Chapter 1: History and Research Methods Flashcards
Introduction to Brains and Behaviour & Research Methods in Behavioural Neuroscience
Neuroscience
“The scientific study of the brain and nervous system, in health and in disease”
- UCLA, 2000
Behavioural Neuroscience/Psychology
The study of the biological foundations of behaviour, emotions and mental process
Mind-Body Dualism
A philosophical perspective put forward by Rene Descartes in which the body is mechanistic, whereas the mind is separate and nonphysical
Monism
A philosophical perspective characteristic of the neurosciences in which the mind is viewed as the product of activity in the brain.
Phrenology
The misguided effort to correlate character traits with bumps in the skull. The idea that certain parts of the brain correlate w certain traits.
Gall and Spurzheim
Microtome
A device used to make very thin slices of tissue for histology.
Golgi Stain
A stain developed by Camillo Golgi used to observe single neurons
Nissl Stain
A stain used to view populations of cell bodies.
Myelin Stain
A stain used to trace neural pathways.
Horseradish Peroxidase
A stain used to trace axon pathways from their terminals to points of origin.
Optical Imaging
A method for preparing a brain for examination that literally makes it transparent.
Computerised Tomography (CT)
An imaging technique in which computers are used to enhance X-ray images
Positron Emission Tomography, or PET
An imaging technique that provides information regarding the localisation of brain activity.
Uses radioactive tracers.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI
An imaging technique that uses magnetic field and radiofrequency waves to excite hydrogen atoms to provide very high resolution structural images
Voxel
Short for “volume pixel”. A pixel is the smallest distinguishable square part of a two-dimensional image. A voxel is the smallest distinguishable box-shaped part of a three-dimensional image.
functional MRI (fMRI)
A technology using a series of MRI images taken one to four seconds apart in order to assess the activity of the brain.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)
Use of MRI technology to trace fibre pathways in the brain by tracking the flow of water
Event-Related Potential (ERPs)
An alteration in the EEG recording produced in response to the application of a particular stimulus.
Use when it is not clear if stimuli are being perceived.
Magnetoencephalography (MEG)
A technology for recording the magnetic output of the brain.
Active brains put out tiny magnetic fields.
Uses sensors known as superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID), which convert magnetic energy to impulses that can be recorded and analysed.
Single-Cell Recording
The recording of the activity of single neurons through microelectrodes surgically implanted in the area of interest.
Done on animals.
Repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)
- NOT a measure of neural activity
- Provides an experimental probe to alter neural activity
-TMS applies a brief, strong magnetic field that alters neural activity
Can either activate or “deactivate” brain structures
Observe changes in behaviour - Permits causal inferences to be made
- The technique is used for research purposes and potentially could be used for treating hallucination, depression and migraine headaches
Optogenetics
The genetic insertion of molecules into specific neurons that allows the activity of the neurons to be controlled by light.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
TMS applies a brief, strong magnetic field that alters neural activity
Lesion
Pathological or Traumatic damage to tissue
- Injury to neural tissue either naturally occurring or deliberating produced.
Ablation
The surgical removal of tissue
Microdialysis
A technique for assessing the chemical composition of a very small area of the brain
Concordance Rate
The statistical probability that two cases will agree; usually used to predict the risk of an identical twin for developing a condition already diagnosed in his or her twin.
Heritability
The amount that a trait varies in a population due to genetics.
Genetic Screen
Methods for correlating genotypes with phenotypes.
Knockout Genes
A gene used to replace a normal gene that does not produce the protein product of said gene
- By not having that protein, it tells us the generic role of that protein/gene
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
The recording of brain’s electrical activity through electrodes placed on the scalp.
- Tells us about localisation of the brain.
- Alongside MEG can be used to elicit behaviour and changes in beliefs.
Histology
The study of cells and tissues at the microscopic level
Neuron doctrine
Pertains to idea that the nervous system is a collection of separate cells
Made possible by the light microscope and the use of stains in histology
Reversible lesions
Deliberate
Produced by cooling
Speed of MEG
Faster than PET and MRI
Moment by Moment
