Foundations of Neuroscience - Single cell recording in humans Flashcards
- Define Spatial Resolution
The accuracy with which one measures where it is occurring
- Define Temporal Resolution
The accuracy with which one measures when it is occurring
- EEG/ERP(Electroencephalography):
Method type:
Invasivness:
Signal Type:
Method EEG/ERP
Method Type: Recording
Invasiveness: Noninvasive
Signal Type: Electrical
- Single-cell (and multiunit recordings)
Method type:
Invasivness:
Signal Type:
Method Single-cell (and multiunit recordings)
Method Type: Recording
Invasiveness: Invasive
Signal Type: Electrical
- MEG(Magnetoencephalography)
Method type:
Invasivness:
Signal Type:
Method: MEG
Method Type: Recording
Invasiveness: Noninvasive
Signal Type: Magnetic
- TMS(Transcranial magnetic stimulation)
Method type:
Invasivness:
Signal Type:
Method: TMS
Method Type: Stimulation
Invasiveness: Noninvasive
Signal Type: Electromagnetic
- PET(Positron emission tomography)
Method type:
Invasivness:
Signal Type:
Method: PET
Method Type: Recording
Invasiveness: Invasive
Signal Type: Haemodynamic
- fMRI(Functional magnetic resonance imaging)
Method type:
Invasivness:
Signal Type:
Method: PET
Method Type: Recording
Invasiveness: Noninvasive
Signal Type: Haemodynamic
- Draw a visual representation of all the techniques used in neuroimaging.
- There are two types of cells in CNS - Glial Cells and neurons: Describe Glial Cells
- More in Number (10-50 X Number of Neurons)
- Supporting neurons
- No direct role in information transmission (?)
- No role in electrical signalling
- There are 2 types of cells in the CNS Glial Cells and Nerve Cells:
Describe Nerve Cells (Neurons)
- Basic building block
- 1011 neurons
- More than 1000 varieties but with shared basic architecture
- Complexity of behavior depends less on the specialization of individual cells but more on the connectivity
- Generates electrical signals
- Communicates mainly via electrochemical fashion
- Neurons: name the four morphologically defined regions:
- Cell Body: Metabolic center, Contains nucleus, genes
- Dendrites: Receiving signals from other neurons
- Axons: Carrying signals to other neurons
- Synaptic Zone: Connection zone between neurons
- Draw the Four Componant of a Neuron:
- Describe the Action Potential:
- Constitute the signals by which the brain receives, analyzes and conveys ‘information’
- Same basic form
- Information is conveyed not by the form but by the pathways
- ~ 100 mV with 1 ms duration
- Propagated along the axon at a fixed and slow speed (m/sec)
- Action Potentials are __________ (same amplitude)
Action Potential are Nondecremental (same amplitude)
- All-or-nothing phenomenon means..
(either action potnetial fires at its full amplitude or doesn’t fire at all)
- Draw a digram of the action potential illustrating membrane potential on the y axis with 6 different steps labeled as well as a seperate diagram of sodium channels in 4 stages.
- Define Extracellular Recording
Assessment of the electrical activity of nerve, glial and muscle cells by means of electrodes positioned in the extracellular vicinity of the cells (outside the cell)
- Descibe the process of Extracellular Recording
- A small electrode (
- Very high impedance (MΩ)
- Needs special pre-amplifier
- State some issues with extracellular recording
Mixing of neurons / Unit isolation, Lack of anatomical details
- Draw a diagram illustrating how extracellular spikes allow the neurons to be found by their amplitude signals.
- Describe Intracellular Recording
- Glass pipette electrode (
- Pipette is filled with a solution with similar ionic composition to the intracellular fluid
- What is more useful about the Intracelluar recording compared to extracellular?
- Ideal for recording graded potential leading up to spike discharge or failure of spike discharge in a neuron
- Differentiates excitatory from inhibitory synaptic activity
- What are the issues with Intracellular recording?
Cell damage, Not very feasible in behaving animal
This is not used for humans as it damges cells.
- Draw a diagram of intracellular spikes.
- What are Complex Cells (CC)?
Complex cells receive inputs from a number of simple cells.
Like a simple cell, a complex cell will respond primarily to oriented edges and gratings, however it has a degree of spatial invariance. This means that itsreceptive field cannot be mapped into fixed excitatory and inhibitory zones. Rather, it will respond to patterns of light in a certain orientation within a large receptive field, regardless of the exact location. Some complex cells respond optimally only to movement in a certain direction.
- Draw a Directionally Selective CC illustrating how it is activated.
- Which of the following techniques offer the best spatial resolution?
A. fMRI
B. EEG
C. TMS
D. MEG
A. fMRI - can localise the brain regions much better than others.
- Choose the incorrect statement about Action Potential (AP)
A. AP is all-or-none
B. The profiles of APs of one neuron can vary depending on the state of the neuron
C. AP propagates in a nondecremental fashion
D. The duration of AP is approx. 1 ms
Wrong!
B The profiles of APs of one neuron can vary depending on the state of the neuron
**Action potentials are very similar!! **
- Sample Brief Question:
(a) What is an Action Potential (AP) of a neuron?
An action potential is a short-lasting event in which the electrical membranepotential of a cell rapidly rises and falls, following a consistent trajectory.
- Sample Brief Question
Briefly describe any four characteristics of AP.
- As an action potential travels down the axon, there is a change in polarity across the membrane
- Propagated along the axon at a fixed and slow speed (m/sec)
- Nondecremental (same amplitude)
- All-or-None phenomenon (either it fires at its full amplitude or doesn’t fire at all)