10.1 Measurement for Studying the Brain Flashcards
What is behavioral neuroscience?
area of psychology that looks for the neurophysiological correlates of behavior
What are the three general categories of tools for research in behavioral neuroscience?
- molecular methods
- brain lesions
- neuroimaging
What is the prefrontal cortex?
area of the brain that is involved in reflection, planning, emotional regulation, and the theory of the mind
What are the two types of neuroimaging techniques?
structural
functional
What is structural neuroimaging?
provide a picture of the brain showing anatomical regions and where they are located in respect to each other
What is functional neuroimaging?
demonstrate which parts of the brain are active and to what extent as experimental patients manifest a behavior
What is computerized tomography scan?
uses a computer to combine many cross-sectional images generated from differential absorption of x-rays of an anatomical part
What is magnetic resonance imaging?
uses strong magnets which cause protons to align, spin, and generate a detectable radio frequency signal that is measured by antennas close to the anatomy being examined
What is electroencephalography?
noninvasive method of gathering functional information about the brain where electrodes are placed on the scalp to measure voltage fluctuations in the ionic currents of brain neurons
What is magnetoencephalography?
functional neuroimaging technique for mapping brain activity that records the magnetic fields produced by the brain’s electrical current
What is functional magnetic resonance imaging?
uses a computer to combine a series of magnetic resonance images taken less than a second apart to provide a functional picture of how brain activity changes over time
What is positron emission tomography?
nuclear medicine imaging technique that produces a three-dimensional image of functional metabolic processes across time
