Lecture 3 Methods for studying the brain Flashcards

1
Q

Lesion Method

A

A lesion in a localised region of the brain can result in a very specific deficit
Broca’s areas - can understand language but can’t speak it

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2
Q

Strength of the lesion method

A

Cause and effect found: reveals brain regions that are essential for a given cognitive function and behaviour

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3
Q

Limitations of the lesion method

A
  • Only identifies a single brain region not the network of regions involved in function
  • Anatomical variability in the location of brain regions across patients
  • Brain reorganization/compensatory behaviours
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4
Q

What happens in animal lesion studies?

A
  1. Animal trained in a task
  2. Surgical removal of a specific brain region
  3. Observer changes in task performance: - before and after surgery
    - between experimental and control animal
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5
Q

Pros of animal lesion studies

A

Better control over location of lesion than patient studies
Better-matched controls (before and after)

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6
Q

Cons of animal lesion studies

A
  • Ethical considerations
  • Differences in brain organisation/behaviour between humans and animals
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7
Q

What can anatomy imaging methods tell us about function?

A

If there is a correlation between anatomy and behaviour

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8
Q

Key properties of CT scans: based on X-rays

A
  • X-rays in different directions (each giving a 2D image)
  • Computer reconstructs a 3D image of the brain
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9
Q

CT scans: measure tissue density

A
  • Can distinguish between skull, brain and CSF/blood
  • Little difference between white and grey matter
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10
Q

How invasive are CT scans

A

X-ray are high energy ionising electromagnetic radiations than can induce cancer at high dose

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11
Q

How does an MRI scanner work?

A
  • Excites hydrogen atoms in the brain using radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation
  • Records the electromagnetic radiation emitted by excited atom in different locations of the brain
  • Requires a powerful magnet
  • Non-invasive
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12
Q

Structural MRI

A
  • Hydrogen atoms in different brain tissues respond differently to radiofrequency excitation
  • Can distinguish between skull, CSF, white matter and grey matter
  • Fine spatial resolution
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13
Q

Diffusion-weighted MRI:

A

MRI can also measure the diffusion of hydrogen atoms in water molecules

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14
Q

Where do water molecules diffuse

A
  • Along axons in white matter
  • In random directions in other brain tissues
    Can measure direction of nerve fibres in white matter
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15
Q

Diffusion tractography

A
  • Derived from diffusion-weighted MRI images
  • Follows water diffusion paths along nerve fibres within white matter
  • Can identify white matter connections between different cortical regions, including fascicles
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16
Q

Functional techniques: Electrophysiological techniques

A
  • Directly record neuronal activity
  • Action potentials
  • Postsynaptic potentials
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17
Q

Neuroimaging techniques

A
  • Indirect methods: record metabolic activity associated with neuronal activity associated with neuronal activity
  • Energy consumption (oxygen, glucose)
  • Blood flow
  • Metabolic activity correlated with synaptic activity (PSPs) more than APs
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18
Q

Single-neuron recordings:

A

Micro-electrode implanted directly near our neuron
Record changes in neuronal membrane potential

19
Q

Single-neuron recordings: Intracellular recordings

A

AP and PSPs

20
Q

Single-neuron recordings: Extracellular recordings:

A

Only APs are large enough to be recorded

21
Q

EEG key points

A
  • Neuronal activity
  • Only for population of neurons that are aligned so their activity adds up
  • Difference in electrical potential near and far from the brain, as a function of time
  • Measures PSPs rather than AP
22
Q

Temporal resolution of EEG

A

good, recording every millisecond

23
Q

Spatial resolution of EEG scans

A

Poor: activity from neuronal populations across the entire brain at each electrode

24
Q

ERPs key points

A

EEG response to stimulus is small compared to ongoing EEG
- Present the same stimulus multiple times
- Average the responsiveness
- Unrelated EEG activity averages out, leaving only the brain’s response to the stimulus

25
Q

ERP time components

A

Early (<~100 ms): sensory processing
Late: cognitive processing

26
Q

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) key points

A
  • Record the magnetic fields associated with electrical potentials
  • Requires advanced magnetic sensors
  • Magnetic field less distorted than electric fields by skull
    Slightly better spatial resolution than EEG, otherwise similar
27
Q

Position emission tomography (PET)

A
  • Injection of radioactively-labelled molecules in blood flow
  • Radioactive molecules emits positron
  • Positron annihilates with electron, sends two photons in opposite directions
  • Coincident photon detection localises radioactive molecule along a given direction
    3D image reconstructed similarly to CT scan
    Invasive: ionising radiations from radioactive molecules
28
Q

Use of H20 in PET scan

A
  • Measures blood flow
  • More neuronal activity = more blood flow = accumulation of H20
29
Q

Use of oxygen or glucose in PET scan

A

Measures oxygen/glucose consumption
More neuronal activity = more oxygen/glucose consumption

30
Q

Neurotransmitters in PET scan

A
  • More synaptic activity = more neurotransmitter concentration
  • Specific to a neurotransmitter system
31
Q

Spatial resolution PET scan

A

Relatively low

32
Q

Temporal resolution PET scan

A

takes almost a minute of continuous recording for a full functional image of the brain

33
Q

Functional MRI (fMRI) key points

A
  • Oxygenated and de-oxygenated blood haemoglobin have different magnetic properties
  • De-oxygenated blood decreases the MRI signal
  • More neuronal activity = increased blood flow = increased oxygenated blood flow = more MRI signal
  • fMRI measures the hemodynamic response, rather than neuronal activity
34
Q

Temporal resolution fMRI

A

1-10 seconds
- Takes 1-2 second per image of the brain
- Hemodynamic response is slower than neuronal response

35
Q

Spatial resolution fMRI

36
Q

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (FNIRS)

A
  • Send near-infra-red (NIR) light through the skull
  • Record it after it scatters through the brain and exits through the skull
  • NIR light is absorbed by blood haemoglobin
  • More neuronal activity = increased blood flow = more haemoglobin = less signal
  • FNIRS measures the hemodynamic response, not neuronal activity directly
37
Q

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (FNIRS) temporal resolution

A

1-10 seconds

38
Q

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (FNIRS): Spatial resolution

A
  • A few cm
  • Only record from superficial cortex between light source and sensor
39
Q

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS):

A
  • Electromagnetic coil generates magnetic field through skull
  • Magnetic field induces transitory changes in the electrical membrane potential of neurons ( can be inhibitory or excitatory
40
Q

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS): Limitations

A
  • Low spatial specificity: stimulated regions is relatively wide (several cm)
  • Only reaches relatively superficial regions of the cortex below the coil
41
Q

Transcranial direct current stimulation (TSCS)

A
  • Weak electrical current applied between two electrodes (anode and cathode)
  • Created electrical potential between anode (+) and cathode (-)
  • Anode: depolarisation -> excitation
  • Cathode: hyperpolarisation -> inhibition
42
Q

Evaluation of Transcranial direct current stimulation (TSCS)

A

Poor spatial specificity

Superficial cortical regions

43
Q

Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS)

A
  • Ultrasound pressure waves sent through the skull (> 100 kHz)
  • Focused to target a small region with large pressure variations
  • Mechanical stimulation of the neuronal cellular membrane can increase or decrease its excitability (exact cellular mechanism still unknown)
44
Q

Evaluation of