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
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
An electrical brain potential recorded by placing electrodes on the scalp
Magnetoencephalography (MEG)
A procedure that detects groups of synchronously activated neurons by means of the magnetic field induced by their electrical activity; uses an array of superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs)
2-deoxyglucose (2-DG)
A sugar that enters cells along with glucose but is not metabolized
Autoradiography
A procedure that locates radioactive substances in a slice of tissue; the radiation exposes a photographic emulsion or a piece of film that covers the tissue
Fos
A protein produced in the nucleus of a neuron in response to synaptic stimulated
Functional imaging
A computerized method of detecting metabolic of chemical changes in particular regions of the brain
Positron emission tomography (PET)
A functional imaging method that reveals the localization of a radioactive tracer in a living brain
Functional MRI (fMRI)
A functional imaging method; a modification of the MRI procedure that permits the measurement of regional metabolism in the brain
Optogenetic methods
The use of a genetically modified virus to insert light-sensitive ion channels into the membrane of particular neurons in the brain; can depolarize of hyperpolarize the neurons when light of the appropriate wavelength is applied
Trainscranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
Stimulation of the cerebral cortex by means of magnetic fields produced by passing pulses of electricity through a coil of wire placed next to the skull; interferes with the functions of the brain region that is stimulated
Microdialysis
A procedure for analyzing chemicals present in the interstitial fluid through a small piece of tubing made of a semipermeable membrane that is implanted in the brain
Genome
The complete set of genes that compose the DNA of a particular species
Allele
The nature of the particular sequence of base pairs of DNA thy constitutes a gene; for example, the genes that code for blue of brown iris pigment are different alleles of a particular gene
Targeted mutation
A muttered gene (also called a “knockout gene”) produced in the laboratory and inserted into the chromosomes of mice; fails to produce a functional protein
Antisense oligonucleotide
A modified strand of RNA or DNA that binds with a specific molecule of messenger RNA and prevents it from producing its particular protein
