Lecture 2: Methods and Basic Neuroscience

Question 1

Main methods of cognitive psychology

Answer 1

Behavioral
Physiological
Modeling

Question 2

Behavioral methods

Answer 2

Examine behavior to infer brain activity
Common measures include RT & accuracy

Question 3

Serial visual search

Answer 3

One at a time

Question 4

Parallel visual search

Answer 4

Many at once

Question 5

Physiological methods

Answer 5

Observe brain activity and infer involved processes

Question 6

Single-cell recording

Answer 6

Micro-electrode implanted by axon detects action potentials

Question 7

Benefits of single-cell recording

Answer 7

+ Direct observation of single cell’s activity, good temporal and placement resolution

Question 8

Negatives of single-cell recording

Answer 8

• Puts a hole in your head/brain
• Only limited # of cells at once

Question 9

EEG

Answer 9

Attach electrodes to scalp to measure brain activity

Question 10

ERP

Answer 10

Event related potentials
Measuring time-locked EEG changes

Question 11

Benefits of EEG

Answer 11

+ Good temporal resolution
+ Cheap
+ Non-intrusive

Question 12

Negatives of EEG

Answer 12

Poor localization

Question 13

Angelo Mosso’s brain imaging experiment

Answer 13

People balanced on ‘teeter totter,’ brain got heavier when asked intellectually straining questions

Question 14

PET

Answer 14

Positron emission tomography
Radioactive glucose in bloodstream, indicates metabolic activity

Question 15

Negatives of PET scan

Answer 15

Radioactive
Poor temporal and spatial resolution

Question 16

fMRI

Answer 16

Magnetic resonance imaging of relative amounts of oxygenated vs deoxygenated blood

Question 17

Benefits of fMRI

Answer 17

NOT radioactive
Great spatial resolution
Can be combined with MRI to show structure

Question 18

Negatives of fMRI

Answer 18

Poor temporal resolution (measures hemodynamic response)
Expensive

Question 19

What kind of technique does an fMRI use

Answer 19

Subtractive
stimulation - control = difference (desired result)

Question 20

Difficulties with investigating brain anomalies

Answer 20

Many are accidental - not clean
Lesions can disrupt connections as well as the process you’re looking for

Question 21

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Answer 21

Using a strong magnet outside skull to disrupt neurons