Lecture 6 - Measuring brain function & Brain plasticity and learning

Question 1

What are the different methods used to measure brain function in cognitive neuroscience?

Answer 1

• lesion studies
• brain stimulation
• single neuron recording (animals)
• EEG (electroencephalography)
• ERPs (Event-Related Potentials)
• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
• fMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Question 2

How do lesion studies contribute to our understanding of brain function?

Answer 2

lesion studies explain normal brain function by examining changes in behavior or cognition when part of the brain is damaged. This can occur due to stroke, brain injury in humans, or induced lesions in animals

Question 3

What is single neuron recording, and what information can it provide?

Answer 3

Single neuron recording involves placing a thin electrode into an animal’s brain to record action potentials from a single neuron. It helps measure what that neuron encodes or detects, such as specific stimuli or actions

Question 4

What is EEG, and what information does it provide about brain activity?

Answer 4

EEG (Electroencephalography) measures summed electrical activity from neurons in the cortex by recording voltage changes from electrodes placed on the scalp. It shows brainwave patterns that vary with different brain states like sleep and altertness.

Question 5

What are ERPs, and how are they used in cognitive neuroscience?

Answer 5

ERPs (Event-Related Potentials) are brain responses related to specific events or stimuli. By averaging EEG trials, peaks in ERPs represent different stages of processing a stimulus, such as auditory or visual stimuli

Question 6

How does fMRI differ from MRI, and what does it measure?

Answer 6

MRI studies brain anatomy, while fMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) studies brain function by measuring changes in blood oxygen levels (BOLD signal) associated with neural activity

Question 7

What is the limitation of using brain scans to infer mental states or thoughts?

Answer 7

Brain scans cannot reliably infer specific thoughts or feelings based on brain activity. This is known as “reverse inference”, which is not scientifically valid because brain activity alone does not indicate what someone is thinking or feeling.

Question 8

What is a brain plasticity, and how does it affect learning and memory?

Answer 8

Brain plasticity is the brain’s ability to alter its functional organization as a result of experience. This involves neurogenesis (generation of new neurons) and synaptogenesis (formation of new synapses), strengthening connections between neurons with learning and experience.

Question 9

What is Hebb’s Law, and how does it relate to synaptic connections?

Answer 9

Hebb’s Law, often summarized as “neurons that fire together wire together,” states that repeated and persistent activity of one neuron in conjunction with another strengthens the synaptic connection between them. This forms the basis of learning and memory through neuroplasticity.

Question 10

How does neuroplasticity manifest in musicians or after brain damage?

Answer 10

In musicians, neuroplasticity can lead to the expansion of sensory cortex areas for frequently used fingers.
After brain damage, rehabilitation can help re-organize motor cortex areas to recover function

Question 11

What are some clinical and research applications of brain imaging techniques like fMRI and EEG?

Answer 11

Brain imaging techniques like fMRI and EEG are used in clinical settings to monitor brain activity in conditions like epilepsy or to assess stages of sleep. In research, they are used to study brain function, neural encoding, and the effects of different stimuli on brain activity.