Methods in cognitive neuroscience I

Question 1

what is cognition?

Answer 1

the mental aciton or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses

Question 2

what is cognitive science?

Answer 2

study of mental processes involved in cognitive processes in computational terms

Question 3

what is cognitive neuto?

Answer 3

extension of cognitive science, aimed at discovering the neural substrates that support the various cognitive processes

Question 4

what are the 7 levels of NS organisaiton

Answer 4

CNS
systems
maps
networks
neurons
synapses
molecules

Question 5

what are marrs three levels of analysis

Answer 5

computational -> algorithmic -> implementaiton

Question 6

what is the computaitonal level

Answer 6

identify the problem and decompose into main constitutes

Question 7

what is the algorithmic level

Answer 7

specifies formal procedure to perform task

Question 8

what is implementation level

Answer 8

how to solve the problem

Question 9

what is an example used to represent marrs levels? and what questions are asked at each level

Answer 9

median

problem: what is the median of these numbers
computational: how can i find the median? steps: sorting , counting, finding 50% mark
algorithmic: writing computer programme using specify algorithms to achieve sorting
implementation: running the programme on a computer

Question 10

what is the doctrine of independence?

Answer 10

address given problem at given level independent of implementation

Question 11

what is determinism?

Answer 11

scientific reduction- wholes are nothing but their parts

Question 12

describe determinism

Answer 12

philosophical belief that all current and future events and actions can be predicted ina dvance- if all parameters are known

Question 13

what are two examples of determinism

Answer 13

chaos theory: idea that system and future state depends on itial parameters chosen
quantum theory: heisenbergs uncertainty principle

Question 14

what is emergence

Answer 14

wholes are more than the sums of their parts

Question 15

what is an emergent property

Answer 15

purely physical system composed exclusively of bits of matter, when it reaches a certain degree of complexity, can begin to exhibit genuinely novel properties not possessed by simpler constitutes

Question 16

what are two examples of when emergence can occur in neuro?

Answer 16

sleep and consciousness

Question 17

what is an example of an emergent proprty

Answer 17

heart muscle - lots of cells with different functions but do not work unless all put together

Question 18

what is multiple realizability

Answer 18

functional system properties can in pronciple be instatiated by indefintely many distinct physical structures

Question 19

what is the functionalist theory of mind

Answer 19

what makes something a mental state of a particular type does not essentially depend on its intrinsic material constituations, but rather on the way it functions in the system to which it belongs

Question 20

what are three examples of multiple realizability

Answer 20

musical notes sound different on different instruments
octopus consciousness- we cannot know as their brains are different to ours
plato in a cave- flame reflections

Question 21

what are two important considerations of neuroimaging techniques?

Answer 21

spatial and temporal resolution

Question 22

what is the oldest data collection method?

Answer 22

lesion studies for suggesting localisation of function

Question 23

what are three examples of lesion studies?

Answer 23

phinease gage
brocas patient ‘tan’
patient HM

Question 24

what are three different methods for lesion studies?

Answer 24

physical lesions
pharmological lesions- inject poison into brain
reversible lesions- colling, TMS

Question 25

what are the advantages of lesion studies?2

Answer 25

can provide info about function of specific region | natures experiments

Question 26

what are three disadvantages of lesion studies?

Answer 26

how precise/specific lesions are how to interpret the effects recovery process- plasticity

Question 27

what is TMS

Answer 27

transcranial magnetic stimulation and is a technique for inducing virtual lesions or temporarily exciting neurons

Question 28

what is the main principle of TMS?

Answer 28

rapidly changing magnetic fields -> induction of electrical current

Question 29

what is the process of TMS?

Answer 29

coil placed near head and very brief, large current ran through brain

Question 30

what does TMS lead to and cause?

Answer 30

leads to induction of strong transient magnetic field and this induces current in neurons in the brain causes activation, inhibition or stimulation

Question 31

what can tMS be used for?

Answer 31

to distinguish between models

Question 32

what are the advantages of TMS? 4

Answer 32

study healthy participants inexpensive good temporal resolution controlled stimulation

Question 33

what are 6 disadvantages of TMS?

Answer 33

``` noisy low spatial resolution small risk to enduce epilepsy effects mood local pain and headache burns on scalp ```

Question 34

what is tDCS

Answer 34

transcranial direct current stimulation- shows that electrical stimulation can change cortical excitability

Question 35

what are the two mechanisms of tDCS

Answer 35

cathodal stimulation | anodal stimulation

Question 36

what is cathodal stimulation

Answer 36

negative | hyperpolarisation of neuronal membranes-> decrease in firing rate and excitability

Question 37

what is anodal stimulation

Answer 37

depolarisation of neuronal membranes-> increase in firing rate and excitability

Question 38

what are the short term and long term effects of tDCS

Answer 38

mins- polarisation effects on the neuronal membranes | hours- modulation of NMDA receptor strength or changes in transmembrane proteins

Question 39

describe tDCS motor cortex stimulation

Answer 39

the MEP amplitude increased with anodal and decreased with cathodal current stimulation

Question 40

what is MEP

Answer 40

motor evoked potential

Question 41

what is the ADM muscle and what is it related to

Answer 41

abductor digit minimi and DC stimulation via tDCS

Question 42

what are three advantages of tDCS

Answer 42

study healthy participants inexpensive controlled neuromodulation

Question 43

what are 4 disadvantages of tDCS

Answer 43

considered safe under 20 mins low spatial resolution not used in participants on certain meds local itchy and mild headaches

Question 44

what are two less/non-invasive imaging techniques

Answer 44

haemodynamic and electromagnetic

Question 45

what are three haemodynamic techniques

Answer 45

Positron emmission topography (PET) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) optical imaging NIRS

Question 46

what are two electromagentic imaging techniques

Answer 46

electroenchephalography (EEG) | magnetoencephalography (MEG)

Question 47

how do PET scans work?

Answer 47

inject/inhaled radioactive material when in bloodstream it goes to areas of brain that use it oxygen and glucose common as they accumulate the isotopes emit positrons these collide with electrons and emmit two photons in opposite directions

Question 48

where does radioactive material accumulate in brain

Answer 48

in areas with increased metabolism

Question 49

what are three advantages of PET scan

Answer 49

used to measure metabolism and blood flow used in humans in conjunction with behavioural studies used within psychopharmacological studies

Question 50

what are four disadvantages of PET scans

Answer 50

very expensive poor temporal resolution only moderate spatial resolution invasive procedures

Question 51

what is an MRI for

Answer 51

anatomy, one scan for brain structures

Question 52

what is an fMRI for

Answer 52

brain function

Question 53

what is a BOLD signal

Answer 53

blood exygentaiton level dependent response | indirect measure of neural response - increased blood flow represents increased neural activity