Chapter 2 - Research Methods Flashcards by Tiegen Espetveidt

What is neuropsychology?

Focused on studying relationship b/w BRAIN functions & corresponding BEHAVIOUR

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What is behavioural neuroscience?

Fields focused on studying BIOLOGICAL bases of behaviour

Humans & non-humans

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What is ethology?

Study of NON-HUMAN animal behaviour (nature)

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What is neuroanatomy?

Post-mortem investigations of brain tissue

Aided by MICROSCOPES

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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

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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

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What is autoradiography?

STAINS and reveals which neurons are active

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What is immunecytochemistry?

Uses ANTIBODIES attached to a DYE to identify cell COMPONENTS

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What is multi-photon excitation microscopy?

Fluorescence imaging technique

Image LIVING tissue 1mm thick

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What is in situ hybridization?

Construction of DNA strands which COMPLEMENT an mRNA strand

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*****REVIEW behavioural tests slides

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What is diffusion tensor imaging? (DTI)

VARIANT on MRI

Detects directional movement of WATER (H2O) molecules

Shows pathways and potential blockages

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What is magnetic resonance spectroscopy? (MRS)

VARIANT on MRI

Detects concentration of brain METALBOLITES

Useful to detect persisting abnormalities in brain METALBOLSIM

Ex) concussion

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What are 3 functional imaging techniques?

1) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

2) functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)

3) positron emission tomography (PET)

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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

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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

————————————————————————————-

**** = 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?

1. Single-cell recording (introcell/extracell via electrodes) 2. Electroencephalography (EEG) 3. Event-related potentials (ERPs) 4. 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?

1. Computed tomography (CT) 2. 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