Electrophysiological recordings of brain activity Flashcards
What are the features of Micro-electrode recordings?
- Highly invasive - require surgery
- High temporal resolution - Measures spikes and post-synaptic potentials
- High spatial resolution - measures activity at the source
What are the features of EEG/ERP?
- Non invasive
- Measures post-synaptic potentials
- High temporal resolution - fast electrical processes
- Low spatial resolution
What are the features of PET?
- Moderately invasive - radioactivity
- Measures metabolic correlates of neural activity (blood flow etc)
- High spatial resolution
- Low temporal resolution
What are the features of fMRI?
- Non invasive
- Indirectly measures metabolic correlates of neural activity
- Highest spatial resolution
- Low temporal resolution
What is micro-electrode recordings also known as?
Single-cell recordings
When are M-E recordings only administered?
During brain surgery
What is typically measured in M-E recordings?
Firing rate - frequency of action potential
What is the advantage of M-E recordings?
Most direct and precise measure of brain activity
What are the disadvantages of M-E recordings?
- Restricted in terms of patients and brain areas to be studied as its invasive
What other type of M-E recordings can be used (non-invasive)?
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
What is EEG?
Change of voltage recorded from sensors on scalp
What is the field potential?
Potential measured outside the neurone
Where is EEG most sensitive to activity?
Cortical tissue - closest to scalp
What is the examination of how rapidly an EEG signal oscillates called?
Frequency/spectral analysis
What is frequency analysis?
Number of oscillations per unit of time