Neuroscience Imaging Techniques Quiz

Lecture 011425

• Course Description: Includes lectures, objectives, exams, grading, and the Moodle website.
• Divisions and Orientation: Covers CNS and PNS, and planes of section.
• Imaging: Includes anatomical views (MRI, CT) and functional views (PET, fMRI).
• Cells of the Nervous System: Focuses on neurons and glial cells.
• Case Study: Discusses multiple sclerosis.

Course Information

• Moodle: Used for course materials, lectures, and labs.
• Syllabus: Contains course description, links to recorded lectures, and general information.
• News Forum: Provides announcements and messages.
• Weekly Posts: Includes power point presentations in PDF format.
• Objectives: Goals for each module, with associated vocabulary terms and concepts; interactive study guide recommended.
• Labs: Include objectives and atlas images for dissections, useful for supplemental lecture material, especially in the Neuroanatomy module.
• Reading Quizzes: Ten quizzes total, worth 50 points each, open book, and due at the scheduled class time. Missed quizzes can be replaced with a student-generated quiz for 50% credit.

Examinations

• Exams: One per module, 100 points each, without a cumulative final.
• Remediation: Only available for Exam ONE, up to 75% credit possible.

Course Description (Modules)

• Modules: Exam per module, Non-cumulative final exam is the 4th midterm.
• Neurobiology: Includes neurophysiology and development.
• Neuroanatomy: Focuses on regional neuroanatomy and pathways.
• Systems Neuroscience I: Covers sensory neurobiology and pathways.
• Systems Neuroscience II: Includes motor and integrative neurobiology and pathways.
• Emphases: Mechanisms, pathways, pathology, and case studies.

Basic Divisions of Nervous System

• Central Nervous System (CNS): Includes cerebrum, thalamus, midbrain, pons, cerebellum, medulla, and spinal cord.
• Brainstem: Formed by midbrain, pons, and medulla.
• Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): Consists of spinal nerves and autonomic nerves.

Planes of Section

• Sagittal: Midline, longitudinal axis.
• Axial: Horizontal, separates top to bottom.
• Coronal: Perpendicular to long axis.
• Anterior/posterior and rostral/caudal are often used for structures in the brain.

Neural Imaging

• Computerized Tomography (CT): X-ray beam rotates around the patient while detectors measure differing densities (i.e., air, blood, bone, brain) to create a "slice" image.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

• Uses radio waves and magnetic fields to create detailed images.
• Two main types of MRI, T1 and T2
• Different tissue types appear differently depending on measurement type.

BOLD Functional MRI ((fMRI))

• Blood oxygen level-dependent imaging measures blood flow changes in response to brain activity.
• Active brain regions show increased blood flow, altering image intensity.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

• Introduce radioactively tagged substances into the brain, detecting emitted gamma rays to measure changes in blood flow and glucose metabolism, and to monitor receptors.

Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT)

• Use various isotopes to study the body for more specific events, but has less detail than PET.

Neurons

• Functional Morphology: Covers input, trigger, propagation, and output zones of neurons, along with their specific components (dendrites, soma, axon, axon hillock, myelin sheath, etc.).
• Neurophysiology: (Module I) Includes topics like plasma membrane, electrical signaling of neurones and dendrites and spines; axons and hillocks (myelinated); axonal terminals and synaptic boutons.
• Protein pumps, ion channels (gated, non-gated), and signaling proteins are also important subjects.

Glial Cells

• Microglia: Resident phagocytes (macrophages) for responding to injury/infection, scavenging debris.
• Macroglia (CNS): Oligodendrocytes and astrocytes
• Macroglia (PNS): Schwann cells.
• Gliosis: Reactive proliferation of glial cells is an important part of the response to injury.
• Glial cell tumors: A variety of types are possible
• Astrocytes: Crucial for uptake of potassium and neurotransmitters, also contribute to blood-brain barrier function.
• Oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells: Involved in myelination, crucial for conducting action potentials more efficiently.

Neuronal Transport

• Nucleus: Codes for messenger RNA.
• Rough ER: Ribosomal synthesis of proteins.
• Smooth ER/Golgi: Modifies and packages proteins, crucial for cell function.
• Microtubules and neurofilaments: Involved in intracellular transport of substances and organelles.

Neurofilaments and Microtubules

• Neurofilaments: Cytoskeletal scaffolding (10nm intermediate filaments) for maintaining neuron structure.
• Microtubules: Cytoskeletal scaffolding composed of tubulin, aiding in axonal transport (anterograde or retrograde).

Axonal Trafficking

• Microtubule-based: Anterograde (away from soma) and retrograde (toward soma) transport via kinesin and dynein motors along microtubules.

Case Study: Multiple Sclerosis

• 28-year-old woman with progressing neurological symptoms consistent with multiple sclerosis.
• Symptoms include limb weakness, sensory loss, blurry vision, tremor, and dysarthria.
• MRI shows lesions in peri-ventricular white matter
• Progressive course over time, with both CNS (brain and spinal cord) involvement.