Biological Foundations of Perception Flashcards
What is the primary function of Broca’s area and why is it important?
Speech production
Its discovery birthed the concept of cortical localization
True/False? The best way to measure brain activity is via non-invasive brain imaging
False
What is the main technique for studying brain function?
Electrophysiology (recording electrical activity generated by neurons)
What are the three main electrophysiological techniques for studying brain function?
Single-unit recordings
Electroencephalography
Magnetoencephalography
How does a Single-unit recording work to study brain function?
A thine electrode examines electrical changes caused by activity in surrounding neurons
Signal is amplified before being displayed
How are electroenchephalography and magnetoencephalography similar? How are they different?
Both detect synaptic potentials in an ensemble of neurons, and event related potentials (ERP) tie electrical response to the presentation of a specific stimulus
EEG uses surface-based electrodes that sample electrical activity over a large area, whereas MEG uses highly sensitive magnetic detectors
What is the main fact that guides functional brain imaging?
There is an increase in blood flow to brain areas that are active (Techniques measure changes in blood flow to different areas of the brain)
What is the fundamental basis of functional Magnetic Resonance Imagine (fMRI)? How is this useful?
Resonating nuclei emit signals at characteristic frequencies that can be measured and mapped
Resonance varies as a function of blood oxygen level
This allows us to image blood flow changes in different areas of the brain
How does Positron Emission Tomography work?
The human participant is injected with a radioactive probe (usually a positron-emitting form of oxygen)
Blood flow in brain will carry this probe, which is measurable:
When a positron encounters an electron, they scatter 2 gamma rays in opposite directions (the angle and time differential of each gamma ray hitting a receptor is used to map where the annihilation took place)
What are 3 brain manipulation methods, and what are examples of each?
Permanent deactivation (lesions)
Temporary deactivation:
(local drug injections, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, optogenetic deactivation with halorhodopsin)
Stimulation methods:
(electrical stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, Optogenetic stimulation with channel rhodopsin)
What are three computational methods for mapping the brain?
Mathematical modelling
Neural Networking
Realistic neuron modelling
What is the Golgi Method? How would neurons appear histologically without this method?
A method of staining neurons using silver salts
Without staining, impossible to see neurons under microscope
How do Sodium and Potassium flow in/out of a cell? Which ion flows where?
Through channels and pumps
Na channel flows Na into neuron
K channel flows K into ECF
Na/K pump drives Na out of cell and pulls K in
What is the resting voltage in a neuronal cell?
-70 mV
Outside: low [K], high [Na], no anions
Inside: high [K], low[Na], enough anions to cancel charge
