methods and techniques of research of neuro

Question 1

in vivo manipulations

Answer 1

in living organisms

Question 2

stereotaxic surgery

Answer 2

implant electrodes/ needle into 3D target into a specific brain region measuring from the bregma

Question 3

lesions and ablations

Answer 3

technique used to destroy a specific part of brain via electrode tip at 3D target

Question 4

electrolytic lesions

Answer 4

electrical current destroys all in proximity to the electrode

Question 5

chemical lesions

Answer 5

destroys neurons, but leaves axon tracts intact
-can target specific neural pathways

Question 6

microdialysis

Answer 6

used to measure neurotransmitter release in specific brain regions while the subject behave
- sterotaxically insert CSF filled cannulae into brain region

Question 7

electrophysiology

Answer 7

implant electrodes to stimulate specific cells with tip of electrode and evaluate subjects change in behaviour

Question 8

in vitro manipulations

Answer 8

outside of a living organisms

Question 9

radioligand binding

Answer 9

reveals # of receptors and receptor affinity in brain regions

Question 10

autoradiography

Answer 10

allows for location and quantification of receptors in brain slices
- treated brain slices are mounted on slides, receptor ligands emit radioactive particles that expose film

Question 11

immunohistochemistry

Answer 11

allows for location and quantification of receptors in brain slices
- antibodies isolated from blood plasma are tagged with colour and applied to brain slices
- neurons and glia cells containing antigen will bind to antibodies

Question 12

in situ hybridization

Answer 12

quantification of mRNA tells us where a protein is made and it’s approximate rate of synthesis
- radioactively labeled primers that contain complementary base-pair sequence to protein of interest

Question 13

2-deoxyglucose

Answer 13

injecting 2-DG into an animal will allow us to quantify the activity of cells via autoradiography

Question 14

c-Fos

Answer 14

using immunohistochemistry we can view brain regions containing antibodies for c-Fos that were active at the time of sacrifice

Question 15

computerized tomography (CT scan)

Answer 15

sensitive detectors create 2D structure based on densities to visualize fractures, tumors, cannula/implants, etc

Question 16

positron emission (PET scan)

Answer 16

-radioactive oxygen is injected into patients and release positrons
-emitted positrons are neutralized by electrons, releasing photons
- PET cameras detect photon emissions

Question 17

MRI

Answer 17

• hydrogen atoms in the brain align under a strong magnet
• radio pulses bump alignment so the atoms wobble and produce a measurable electrical field
• brain areas with high H2O content will stand out

Question 18

fMRI

Answer 18

• active neurons use oxygen and signal blood vessels to dilate and increase blood flow to activated regions
• changes in blood oxygen content alters magnetic properties of water
• fMRI detects areas displaying real time changes in activity

Question 19

tail- flick

Answer 19

as light gets hot and becomes uncomfortable, the animal flicks tail to escape the sensation

Question 19

tail- flick latency

Answer 19

quantified and used as a measure of the inability to feel pain (analgesia)

Question 19

elevated plus maze

Answer 19

anxiety can be measured through the time difference a rodent spends in the enclosed ends versus open ends of the maze

Question 20

morris water maze

Answer 20

• platform submerged in small swimming pool
• animals must find the platform to stop swimming, as attempts increase, the amount of time to find the platform ideally decreases

Question 21

conditioned place preference

Answer 21

to measure and compare rewarding properties of drugs, animals are put in the center of a box and their time spent in each chamber is recorded