Exam 1 - Ch.4 Methods of research

Question 1

Cerebral angiography

Answer 1

• contrast x-ray that uses a special dye
• visualize individual blood vessels
• see blockages or blood supply to tumors

Question 2

Computerized Tomography (CT Scan)

Answer 2

• used to visualize the brain and other internal structures of the body
• can see structure only

Question 3

Magnetic resonance (MRI)

Answer 3

• produces detailed pictures of structure of organs, soft tissues, and bone
• based off hydrogen molecules following the magnet
• distinguishes white and gray matter

Question 4

Functional MRI (fMRI)

Answer 4

• produces images of the increase in oxygen flow to active areas of the brain

Question 5

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Answer 5

• provides images of brain activity rather than brain structure

Question 6

Electroencephalography (EEG)

Answer 6

measures all electrical activity in the brain, used to distinguish the stages of the sleep cycles

Question 7

EMG

Answer 7

measures electrical activity in the muscles, muscle tension

Question 8

EOG

Answer 8

tracks eye movement

Question 9

EKG

Answer 9

measures cardiovascular activity

Question 10

Stereotaxic surgery

Answer 10

used to position experimental devices into the brain with precision

Question 11

Bregma

Answer 11

reference point for stereotaxic surgery

Question 12

Lesioning (Stereotaxic surgery)

Answer 12

remove, damage, or destroy a part of the brain to observe impact on behavior

Question 13

Electrical stimulation (Stereotaxic surgery)

Answer 13

electrical stimulation activates a structure to observe its function

Question 14

Microdialysis (Stereotaxic surgery)

Answer 14

allows for the measurement of NTs released in a specific brain area in freely moving animals

Question 15

Fixation/fixative (histological methods)

Answer 15

a chemical such as formalin/formaldehyde is used to prepare and preserve body tissue

Question 16

Perfusion (histological methods)

Answer 16

animal’s blood is replaced by a saline solution or a fixative in preparing the brain for histological examination

Question 17

Microtome

Answer 17

instrument that produces very thin slices of body tissue

Question 18

Immunocytochemistry

Answer 18

based on the binding of labeled protein-specific antibodies

Question 19

In situ hybridization

Answer 19

uses labeled RNA to locate neurons with complementary mRNA

Question 20

Gene knockout techniques

Answer 20

• subjects missing a given gene can provide insight into what the gene controls (gene is taken out to see what happens)

Question 21

Gene replacement techniques

Answer 21

insert pathological human genes in mice (gene is replaced/added to see what happens)

Question 22

Open-field test

Answer 22

• mice are placed in a box with gridlines to see how many they cross/how they explore
• measures general activity, locomotor activity, exploration, anxiety

Question 23

Colony-intruder paradigm

Answer 23

• introducing a stranger to the colony
• measures aggression and defensive behavior

Question 24

Elevated plus maze

Answer 24

• one open arm and one closed arm, measure how long the animal stays in each arm
• measures anxiety (no.1 task for this)

Question 25

What is another assessment of common behaviors of species?

Answer 25

tests of sexual behavior

Question 26

Pavlovian conditioning

Answer 26

pairing an unconditional stimulus with a conditioned stimulus, pavlov’s dogs

Question 27

Operant conditioning

Answer 27

conditioning based in reinforcement and punishment

Question 28

Self-stimulation

Answer 28

animal works for electrical stimulation

Question 29

Conditioned place preference

Answer 29

• relies on a classically conditioned association btwn drug effect and environment (given drug in one room, and will grow to prefer that room)
• important for addiction research

Question 30

Conditioned taste aversion

Answer 30

pairing something that makes an animal ill with a taste, animals appear prepared to associate tastes and illness

Question 31

Radial arm maze

Answer 31

• food is put in certain arms and the animal must learn which arms have food and which do not
• tests spatial memory

Question 32

Conditioned defensive burying

Answer 32

following a single aversive stimulus delivered from an object, rates will spray bedding a the object
- measures anxiety

Question 33

Morris water maze

Answer 33

• rat or mouse learn to find a hidden platform in a pool using spatial visual cues
• tests spatial memory

Question 34

Operant chamber

Answer 34

• rat is trained to press a lever for a reward (can measure number of responses per unit of time)
• important for addiction research