Biological Perspective: Studying the Brain Flashcards
researchers study brain function by examining individuals or animals with brain damage and see what has happened to its abilities
Lesioning Studies
a less harmful approach is to temporarily disrupt or enhance the normal functioning of specific brain areas through electrical stimulation and then study the resulting changes in behavior or cognition
Brain Stimulation
Invasive technique of brain stimulation:
electrodes are implanted in the brain and connected to an impulse generator, used to treat Parkinson’s, chronic pain, and some psychiatric disorders
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
Invasive technique of brain stimulation:
uses light instead of electricity to activate neurons, currently applied in animal studies
Optogenetics
Noninvasive technique of brain stimulation:
uses magnetic pulses to stimulate the brain
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
Noninvasive technique of brain stimulation:
passes a weak electrical current through scalp electrodes to alter brain activity; studied for treating PTSD, depression, and stroke recovery
transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
directly imaging the brain’s structure (the different parts) or its function (how the parts work); vary in their degree of spatial resolution (ability to see fine detail) and temporal resolution (ability to time lock a recorded event)
Neuroimaging Techniques
Neuroimaging Technique:
allows us to image the brain’s structure while the person is still alive
Mapping brain structure
Mapping brain structure:
computed tomography involves mapping “slices” of the brain by computer; uses X-rays to detect stroke damage, tumors, and skull fractures
CT Scan
Mapping brain structure:
produces detailed brain images using a magnetic field to align hydrogen atoms in the brain tissues
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
MRI:
estimate the concentration of specific chemicals and neurotransmitters in the brain
MRI Spectroscopy
MRI:
measures white matter connectivity, useful for studying memory and neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s disease
Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)
Mapping brain function:
measures electrical activity using scalp electrodes, used to study sleep, seizures, and cognitive tasks
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Mapping brain function (EEG):
allow the study of different stages of cognitive processing; possible method of lie detection
Event-Related Potentials (ERPs)
Mapping brain function:
allows for the direct identification of areas of brain activation; measures magnetic fields to study brain function, useful for dementia and autism research
Magnetoencephalography (MEG)
Mapping brain function:
uses radioactive glucose to track active brain regions during tasks
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
Mapping brain function:
tracks oxygen levels in blood to visualize brain activity in real time, aiding research on disorders like schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s
functional MRI (fMRI)
