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PSYC2360 > 7: RESEARCH METHODS IN NEUROSCIENCE > Flashcards

7: RESEARCH METHODS IN NEUROSCIENCE Flashcards

1
Q

father of neuroscience methods

A

SANTIAGO RAMON Y CAYAL

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2
Q

CELLULAR Q: How do we find out how neurons communicate?

A

ANSWER: histology + staining

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3
Q

ANATOMICAL Q: How do we find out how diff brain areas interconnected?

A

ANSWER: autopsy of healthy/diseased brains

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4
Q

FUNCTIONAL Q: How do we find out how certain brain areas mediate certain bhvrs?

A

ANSWER: human/animal brain lesions

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5
Q

SYSTEMIC Q: How do we find out how disease affects brain function?

A

ANSWER: neuroimaging techniques

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6
Q

important research method used to investigate brain functions involving REMOVING/INACTIVATING part of the brain + evaluating the animal’s subsequent bhvr

A

EXPERIMENTAL ABLATION

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7
Q
  1. to discover wat function = performed by diff regions of the brain
  2. to understand how these functions = combined to accomplish participants bhvrs
A

2 GOALS OF LESION STUDIES

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8
Q

If cognition X = disrupted by a lesion to brain area Y, then region ___ supports function ___

A

Y supports x

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9
Q

idea that in the brain, there is a place for everything + everything is in its place

A

MODULAR CONCEPT OF BRAIN ORGANIZATION

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10
Q
  • circuits within brain perform FUNCTIONS not BHVRS
  • NO ONE brain region = responsible for a bhvr
  • each brain function contributes to PERFORMANCE of bhvr
A

BRAIN FUNCTIONS VS BHVRS

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11
Q

MANY BRAIN FUNCTIONS = ____ ____ THROUGHOUT THE BRAIN!

A

HIGHLY DISTRIBUTED

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12
Q
  1. loss of function supported by particular region
  2. loss of sub-component necessary for bhvr caused by disruption to network
  3. co-existing bevel changes unrelated to the particular region
A

3 CAUSES FOR CHANGE IN BHVR AFTER A LESION

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13
Q

idea that correspondence btwn animals + human = LOW (e.g. right parietal lesions in monkeys does NOT produce HEMISPATIAL NEGLECT like it does in humans)

A

METHODOLOGICAL LIMITATION OF APPLYING ANIMAL LESION MODEL RESULTS TO HUMANS

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14
Q
  • pass electrical current thru stainless steel wire covered w insulating coating except for tip
  • wire = guided to destination using exact coordinates to precise location within brain
  • research activates lesion-making device which produces RADIO FREQ (RF) current
  • RF current destroys all cells surrounding tip of electrode
A

PRODUCTION OF BRAIN LESIONS

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15
Q

lesions that target specific NT neurons

A

CHEMICAL LESIONS

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16
Q

lesion that involves injection of EXCITATORY AMINO ACID that spares axons that = passing thru the area (cell bodies = targeted)

A

EXCITOTOXIC LESIONS

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17
Q

lesion that uses an anaesthetic/cooling method after which brain can go back to normal (no physical damage to brain)

A

REVERSIBLE LESIONS

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18
Q

research design in which animal being used in study = used as own control group (i.e. they test the animal w + w/o lesion to see how it reacts)

A

WITHIN-SUBJECT DESIGN

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19
Q

brain surgery using STEREOTAXIC APPARATUS to position an electrode/cannula in a specified position in brain

A

STEREOTAXIC SURGERY

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20
Q

device that includes head holder (maintains animal’s skull in place), holder for electrode/cannula + calibrated mechanism that moves electrode/cannula holder in measured distances along 3 axes (ant-post, dors/vent, lat/med)

A

STEREOTAXIC APPARATUS

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21
Q

junction of sagittal + coronal sutures of skull used as reference point for STEREOTAXIC BRAIN SURGERY

A

BREGMA

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22
Q

collection of images of sections of brain of particular animal w measurements that provide coordinates for STEREOTAXIC SURGERY

A

STEREOTAXIC ATLAS

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23
Q

soft spot on babies’ heads at junction of coronal/sagittal sutures

A

FONTANELLE

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24
Q

placebo procedure that duplicates all steps of producing a brain lesion except the one that actually causes brain damage

A

SHAM LESIONS

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25
Btwn LESION/SHAM group of animals in a study: how do we know if the lesions are the cause of bhvrl deficits?
If the LESION group behaves DIFFERENTLY from the SHAM group
26
1. anesthesia 2. incision 3. lesion 4. sutures + stitches
STEPS FOR LESION GROUP IN A LESION STUDY
27
1. anesthesia 2. incision 3. ---- 4. sutures + stitches
STEPS FOR CONTROL/SHAM GROUP IN A LESION STUDY
28
Type of lesions neurosurgeon produces to reduce symptoms of PARKINSON'S DISEASE
SUCORTICAL LESIONS
29
stimulation used to treat conditions of chronic pain/mvmt disorders/epilepsy/depression/OCD
DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION
30
common test of lesioned animals (rats) that = maze in which diff "arms" have rewards + some dont
RADIAL ARM MAZE
31
- animal remembers arms/locations of maze that have rewards - animal's spatial awareness improves
RESULTS OF RADIAL ARM MAZE
32
spatial orientation/memory test in which an animal is placed in a bath w a hidden platform + they must use spatial cues in room outside bath to locate the platform
MORIS WATER MAZE
33
task in which animal = in a cage + is getting rewarded when it presses on a lever
BAR PRESSING TASK
34
need to be careful of claims made when lesioning areas - BAR PRESSING TASK: thought that reduction of rat pressing lever = due to lesioning PLEASURE ZONE but actually due to lesioning MOTOR ABILITY ZONE
WHAT TO REMEMBER FROM BAR PRESSING TASK
35
how to determine if lesions = made in correct location/that appropriate cells = targeted
brain = FIXED/SLICED/STAINED
36
brain examination methods of verifying precise location of brain damage after brain lesioning by FIXING/SLICING/STAINING brain
HISTOLOGICAL METHODS
37
1. tissues must be PROTECTED from AUTOLYTIC (SELF-DISSOLVING) ENYMES otherwise tissue breaks down, becomes mush + is impossible to study 2. tissues must be PRESERVED to prevent decomposition for bacteria/molds
2 OBJECTIVES WHEN STUDYING BRAIN TISSUE
38
How do we accomplish the 2 OBJECTIVES OF STUDYING BRAIN TISSUE (PROTECTING/PRESERVING)?
by placing neural tissue into a FIXATIVE
39
chemical such as FORMALIN used to PREPARE/PRESERVE body tissue
FIXATIVE
40
aqueous solution of formaldehyde gas commonly used as tissue FIXATIVE
FORMALIN
41
3 FUNCTIONS OF FORMALIN
1. halts AUTOLYSIS 2. kills microorganisms 3. hardens fragile brain
42
process by which an animal's blood = replaced by another fluid (saline solution/fixative) in prepping brain for histological exam
PERFUSION
43
2 METHODS FOR SLICING THE BRAIN
1. MICROTOME 2. CRYOSTAT
44
instrument that produces v thin slices of body tissues
MICROTOME
45
instrument that produces v thin slices of tissue inside a freeze chamber
CRYOSTAT
46
when brain tissue section = placed in various chemical solutions to highlight specific details
STAINING
47
stain that highlights cell bodies/diff layers of cortex/nuclei
NISSL STAIN
48
NISSL STAIN: if lesion = in right place then cell count should be ___
LOW
49
2 kinds of dyes that stain cell bodies
1. METHYLENE BLUE 2. CRESYL VIOLET
50
stain that specifically stains MYELIN
MYELIN STAIN
51
Why isn't a MYELIN STAIN v useful?
It does not trace pathways in any detail
52
stains that show ALL DETAILS of whole cells (whole neurons) including DENDRITIC BRANCHES/SPINES/SOMA/GLIAL CELLS by staining them silvery
GOLGI STAIN
53
ADVANTAGE OF GOLGI STAIN
stains a small number of cells silver at a time making it easy to examine in detail
54
recording the response of single neurons (or multiple neurons) to specific tasks
SINGLE CELL NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
55
1. what functions = SUPPORTED by a given brain region? 2. what brain regions SUPPORT a given cog function?
2 APPROACHES/RESEARCH QUESTIONS FOR HUMAN BRAIN LESIONING
56
- examine group of indivs w similar lesions - examine control group of patients w diff lesions
How we answer the Q: what functions = SUPPORTED by a given brain region?
57
- examine group of indivs w similar cog impairment - examine brain regions common to the deficit
How we answer the Q: what brain regions SUPPORT a given cog function?
58
patient w damage to area X = impaired for cog A but NOT cog B + patient w damage to area Y = impaired for cog B but NOT cog A
DOUBLE DISSOCIATIONS
59
lesion to BROCAS AREA (X) impairs SPEECH PRODUCTION (A) but NOT COMPREHENSION (B) + lesion to WERNICKES AREA (Y) impairs COMPREHENSION (B) but NOT PRODUCTION (A)
EXAMPLE OF DOUBLE DISSOCIATION
60
1. variability in patients/lesions 2. must infer functions of damaged regions from observed impairments 3. cant always determine if region X = critical for cog A (does lesion disrupt the cog or are other areas involved) 4. disconnections: area X may NOT participate directly in cog A but may DISCONNECT 2 critical brain regions that = critical for cog A 5. cog A could be performed by multiple brain regions
5 LIMITATIONS OF LESION METHOD
61
1. group studies can control for age/IQ/handedness 2. compare a group of patients w diff lesions
2 POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO VARIABILITY IN PATIENTS/LESIONS
62
brain surgery occasionally performed to treat COLLOSUM which connects 2 semis of brain
SPLIT BRAIN OPERATION
63
NATURE OF BRAIN DAMAGE BETTER SUITED FOR SINGLE-CASE STUDIES + WHY
FOCAL BRAIN DAMAGE (stroke/tumour/wound) because no 2 PATIENTS = alike
64
NATURE OF BRAIN DAMAGE BETTER SUITED FOR GROUP STUDIES + WHY
SYSTEMIC DISEASE PROCESSES (degenerative disease/psych disorders/infections) bc no 2 PROCESSES = alike
65
QUESTION REGARDING COGNITION BETTER SUITED FOR SINGLE-CASE STUDIES
"What can the brain do?"
66
QUESTION REGARDING COGNITION BETTER SUITED FOR GROUP STUDIES
"What does the brain normally do?"
67
branch of psych that helps determine processes involved in a given cognition, the limits of info processing + normal patterns of performance
COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
68
- reaction time (mental chronometry) - accuracy - mental operations - parallel vs serial processing - exploring limits on info processing
ELEMENTS EXAMINED IN COGNITIVE PSYCH
69
models that simulate cognition + also lesions at diff levels of system/model
NEURAL NETWORK MODELS

PSYC2360 (17 decks)

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