Methods Flashcards
Functional Neurosurgery
Intervention to alter/restore brain function
Deep brain stimulation DBS
Applying small amounts of electricity through surgically implanted electrodes
Little metal piece inserted into brain, patient can generate a pulse with a handheld device
Pharmacology
Use of drugs, agonists and antagonists
Drug MUST cross BBB to work
Agonists
Mimic neurotransmitters and have similar structure
Antagonists
Bind to receptors and block or dampen neurotransmission
Transcranial magnetic stimulation
Application of magnetic fields to the brain through an instrument held near the scalp
Allows for double dissociations
Transcranial direct current stimulation tDCS
Low voltage electrical current created non-invasively across the scalp
Hypothesized to potentiate neurons near the anodal electrode and hyperpolarize neurons near the cathodal electrode
Knockout mice
Specific genes (such as fear gene) are eliminated from lab rat population
Computed Tomography
X-ray radiation absorption correlates with tissue density
E.g. Bones look white because they absorb a lot
Magnetic Resonance Imaging MRI
Huge magnet, orients protons and releases energy afterwards
Diffusion Tensor Imaging DTI
Uses MRI scanner that allows white matter pathways to be imaged
Water diffuses anistropically
Single-cell recording
Microelectrode inserted into neuron and action potentials are recorded
Pros: excellent spatial and temporal resolution
Cons: Poor spatial coverage, not necessarily representative of all neurons, not done to healthy people, not causal
Multiunit recordings
Similar to single-cell recording, but an array of multiple electrodes is inserted in brain such that many cells can be recorded at once, makes a noise when neurons fire
Raster plots
Graphs that show timing of action potentials
Time on x axis number of trials on y axis
Electroencephalography EEG
Net of electrodes placed around head
Shows patterns in brain state and frequency of oscillations is measured
