Modern Ways of Studying the Brain

Question 1

Brain Structure

Answer 1

CAT scans / CT scans/MIR

Question 2

CAT scans / CT scans/MIR

Answer 2

Brain Structure

Question 3

CAT scans / CT scans:

Answer 3

uses x-rays in order to create an image of the brain
Show us whether or not someone has swelling, tumor, internal bleeding
Can’t tell us what part of the brain is active at a certain time

Question 4

uses x-rays in order to create an image of the brain
Show us whether or not someone has swelling, tumor, internal bleeding
Can’t tell us what part of the brain is active at a certain time

Answer 4

CAT scans/CT scans

Question 5

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging):

Answer 5

uses radio waves
MRI patients are exposed to a strong magnetic field
Causes the atoms in the brain to align in a certain direction
Radio waves disrupts the orientation of the atoms
As the atoms move back to magnetic field, they emit different signals which allows for a super detailed imaging of the brain
Doesn’t tell us anything about brain function. What is the brain actually doing?

Question 6

uses radio waves
MRI patients are exposed to a strong magnetic field
Causes the atoms in the brain to align in a certain direction
Radio waves disrupts the orientation of the atoms
As the atoms move back to magnetic field, they emit different signals which allows for a super detailed imaging of the brain
Doesn’t tell us anything about brain function. What is the brain actually doing?

Answer 6

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging):

Question 7

Brain Function

Answer 7

EEG, MEG

Question 8

EEG:

Answer 8

electrical activity that is generated by neurons in the brain
Places electrodes on scalp
Cap with electrode with conductive gel
Not invasive to the brain
External to the brain and cells
Cannot tell us individual activity of neurons or groups of neurons
Shows electrical fields that generated from the brain
Receives wavy lines that are useful: asleep, seizure, cognitive tasks

Question 9

electrical activity that is generated by neurons in the brain
Places electrodes on scalp
Cap with electrode with conductive gel
Not invasive to the brain
External to the brain and cells
Cannot tell us individual activity of neurons or groups of neurons
Shows electrical fields that generated from the brain
Receives wavy lines that are useful: asleep, seizure, cognitive tasks

Answer 9

EEG

Question 10

MEG:

Answer 10

magnetic fields by electrical currents in the brain
Superconducting quantum interface devices
Rare within the social sciences
Large machine, special shielding

Question 11

magnetic fields by electrical currents in the brain
Superconducting quantum interface devices
Rare within the social sciences
Large machine, special shielding

Answer 11

MEG

Question 12

Combining

Answer 12

fMRI, PET

Question 13

fMRI:

Answer 13

functional magnetic resonance imaging
Which structures and areas are active?
Neurons that are firing a lot require more oxygen
By measuring relative oxygen blood in the brain, we can see which parts of the brain are active

Question 14

functional magnetic resonance imaging
Which structures and areas are active?
Neurons that are firing a lot require more oxygen
By measuring relative oxygen blood in the brain, we can see which parts of the brain are active

Answer 14

fMRI

Question 15

PET:

Answer 15

Positron emission tomography
Combine with structural technologies
Radioactive glucose is in injected into a person
Active cells naturally use more glucose, we can see which brain parts are more active at a given time
A lot more invasive

Question 16

Positron emission tomography
Combine with structural technologies
Radioactive glucose is in injected into a person
Active cells naturally use more glucose, we can see which brain parts are more active at a given time
A lot more invasive

Answer 16

PET