Converging Methods

Question 1

what are the 2 goals of cognitive neurosciences

Answer 1

1. determine how the brain mediates cognition and behaviour

2. relate neural structures to mental functions and behavioural acts

Question 2

what are 3 challenges to converging methods

Answer 2

1. brain is massive complexity - 100 billion neurons, 100 trillion synapses
2. mind - not directly observable
3. behaviour- noisy, inconsistent, individualized and diverse!

Question 3

what is DTI?

Answer 3

diffusion tensor imaging: measuring fiber tracts between brain areas

Question 4

what is PET?

Answer 4

positron emission tomography: using radiotracers to track dopamine distribution in the brain
- see different NT separately

Question 5

measuring the effects of L dopa on reinforcement learning in an example of what method of cognitive neuroscience?

Answer 5

pharmacological intervention

Question 6

true or false, genetics is also ia type of cognitive neuroscience method

Answer 6

true

Question 7

what is MEG

Answer 7

magnetoencephalography : imaging magnetic fields due to neural activity

Question 8

what is fNIRS

Answer 8

functional near-infrared spectroscopy: imaging hemodynamic response non invasively ( measure how light bounces of different areas of the brain)

Question 9

what is the brain bow?

Answer 9

imaging of individual neurons using genetic manipulation and flourescent proteins

Question 10

what is optogenetics?

Answer 10

genetic manipulation to allow use of light to switch neurons on and off

Question 11

selection of a belief or action (choice) among alternative possibilities (options)

Answer 11

decision

Question 12

decisions require the integration and evaluation of multiple factors: what are some external factors (6)

Answer 12

commodity, quantity, delay, risk , ambiguity, cost

Question 13

decisions require the integration and evaluation of multiple factors: what are some internal factors (4)

Answer 13

motivation, patience, risk attitude, ambiguity attitude

Question 14

options are probabilistic but all information(value and probability) is known

Answer 14

decision making under risk

Question 15

options are probabilistic and either values or probabilities of option are unknown
(could take the one you know or the one you don’t)

Answer 15

decision making under ambiguity

Question 16

one or more options is unknown (chose between something or possibly nothing)

Answer 16

decision making under ignorance

Question 17

we tend to chose _____ over ambiguity

Answer 17

risk, (ambiguity aversion)

Question 18

normative / prescriptive model of decision making

Answer 18

described how ppl should decide in order to maximize wealth

Question 19

descriptive model of choice, describes how people do decide, grounded in observed behaviour

Answer 19

prospect theory

Question 20

3 key features of prospect theory

Answer 20

1. objective values are transformed into subjective values
2. objective probabilities are transformed into subjective decision weights
3. options are evaluated based on a common reference point

Question 21

what brain regions are involved in risky decisions or if loss is involved

Answer 21

insular cortex and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex

Question 22

what brain regions are involved when outcomes are better than expected

Answer 22

ventral striatum and medial prefrontal cortex

Question 23

what brain area is involved in executive control

Answer 23

dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and posterior parietal cortex

Question 24

what are the 3 conclusions of converging methods and decision method study by Hsu et al?

Answer 24

1. behavioural responses show decision weighting in choice behaviour
2. computational modeling accounts for decision weighting as a mental construct
3. fMRI activations demonstrate representation of decision weighting in neural activity

Question 25

based on converging methods what is the DLPFC all in all important for ? (2)

Answer 25

1. online maintenance and manipulation of info needed to guide goal orientated behaviour
2. the top down influence of that info on decision making behaviour