7 - Experimental Techniques And Research Methods

Question 1

Biological scales and levels are referred to in terms of what?

Answer 1

Spatial and temporal resolutions

Question 2

Nanoscale (pm to nm)

Answer 2

Physiology and neuroscience

Question 3

Micro scale (nm to um)

Answer 3

More finite details and begin to see large neuronal cells

Question 4

Mesoscale (um to mm )

Answer 4

Connections between neurons

Question 5

Macro scale (mm to cm)

Answer 5

Overview of brain as whole structure

Question 6

ERP

Answer 6

Event related potentials

Question 7

MRI

Answer 7

Magnetic resonance imaging

Question 8

TMS

Answer 8

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

Question 9

Intracellular recordings

Answer 9

Electrode inserted into neuron or patched onto membrane

Question 10

Activity of how many neurons is recorded by intracellular recordings?

Answer 10

One

Question 11

What are electrodes for intracellular recordings filled w/?

Answer 11

Saline of known concentrations

Question 12

Patch clamp recordings

Answer 12

Pipetting tip tightly sealed onto cell and patch of membrane isolated. Currents flowing through patch recorded. Micropipette has known concentration of ions to introduce or removes ions

Question 13

Different patch clamp recording configurations

Answer 13

Cell attached
Inside-out and outside-out
Whole cell

Question 14

Cell attached

Answer 14

Micropipette tip sealed onto membrane to record single channels

Question 15

Inside-out and outside-out

Answer 15

Study single channels in isolated portions of membrane and how changes on intra or extracellular membrane surface affect ion function

Question 16

Whole cell

Answer 16

Micropipette and cytoplasm continuous. Record currents from multiple channels at once

Question 17

Advantage of intracellular methods

Answer 17

Precise info about individual cells
Detect small electrical events
Easily introduce substances into electrode to see effects on ion channel function

Question 18

Disadvantages intracellular methods

Answer 18

Damage cells
Can cause wash out of cytoplasm w/ pipet contents 
Difficult to record over long periods
Expensive
Hard to perform in whole animal

Question 19

Broca lesions

Answer 19

Issues w/ producing sounds

Question 20

Wernicke’s lesions

Answer 20

Issues w/ comprehending written text and spoken words

Question 21

Computed axial tomography

Answer 21

Series of xrays around single axis of rotation merged together to form image

But no insight into function

Question 22

MRI

Answer 22

Energy emitted from spin of H atoms subjected to strong magnetic field

Question 23

FMRI

Answer 23

Localised changes in brain activity associated w/ changes in blood oxygenation

Question 24

T/f - MRIs have good temporal resolution but poor spatial

Answer 24

False - other way round

Question 25

Blood oxygen level dependent response

Answer 25

As neurons become stimulated by exogenous stimuli, they’re excited and consume energy — increase in blood flow to that brain region so higher density of atoms shown via MRI

Question 26

2 spatially separate brain regions are functionally connected if…

Answer 26

BOLD signal across time for regions are similar

Question 27

Electroencephalography (EEG)

Answer 27

Measures electrical activity from scalp surface to give insight into activity of cerebral cortex

Question 28

EEG has good ________ resolution but poor ________ resolution

Answer 28

Good temporal; poor spatial

Question 29

Transcranial stimulation

Answer 29

Non-invasive, localised excitation of brain tissue using TMS machine
Introduce electric current to stimulate specific brain region

Question 30

Optogenetics

Answer 30

Modulate activity of targeted neurons using light

Question 31

Intracellular microstimulation

Answer 31

Injecting current into single cell to change mempot

AP firing rate increases as depolarising current increases

Question 32

Extracellular microstimulation

Answer 32

Injecting current into extracellular fluid can simultaneously depolarise hundreds of neurons

Question 33

Optical methods

Answer 33

Voltage and calcium sensitive dyes change level of fluorescence depending on level of neural activity. Visualise intracellular changes in mempot or Ca+2 levels

Question 34

Advantages of behavioural testing

Answer 34

Only way to relate neuronal activity, behaviour and motor control

Question 35

Disadvantages behavioural testing

Answer 35

Expensive and time consuming
Can’t test many animals
Subjective analysis
Large lab space needed