Lecture 2: Methods and Basic Neuroscience Flashcards
Basic methods and strategies of studying cognitive psychology and inferring brain activity
Main methods of cognitive psychology
Behavioral
Physiological
Modeling
Behavioral methods
Examine behavior to infer brain activity
Common measures include RT & accuracy
Serial visual search
One at a time
Parallel visual search
Many at once
Physiological methods
Observe brain activity and infer involved processes
Single-cell recording
Micro-electrode implanted by axon detects action potentials
Benefits of single-cell recording
+ Direct observation of single cell’s activity, good temporal and placement resolution
Negatives of single-cell recording
- Puts a hole in your head/brain
- Only limited # of cells at once
EEG
Attach electrodes to scalp to measure brain activity
ERP
Event related potentials
Measuring time-locked EEG changes
Benefits of EEG
+ Good temporal resolution
+ Cheap
+ Non-intrusive
Negatives of EEG
Poor localization
Angelo Mosso’s brain imaging experiment
People balanced on ‘teeter totter,’ brain got heavier when asked intellectually straining questions
PET
Positron emission tomography
Radioactive glucose in bloodstream, indicates metabolic activity
Negatives of PET scan
Radioactive
Poor temporal and spatial resolution
fMRI
Magnetic resonance imaging of relative amounts of oxygenated vs deoxygenated blood
Benefits of fMRI
NOT radioactive
Great spatial resolution
Can be combined with MRI to show structure
Negatives of fMRI
Poor temporal resolution (measures hemodynamic response)
Expensive
What kind of technique does an fMRI use
Subtractive
stimulation - control = difference (desired result)
Difficulties with investigating brain anomalies
Many are accidental - not clean
Lesions can disrupt connections as well as the process you’re looking for
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Using a strong magnet outside skull to disrupt neurons
