Chapter 3 - techniques for researching brain and body

Question 1

What is the biological basis of behavior?

Answer 1

Electrochemical communication system!

Question 2

Define lesions:

Answer 2

basically brain damage!

Question 3

Who was Phineas Cage? What part of his brain was damaged?

Answer 3

railroad worker; metal bar went through his frontal lobe.

Question 4

What is EEG (electro-ence-phalograph)?

Answer 4

electroencephalograph! A machine that records electrical currents produced by the brain. When brain cells (called neurons) fire, they produce electrical fields.

Question 5

What is CT (computerized axial tomography)?

Answer 5

a series of 2-dimensional X-rays builds up a three-dimensional image, slice by slice.

This is a good diagnostic tool for tumors and other lesions in the brain.

Question 6

What is PET?

Answer 6

positron emission tomography!

small amounts of radioactive glucose are introduced into the blood, which is then taken up into different brain areas in proportion to how hard the neurons in each area are working.

Question 7

What is fMRI?

Answer 7

functional magnetic resonance imaging!

using magnetism to track the amount of oxygen being brought by the blood to a particular place in the brain while a person performs a task, again providing a 3-dimensional image of the functioning brain.