B5-Methods and Strategies of Research Flashcards
Lesion study
A synonym for experimental abilation
Experimental ablation
The removal or destruction of a portion of the brain of a laboratory animal; presumably, the functions that can no longer be performed are the ones the region previously controlled
Excitotoxic lesion
Sham lesion
Sham lesion
A “placebo” procedure that duplicates all the steps I producing a brain lesion except for the one that actually causes the brain damage
Stereotaxic surgery
Brain surgery using a stereotaxic apparatus to position an electrode or cannula in a specified position of the brain
Bregma
The junction of the sagittal and coronal structures of the skull; often as a reference point for stereotaxic brain surgery
Stereotaxic atlas
A collection of drawings of selections of the brain of a particular animal with measurements that provide coordinates for stereotaxic surgery
Stereotaxic apparatus
A device that permits a surgeon to position an electrode or cannula into a specific part of the brain
Fixative
A chemical such as formalin; used to prepare and preserve body tissue
Formalin
The aqueous solution of formaldehyde gas; the most
Microtome
An instrument that produces very thin slices of body tissues
Scanning electron microscope
A microscope that provides three-dimensional information about the shape of the surface of a small object
Anterograde labeling method
A histological method that labels the axons and terminal buttons of neurons whose cell bodies are located in a particular region
PHA-L
Phaseolus vulgaris leukoagglutinin; a protein derived from kidney beans and used as an anterograde tracer; taken up by dendrites and cell bodies and carried to the ends of the axons
Immunocytochemical method
A historical method that uses radioactive antibodies bound with a dye molecule to indicate the presence of particular proteins of peptides
Retrograde labeling method
A histological method that labels cell bodies that give rise to the terminal buttons that form synapses with cells in a particular region
Fluorogold
A dye that serves as a retrograde label; taken up by terminal buttons and carried back to the cell bodies
Transneuronal tracing method
A tracing method that identifies a series of neurons that form serial synaptic connections with each other, either in anterograde of retrograde direction; involves infection of specific neurons with weakened forms of rabies of herpes viruses
Computerized tomography (CT)
The use of a device that employs a computer to analyze data obtained by a scanning beam of X-rays to produce a two-dimensional picture of a “slice” through the body
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
A technique whereby the interior of the body can be accurately imaged; involves the interaction between radio waves and strong magnetic field
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)
An imaging method that uses a modified MRI scanner to reveal bundles of myelinated axons in the living human brain
Microelectrode
A very fine electrode, generally used to record activity of individual neurons
Single-unit recording
Recording of the electrical activity of a single neuron
Macroelectrode
An electrode used to record the electrical activity of large numbers of neurons in a particular region of the brain; much larger than a microelectrode
