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Biological Psychology > Lecture 3 > Flashcards

Lecture 3 Flashcards

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1
Q

What is phrenology

A

The attempt to relate skull anatomy to behaviour

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2
Q

Give an example of phrenology

A

The skull is divided into compartments based on the bumps you can feel when touching a skull - compartments assigned to behaviours and characteristics

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3
Q

What does CAT stand for

A

Computerized Axial Tomography

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4
Q

What does CT stand for

A

Computed Tomographyh

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5
Q

What do CAT and CT scans do

A

Produce many x-ray photographs to create a scan of the brain. In CAT a dye is injected to increase image contrast

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6
Q

Name one disadvantage of CAT or CT scans

A

Exposure to radiation

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7
Q

What does PET stand for

A

Positron-Emission Tomography

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8
Q

How do PET scans work

A

Record the emission of radioactivity from injected chemicals. Chemical accumulates in certain brain regions. Detectors surrounding the head measure radioactivity emitted from each brain area. Images show which brain areas are active or inactive.

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9
Q

Name 3 disadvantages of PET scans

A

Radioactive substances. Low temporal resolution. Expensive

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10
Q

What does MRI stand for

A

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

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11
Q

Explain how MRI scans work

A

Makes use of the magnetic probabilities of the hydrogen in the body. Head is placed in magnet and hydrogen atoms align along the magnetic field. Radiofrequency pulse flips the hydrogen atoms and they return to original state and thereby emit a signal that is measured and used to form an image of the brain. Different tissues/substances emit energy with different speed and thus produce different images

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12
Q

Name one disadvantage of MRI scans

A

Person must lie as motionless as possible so it is therefore difficult for children and people who fear enclosed places

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13
Q

What does EEG stand for

A

Electroencephalogram

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14
Q

Explain what EEG’s do

A

Records electrical activity of neurons. Electrical activity recorded by electrodes placed on the scalp. Recording of spontaneous activity. Records activity from a large number of neurons - 32-264 electrodes are used.

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15
Q

Why do we record brain activity?

A

Allows us to follow information processing on the millisecond scale. Can reveal information that self-reports or overt responses can not.

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16
Q

What is a disadvantage of recording brain activity

A

Spatial resolution is poor so it is difficult to say where in the brain the measured activity actually comes from

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17
Q

What does MEG stand for

A

Magnetoencephalogram

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18
Q

How do MEG’s work

A

Similar to EEG. Records magnetic fields generated by electrical activity of neurons. Recorded by extremely sensitive devices mounted in a helmet. Spatial resolution is as good as EEG with excellent temporal resolution.

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19
Q

Name 3 disadvantages of MEG’s

A

More expensive than EEG. Sensitive to movement. Small signal that needs to be shielded from other magnetic sources.

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20
Q

What does fMRI stand for

A

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

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21
Q

Explain how fMRI’s work

A

Same principle as MRI with magnetic field and RF pulses used to generate a signal. Based on haemoglobin - the amount of haemoglobin with oxygen increases in active brain regions a couple of seconds after the neurons have increased their activity. Stronger signals emitted from the hydrogen atoms in the brain areas with relatively more haemoglobin with oxygen. By comparing different conditions relative levels of brain activity can be measured and related to cognitive functions or behaviour

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22
Q

Name one use of fMRI

A

Determines which half of the brain is dominant for language

23
Q

Name one application of recording brain activity

A

Relevance in epilepsy surgery: type of surgery, amount of brain tissue that is removed

24
Q

Name one use of cognitive neuroscience

A

Investigation of the development of visual-spatial processing - can show how fMRI can be used together with behavioural test to learn more about the development of specific brain functions

25
Q

Explain the general approach to study cognitive processes

A

Cognitive subtraction: find two conditions that differ only in the aspect that is of interest for you, however if brain area is found to be active by this approach this doesn’t mean this is the only brain area necessary for that process

26
Q

Explain Microelectrode Recordings

A

Thin electrode inserted into the brain. Used on animals for research and neurological surgeries on humans. Very good temporal and spatial resolution.

27
Q

Name a disadvantage of Microelectrode Recordings

A

Invasive

28
Q

What can Microelectrodes be used for

A

To study the electrical activity within one neuron, the electrical activity outside of one neuron or the activity of many nearby neurons

29
Q

What is double dissociation

A

Link between brain area and function suggestive of localisations of function, but not proof - fragile part of the system

30
Q

Explain what lesion methods are

A

Intentional damage of a selected area.

31
Q

What does lesion mean

A

Damage to a brain area

32
Q

What does ablation mean

A

Removal of a brain area

33
Q

What are sham lesions used for

A

Control comparisons

34
Q

What is aspiration lesion

A

Cortical tissue drawn off by suction through the tissue

35
Q

What is RF lesion

A

High-frequency current passed through the tissue

36
Q

Name two types of lesion

A

RF lesion and Aspiration lesion

37
Q

What does TMS stand for

A

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

38
Q

Explain how TMS works

A

Intense magnetic field applied to the scalp which temporarily inactivates the neurons below the magnet.

39
Q

Explain what TMS can be used for

A

Cognition and behaviour can be studied with certain brain regions active and inactive

40
Q

Explain how muscle tension is measured

A

Using EMG (Electromyogram), electrodes taped to the surface of the skin over the muscle of interest.

41
Q

What is the use of measuring muscle tension

A

Indicator for physiological arousal in emotion research (facial muscles)

42
Q

Explain how eye movement is measured

A

Using EOG (Electrooculogram). Electrodes are taped above, below and beside

43
Q

Explain how skin conductance is measured

A

Measures the ability of the skin to conduct electricity

44
Q

Why would we measure skin conductance

A

Study of emotional thought and experiences

45
Q

Explain how Cardiovascular activity is measured

A

Heart rate is measured using ECG or EKG. ECG measures the electrical signal associate with each heartbeat.

46
Q

Explain Pavlovian Conditioning

A

Initially neutral Control Stimulus paired with an Unconditional Stimulus, a stimulus that elicits an Unconditional Response. After many repetitions the Conditional Stimulus alone will evoke the response, which is now called the Conditional Response

47
Q

Explain Operant conditioning

A

The rate a particular behaviour is emitted is either increased by reinforcement or decreased by punishment

48
Q

Name two things that have been measured

A

Biological responses to stimuli. Responses to biological stimuli

49
Q

What is oxytocin important for

A

Social bonding in species

50
Q

What happens when administering oxytocin

A

Increased attractiveness and trustworthiness relative to control group

51
Q

What did Law-Smith et al. (2005) find when assayed women for estrogen and photographed faces

A

Faces with high estrogen were more feminine and more attractive

52
Q

Does a large brain mean high intelligence

A

No. Whales and elephants have much larger brains than humans. Early studies have found no relationships, but some new MRI studies have

53
Q

Many techniques are used to study the brain, but what two functions of the brain are studied most

A

Structure and function

Biological Psychology (11 decks)

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