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Questions and Answers
What is primarily responsible for transmitting messages within neurons?
What is primarily responsible for transmitting messages within neurons?
Which method involves observing brain activity in relation to behaviors performed by individuals?
Which method involves observing brain activity in relation to behaviors performed by individuals?
What type of imaging is utilized in connectional methods to trace neural connections?
What type of imaging is utilized in connectional methods to trace neural connections?
Which of the following comprises the central nervous system (CNS)?
Which of the following comprises the central nervous system (CNS)?
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What is a less-invasive technique used to record electrical activity in the brain?
What is a less-invasive technique used to record electrical activity in the brain?
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What aspect of brain activity does functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) primarily measure?
What aspect of brain activity does functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) primarily measure?
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Which statement correctly distinguishes between MRI and fMRI?
Which statement correctly distinguishes between MRI and fMRI?
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What is the purpose of neuropsychological testing in the context of studying brain damage?
What is the purpose of neuropsychological testing in the context of studying brain damage?
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What does the BOLD response measure in fMRI?
What does the BOLD response measure in fMRI?
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Which of the following conditions is a potential cause of brain lesions?
Which of the following conditions is a potential cause of brain lesions?
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Study Notes
Levels of Analysis
- All psychological phenomena are related to brain activity
- Emotion, perception, attention, memory, reasoning, and conscious experience are all a product of the brain
Nervous System Primer
- The nervous system is comprised of the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS)
- The CNS includes the brain and spinal cord
- The PNS includes sensory and motor connections
- The cerebrum (or forebrain) is part of the brain and includes the hemispheres
- The brainstem and cerebellum are also part of the brain
Neuron Structure
- Neurons communicate with other cells via electrical signals
- Neurons receive and transmit messages through electrical impulses, also known as action potentials
Connectional Methods
- The function of a neuron depends on its inputs and outputs
- Connectional methods are used to trace connections to and from a neuron
- Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) uses MRI to map diffusion of water within neural tissue
- DTI is non-invasive
Correlational Methods
- Correlational methods involve observing brain activity while an individual performs a behavior
- The techniques used are either invasive or less invasive
- Invasive:
- recording electrical activity of neurons via microelectrodes implanted in the brain
- Less invasive:
- Electroencephalography (EEG)
- Magnetoencephalography (MEG)
- Positron emission tomography (PET)
- Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Differences in tissue properties affect how protons in the tissue behave in a strong magnetic field
- Images are created by partially magnetizing the body using a superconducting magnet
Structural Analysis
- MRI creates clear 3D images of tissue types within the body
- MRI has excellent spatial resolution (accurate localization) on the millimeter scale
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
- Active neurons require oxygen
- fMRI detects changes in the magnetic properties of blood
- fMRI measures the ratio of oxygenated to deoxygenated blood using the blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) response
Studying the Damaged Brain
- Neuropsychological testing can be used to study the effects of brain damage on specific cognitive functions
- Lesion methods help us understand the relationship between brain damage and cognition
- Lesions can be caused by traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, tumors, degenerative diseases, or infections
Single and Double Dissociations
- Single dissociations compare a patient with a lesion to a control group
- Double dissociations compare two patients with lesions in different brain regions
Deep-brain stimulation (DBS)
- DBS involves implanting electrodes in the brain to stimulate a targeted area with low-voltage electrical currents
- DBS is used to facilitate behavior and treat conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, depression, and OCD
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
- TMS uses a magnetic coil placed on the skull to stimulate the underlying brain area
- TMS is used to disrupt cognitive or motor function and can be used to treat depression
Measuring the Brain’s Electrical Activity
- The brain is always electrically active
- Electrical activity can be used to study brain function
- Single-cell recording, EEG, ERPs and MEG are four major techniques used to study the brain’s electrical activity
Single-cell recordings
- Single-cell recordings measure the action potentials of single neurons using fine electrodes
- Electrodes can be placed next to cells (extracellular) or inside cells (intracellular)
- Extracellular recordings can distinguish activity of up to 40 neurons
- Intracellular recordings study a single neuron’s electrical activity
- Single-cell recordings can be used in humans when electrodes are implanted for clinical reasons such as DBS surgery
Electroencephalography (EEG)
- EEG records from thousands of cells revealing features of the brain’s electrical activity
- EEG signal changes with behavior
- EEG recordings from the cortex show a variety of patterns, some of which are rhythmic
Event-related potentials (ERPs)
- ERPs analyze complex EEG waveforms that are related in time to a specific sensory event
- To reduce noise, the stimulus is repeatedly presented and responses are averaged
- ERPs can be visual (VEP), auditory (AEP), motor (MEP), or somatosensory (SEP)
- Averaging the responses reveals a distinctive wave shape
Comparing Neuroscience Research Methods
- Considerations for choosing a research technique include:
- Temporal resolution (time)
- Spatial resolution (localization)
- Invasiveness
- Cost
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Description
Explore the intricate relationships between brain activity and psychological phenomena in this quiz. Dive into the structure of neurons, the nervous system, and the connectional methods that enable communication within the brain. Enhance your understanding of how emotions, memory, and perception are linked to brain functions.
