Chapter 2 - Research Methods Flashcards
What is neuropsychology?
Focused on studying relationship b/w BRAIN functions & corresponding BEHAVIOUR
What is behavioural neuroscience?
Fields focused on studying BIOLOGICAL bases of behaviour
Humans & non-humans
What is ethology?
Study of NON-HUMAN animal behaviour (nature)
What is neuroanatomy?
Post-mortem investigations of brain tissue
Aided by MICROSCOPES
What are the 3 types of staining neurons?
• GOLGI stain: randomly stains about 5% of
neurons in a slide
• MYELIN stain: taken up by the fatty myelin surrounding axons
•NISSL stain: identifies cell bodies of neurons
What are the 3 types of microscopes?
Optical (Light) Microscopes
• Bounce light off a sample and funnel through lenses that BEND and MAGNIFY the image produced
Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM)
• Electrons BOUNCE off sample and are collected to
produce 3D images of the surface
Transmission Electron Microscopes (TEM)
• THIN slices of sample to see inside the cell
What is autoradiography?
STAINS and reveals which neurons are active
What is immunecytochemistry?
Uses ANTIBODIES attached to a DYE to identify cell COMPONENTS
What is multi-photon excitation microscopy?
Fluorescence imaging technique
Image LIVING tissue 1mm thick
What is in situ hybridization?
Construction of DNA strands which COMPLEMENT an mRNA strand
*****REVIEW behavioural tests slides
.
What is diffusion tensor imaging? (DTI)
VARIANT on MRI
Detects directional movement of WATER (H2O) molecules
Shows pathways and potential blockages
What is magnetic resonance spectroscopy? (MRS)
VARIANT on MRI
Detects concentration of brain METALBOLITES
Useful to detect persisting abnormalities in brain METALBOLSIM
Ex) concussion
What are 3 functional imaging techniques?
1) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
2) functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)
3) positron emission tomography (PET)
What is functional magnetic resonance imaging? (fMRI)
Changes in the OXYGEN content of the BLOOD alter the magnetic properties of the WATER in the BLOOD
Allows monitoring of changes to blood oxygenation
Good spatial resolution
Poor temporal resolution
What is functional near-infrared spectroscopy? (fNIRS)
Light injectors and detectors distributed on SKULL—-> IMAGE oxygen consumption in the brain
Light goes through cortical tissue
Portable and safe
Light does NOT penetrate far
What is positron emission tomography? (PET)
Detect changes in BLOOD flow by measuring REUPTAKE of resources like OXYGEN & GLUCOSE
Radioactive molecules injected into blood
Versatile = can detect many RADIOCHEMICALS
Cannot detect changes less than 30’s in DURATION
What are considerations to determine which is best?
1) temporal resolution
- how QUICKLY are measurements/images obtained?
2) spatial resolution
- how ACCURATE is the localization in the brain?
3) degree of invasiveness
- internal OR external?
- does it effect tissues LONG-TERM?
What are APA’s five general principles?
****1) benefence and normalefinence (treat people in ways that it will BENEFIT them)
2) fidelity and responsibility (establish relationships of TRUST)
3) integrity (strive to be ACCURATE & TRUTHFUL)
****4) justice (strive to treat all groups FAIRLY)
****5) respect for people’s rights and dignity
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**** = BELMONT REPORT
ALL ARE CONSIDERED APA ETHICAL PRINCIPLES
We tend to focus on standard “__”
Which includes…
8 - specific to research
• Institutional review boards (Standard 8.01)
• Informed consent (Standard 8.02)
• Deception (Standard 8.07)
• Debriefing (Standard 8.08)
• Research misconduct
• Data fabrication (Standard 8.10) and data falsification
• Plagiarism (Standard 8.11)
• Animal research (Standard 8.09)
What are the 3 R’s for animal care guideline in ethics?
- Replacement
- Refinement
- Reduction
Plagiarism VS fabrication?
Plagiarism: theft of another’s WORK/IDEAS
Fabrication: MORE serious than plagiarism, ERRONEOUS info to the field, 2% of researchers admit to this
Give some examples of famous case studies
Split brain patients
Phineas Gage
Changes behaviour since damage?
How does behaviour change with damage to the brain?
1) Ablation- surgical removal of brain tissue
- used for large areas
2) Lesioning- surgical damaging of neural tissue
- precise
- sometimes reversible
3) Compensation - neuroplasicity (mod to behaviour after loss of functionality
***TEMPORARY LESION TECHNIQUES
What is a stereotaxic instrument?
Device allowing precise positioning of a PROBE in the brain
Fine wire electrodes
Can monitor, & stimulate a single neuron
What is direct electrical stimulation?
Activate an area or, INTERRUPT existing activity
What is deep brain stimulation? (DBS)
Implant electrodes into targeted area and stimulate with LOW-VOLTAGE electrical current
Used to treat essential tremor, dystopia, OCD & epilepsy
What is chemical stimulation via cannulation?
What is microdialysis?
DIRECTLY introduce drugs, neurotransmitters etc…
————————————————————————-
A more COMPLEX variation of cannulation
What are ontogenetic techniques?
Light-sensitive protein channels can be inserted in SPEC types of neurons so that exposure to light selectively activates ONLY THAT TYPE OF CELL
High spatial and temporal resolution
Ex) when inserting into brain, HELPS specify where its going (this is hard)
What are CRISPR-Cas9?
Newer technique
Cut into and adjust DNA of any cell
Can remove sections or add sections
Can connect to CHEMOGENETICS
Inexpensive (controversial cause changing DNA, ethical?)
What is transcranial magnetic stimulation? (TMS)
NONINVASIVE technique using a magnet coil to INDUCE a voltage
Held over scalp, pulsed at varying rates
Valuable in research/therapeutic
Variation = tDCS (direct)
What are the 4 main techniques for measuring electrical activity?
- Single-cell recording (introcell/extracell via electrodes)
- Electroencephalography (EEG)
- Event-related potentials (ERPs)
- Magnetoencephalograpgy (MEG)
What is a electroencephalogram? (EEG)
Electrodes measure summed graded potentials of ALL neurons in an area
- temporal resolution (events are close 1ms)
- spatial resolution (imprecise, unless applied direct)
INTER or EXTRA- cellular
What are event-related potentials? (ERPs)
Looking at patterns in the graded potentials on dendrites triggered by a sensory stimulus
Needs to be AVERAGED across multiple stimulus presentations to account for nose in measures
What is magnetoencephalography? (MEG)
Magnetic potentials generated by neurons electrical field recorded by detectors on the skull
Allows 3D visual of cell groups
Higher resolution than ERP
High cost
What are the 2 types of anatomical imaging techniques?
- Computed tomography (CT)
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)
- magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)
What is computed tomography? (CT)
AKA cat scans
Flat static images that can be combined in 3D composites VIA computer
Passes X-rays through brain
Dye in bloodstream
“False colours” added for contrast
Shows differing densities of blood vessels in brain
What is magnetic resonance imaging? (MRI)
Produces STATIC 3D images
Passes strong magnetic field through the brain, followed by radio wave
Measures radiation emitted from hydrogen atoms
Different densities = yield DIFFERENT signals
Higher spatial resolution than CT
Difference b/w efferent & afferent?
“Ad”
Afferent connection arrives
“Ex”
Efferent connection exists
*** In relation to CNS
