Chapter 6_Methods of Neuroscience

Question 1

Resolution

Answer 1

The ability to distinguish two points as separate in an image or measurement, important in imaging techniques to determine the level of detail visible.

Question 2

Spatial resolution

Answer 2

The ability to distinguish small details in an image, crucial for understanding the structure of the brain.

Question 3

Temporal resolution

Answer 3

The precision of a measurement with respect to time, important for capturing dynamic changes in brain activity.

Question 4

In vivo

Answer 4

Experiments conducted on living organisms, allowing for the study of complex interactions within the whole organism.

Question 5

In vitro

Answer 5

Experiments conducted outside of a living organism, in a controlled environment such as a petri dish or test tube, allowing for detailed study of specific components.

Question 6

Ex vivo

Answer 6

Experiments conducted on tissue from a living organism, such as brain slices, allowing for the study of specific parts of the nervous system in a controlled environment.

Question 7

Model organisms

Answer 7

Non-human species that are extensively studied to understand particular biological phenomena, with the expectation that discoveries will provide insight into the workings of other organisms.

Question 8

WEIRD subjects

Answer 8

Acronym for Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic, referring to the demographic bias in psychology and neuroscience research.

Question 9

Phrenology

Answer 9

A now-discredited theory that specific mental abilities and characteristics are localized in specific regions of the brain and can be determined by the shape of the skull.

Question 10

Localization of function

Answer 10

The concept that specific parts of the brain are responsible for specific functions, a foundational principle in neuroscience.

Question 11

Computerized tomography scan (CT scan or CAT scan)

Answer 11

An imaging technique that uses X-rays to create detailed cross-sectional images of the body, often used to diagnose brain injuries and other medical conditions.

Question 12

CLARITY

Answer 12

A technique that makes biological tissues transparent, allowing for detailed imaging of cellular structures and connections.

Question 13

Franz Gall

Answer 13

The founder of phrenology, who proposed that different brain areas are responsible for specific personality traits and mental abilities.

Question 14

Paul Broca

Answer 14

A neurologist who discovered Broca’s area, a region in the frontal lobe associated with speech production.

Question 15

Tracer

Answer 15

A substance used to track the movement of molecules within the body, often used in imaging techniques like PET scans.

Question 16

Fluorodeoxyglucose-F18

Answer 16

A radioactive glucose analog used in PET scans to measure metabolic activity in tissues, including the brain.

Question 17

Blood oxygenation level-dependent signal (BOLD)

Answer 17

The signal measured by fMRI that reflects changes in blood oxygen levels, used to infer brain activity.

Question 18

Microscopy

Answer 18

The use of microscopes to visualize small structures, essential for studying the detailed anatomy of the nervous system.

Question 19

Green fluorescent protein (GFP)

Answer 19

A protein that fluoresces green when exposed to light, used as a marker to visualize and track cellular processes.

Question 20

Staining

Answer 20

Techniques used to enhance the contrast of microscopic images by adding color to specific components of tissues or cells.

Question 21

Golgi stain

Answer 21

A method used to visualize neurons in their entirety by impregnating them with silver chromate, allowing for the detailed study of their morphology.

Question 22

Paraformaldehyde (PFA)

Answer 22

A fixative used in tissue preparation for microscopy, preserving the structure of cells and tissues.

Question 23

Perfusion

Answer 23

The process of delivering a fixative (like PFA) to tissues through the bloodstream, commonly used in animal studies to prepare tissues for microscopic analysis.

Question 24

Immunohistochemistry staining

Answer 24

A technique that uses antibodies to detect specific proteins in tissue sections, allowing for the visualization of the distribution and localization of target molecules in the nervous system.

Question 25

Antibodies

Answer 25

Proteins produced by the immune system that bind to specific antigens, used in various research and diagnostic techniques.

Question 26

Secondary antibody

Answer 26

An antibody that binds to the primary antibody, often conjugated to a fluorophore or enzyme for detection in immunohistochemistry.

Question 27

Fluorophore

Answer 27

A fluorescent molecule used to label proteins or other molecules in biological research, allowing for visualization under a fluorescence microscope.

Question 28

Electrophysiology (Ephys)

Answer 28

The study of the electrical properties of biological cells and tissues, including techniques such as EEG, MEG, and single-cell recordings.

Question 29

Luigi Galvani

Answer 29

A scientist known for his work on bioelectricity, demonstrating that muscles and nerves produce electrical activity.

Question 30

Alan Hodgkin and Andrew Huxley

Answer 30

Scientists who developed the Hodgkin-Huxley model, describing the ionic mechanisms underlying the initiation and propagation of action potentials in neurons.

Question 31

Computational neuroscience

Answer 31

The field of study that uses mathematical models, theoretical analysis, and computer simulations to understand the function of the nervous system.

Question 32

Humanized mice

Answer 32

Genetically modified mice that carry human genes, tissues, or cells, used to study human disease and treatment in a living organism.

Question 33

Knock-in mice

Answer 33

Genetically engineered mice in which specific genes have been inserted to study their function and role in development, physiology, and behavior.

Question 34

CRISPR-Cas9

Answer 34

A genome editing technology that allows for precise modifications to DNA, enabling the study of gene function and the development of disease models.

Question 35

Chemogenetics

Answer 35

A technique that uses engineered receptors and specific chemicals to control neuron activity, allowing for the modulation of neuronal circuits.

Question 36

Channelrhodopsin

Answer 36

A light-sensitive ion channel used in optogenetics to control the activity of neurons with light.