neuro: methods of studying the NS Flashcards

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1
Q

what are the 5 non invasive methods?

A
CT scans
MRI
PET
fMRI
EEG
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2
Q

describe CT scans in key words

A
X rays
structure
contrast agent absorbed
rotate to produce series of X-rays 
reveal structural abnormalities (lesions + vascular damage indicate location of tumours)
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3
Q

describe MRI scans using key words

A

structure
strong magnetic field
high resolution images produced
form radio frequency waves that H+ ions emit when they align with magnetic field
protons release magnetic resonance energy

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4
Q

describe fMRI using key words

A

O2 increase in the blood to active areas of the brain
more oxygenated blood
functional activity
signal = BOLD signal (blood oxygen level dependent)

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5
Q

describe PET using key words

A

functional
positron emission tomography
radioactive dye injected into carotid artery
similar to glucose but doesn’t get metabolised
taken up by active cells
builds up in neurons
shows areas of brain activity from levels of radioactivity
colour coded

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6
Q

describe EEG

A

net of electrodes placed on scalp
records electrical activity
current of ions flowing across cell provides potential current
shows activity of APs, postsynaptic potentials etc = the sum of all the electrical events

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7
Q

what are ERPs?

A

event related potentials

EEG waves that accompany certain physiological events

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8
Q

what are the advantages of MRIs?

A

provides clearer images of brain than CT
higher spatial resolution (where)
no ionising exposure of X-rays
provides horizontal, sagittal and frontal planes

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9
Q

what are the disadvantages of MRIs?

A

expensive
no metal allowed
noisier

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10
Q

what are the 4 advantages that fMRI has over PET?
fMRI = O2 levels/bold signal
PET = injected dye like glucose

A

nothing has to be injected into person
provides structural and functional info in same image
better spatial resolution (where)
produces 3D images of activity over entire brain

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11
Q

what is a disadvantage of fMRI?

A

poor temporal resolution (when) → timing of neural events

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12
Q

what are the pros and cons of EEGs?

A

high temporal resolution (when) but poor spatial resolution (where) → can’t localise as recordings made on the scalp

less expensive than fMRI
direct reflection of neuronal activity

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13
Q

what is the difference between spatial and temporal resolution?

A
spatial = where
temporal = when
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14
Q

what are the different invasive methods of studying NS function in animals?

A

intracellular recordings (electrophysiological technique)
extracellular recordings (electrophysiological technique)
electrical stimulation
optogenetic stimulation
micro dialysis (neuropharmacological technique)
immunohistochemistry (neuropharmalogical technique)
chemical lesions (disruptive technique)

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15
Q

records individual neurons as they fire, measures the changes in the membrane potential of a neuron over time, microelectrode positioned directly into neuron.
what method is this and is it invasive or non invasive?

A

intracellular recording

invasive

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16
Q

records near neurons as they fire action potentials, microelectrode positioned near neutron.
what method is this and is it invasive or non invasive?

A

extracellular recording

invasive

17
Q

in extracellular recording, spikes indicate an action potential from a nearby neuron.
spikes of the _________ are assumed to come from the ____ neuron

A

same amplitude

same neuron

18
Q

what is the difference between EEG and electrophysiology?

A
EEG = mass numbers of cells being recorded (not localised)
electrophysiology = recording of individual cells
19
Q

how does the electrical stimulating technique work?

A

examines neuronal circuits and the cause of bursts of APs
electrical stimulation = artificially activating nervous tissue
stimulating electrode → stuck in brain → switched on → activates tissue
can work out how parts of the brain relay info to each other via circuits

20
Q

what is ontogenetic stimulation technique?

A
uses opsin (photoreceptors) that are extracted from bacteria/algae and inserted into genome of neurons using a virus 
neurons are then artificially responsive to light due to artificial proteins being inserted into their membrane

proteins then produce either excitation or inhibition of neurons when light is on

21
Q

explain how ontogenetic stimulation is used in rats

A

opsin is inserted into genome of rats neurons in brain
laser light probe comes on → activates tissue in brain area linked to locomotion → activates light sensitive neurons → forces rat to run

22
Q

used to measure neurotransmitters and chemicals secreted by the neuron during synaptic transmission
what technique is this?

A

microdialysis

23
Q

how does microdialysis work?

A

small semi-permeable membrane is inserted into specific brain site of animal
solution circulates through the tube
chemicals in the extracellular fluid diffuse across membrane and are collected
samples then analysed using chomatography methods

24
Q

key words to describe/recognise the immunohistochemistry technique

A

antibodies used to identify enzymes
enzymes produce specific neurotransmitters in specific cells
reveals chemical identity of cells
inject antigens
radio active labelling of antibodies that attach to enzymes
black or fluorescent
brain tissue → removed → sliced → reveals locations where labels have accumulated

25
Q

method of disrupting neuronal function =

A

chemical lesions

26
Q

how do chemical lesions work?

A

selectively lesioning = taking away bits of the brain

see what happens when disrupt function → remove chemicals, block circuits, remove tissue

27
Q

give an example of a chemical lesion used to model a neurodegenerative disease

A

6-hydroxydopamine = neurotoxin that selectively destroys dopaminergic + noradrenergic neurons in the area of injected brain site
kills neurons locally
this models Parkinsons disease in order to pick apart what goes wrong in this specific disorder

28
Q

give examples of species common behaviours

A

grooming, swimming, nest building, mating, fighting, eating, drinking

29
Q

how does an open field test study species common behaviours?

A

animal placed in large, empty chamber
activity levels and number of boluses (excretion) recorded
low activity scores + high bolus content = indicator of fearfulness

(rats are usually fearful when first placed in field but declines with repeated exposure to same field)

30
Q

if a fearful rat is highly THIGMOTAXIC what does its behaviour show?

A

rarely venture away from the walls of the test chamber and rarely engage in grooming and rearing activities

31
Q

explain the colony-intruder paradigm

A
study looking at social defeat
male rats are territorial
measure and observe introducing a smaller male intruder into the habitat of a larger dominant male
dominant male → aggressive behaviour
intruder → defensive behaviour
32
Q

why do learning paradigms play a major role in bio psychological research?

A

learning is a phenomenon of primary interest,
effective for producing and controlling animal behaviour so animals behave to goals of experiment,
can infer about sensory, motor, motivational, cognitive states of animals

33
Q

describe classical conditioning

A
bell (CS) → no salivation
over time and training:
bell (CS) + meat powder (UCS) → salivation (UCR)
conditioning established:
bell (CS) → salivation (CR)
34
Q

describe a study that tests the classical conditioning paradigm

A

place preference study testing drug addiction
day 1: assess rats natural preference for white or black compartment
day 2-4: am → give saline and place in black room
→ give drug and place in white room
day 5: assess conditioned compartment preference
results showed rats spent longer in white compartment

35
Q

describe operant conditioning

A

specific behaviour → reinforcement (reward) → increased voluntary response
specific behaviour → punishment → decreased voluntary reward

36
Q

describe a study that tests operant conditioning

A

self stimulation paradigm
animal pressers leaver → delivers electrical stimulation to pleasure centre → reward → increases response to pressing leaver

also tested with self supplying food (chunking)

37
Q

what are the 4 semi natural animal learning paradigms

A

conditioned taste aversion
radical maze
morris water maze
conditioned defensive burying

38
Q

why are semi natural learning paradigms studied in animals?

A

because they mimic situations that an animal might encounter in their natural environment

39
Q

what type of field observations are observed in animals?

A

social dominance, aggression, courtship display, sex