Chapter 3 Flashcards
What is neuroscience?
The study of the brain and the nervous system.
How do researchers study the human brain?
Through methods like examining autopsy tissue, studying brain-damaged patients, and using EEG to record brain activity.
What is an electroencephalogram (EEG)?
A non-invasive method to measure electrical activity in the brain, often used to study states like wakefulness and sleep.
What limitations exist when using EEG?
EEG only provides surface recordings and may not pinpoint deep brain activity accurately.
What is lesioning in neuroscience?
A method where specific brain areas are targeted for destruction to observe the effects on behavior after injury.
What is a CT scan?
A computed tomographic scan that produces detailed, two-dimensional X-ray images, which can be combined to create a three-dimensional view of the brain.
How does an MRI differ from a CT scan?
MRI uses a magnetic field to produce clearer images without radiation, while CT scans are faster and better at detecting certain problems like strokes.
What is functional neuroimaging?
Techniques that allow researchers to identify active brain regions during specific behaviors, providing insight into brain function.
What is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)?
A method that uses electromagnetic pulses to temporarily disrupt brain activity, helping to determine the function of specific brain areas.
What is Positron Emission Tomography (PET)?
An imaging technique that uses radioactive chemicals to measure brain activity by tracking glucose usage in the brain.
What is chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)?
A degenerative brain disease linked to repeated mild traumatic brain injuries, leading to various neurocognitive symptoms.
Who is Dr. Wilder Penfield?
A pioneering neurosurgeon known for developing techniques to treat epilepsy and mapping brain functions during conscious surgeries.
What are the two main components of the human nervous system?
The central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
What does the central nervous system consist of?
The brain and spinal cord.
What are the types of neurons and their functions?
Afferent neurons: Carry sensory information to the CNS.
Efferent neurons: Carry information from the CNS to muscles and glands.
Interneurons: Connect two or more neurons, often found in the spinal cord.
