brain activity Flashcards
How do we measure brain activity?
neuroimaging
brain imaging
structural and functional image
Structural imaging
A way to examine anatomy
MRI(magnetic resonance imaging)
Diffusion tensor imaging(DTI; a type of MRI)
CT scan
functional imaging
A way to examine/infer neural communication
fMRI
PET
EEG
MEG
MRI explained
a)protons in our hydrogen atoms(in the water in our body) are usually randomly positioned
b)when in the magnet(MRI machine), the protons align
c)the scanner emits a pulse that turns them on their side
d)when the pulse is removed, the protons relax and when doing so they release a signal that is detected by the machine
Uses of structural imaging:
Understand what brains look like
Look at individual differences
Understand brain damage
Double dissociation
when damage to one part of the brain causes function A to be absent while function B is present and damage to another area causes function B to be absent while function A is present
DTI(diffusion tensor imaging)
Coloring of white matter tracts using different colors
Color which region of the brain are talking with each other
Image the different pathways, and use math to color code them
We can discover if the white matter tracts are damaged
What brain pathways are connected structurally through white matter paths
Structural connectivity
Brain’s wiring program(created by axons that connect brain areas)
Functional connectivity
What regions are talking to each other through neural activity
rest state imaging”
Even when participant are not given a stimulus, certain areas of the brain are still talking to each other during rest
Patient who had hemispherectomy
Patient performed mostly in average range even though half hemisphere has been removed
Ability of left hemisphere to compensate for right hemisphere dysfunction
Damage to one node in brain, another latent part in the brain/node can compensate for the same brain function
Brain plasticity:
brain is able to reorganize its structure or function/ connections after a injury/stroke
