area of the brain that processes bodily sensations, such as touch, temperature, and pain. It receives input from the skin and other sensory organs.

The area of the brain that controls voluntary movement. It receives input from the motor cortex and sends signals to the muscles to initiate movement.