Research Methods Flashcards
What is the main purpose of neuroimaging?
Neuroimaging examines the structure or function of the brain to understand characteristics of brain structures and their involvement in cognitive functions.
Which neuroimaging techniques are used to study brain structure?
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computerized Tomography (CT), and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI).
Which neuroimaging techniques are used to study brain function?
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET).
What is EEG and what does it measure?
Electroencephalography (EEG) records electrical currents in the brain, providing information on the timing of mental processes.
What does MEG stand for and what does it record?
Magnetoencephalography (MEG) records magnetic fields generated by brain electrical activity to understand the timing of cognitive processes.
What is non-invasive brain stimulation?
It involves delivering electrical currents or magnetic fields to the brain to study or enhance cognitive functions, often used to infer the role of specific brain regions in cognitive processes.
What does Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) do?
TMS uses a magnetic field applied on the scalp to induce changes to the electrical potentials of specific brain regions, affecting neural activity in those areas.
Describe Transcranial Electrical Stimulation (TES) and its types.
TES delivers weak electrical currents through electrodes on the scalp; types include Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS), and Random Noise Stimulation.
What is the BOLD signal in MRI?
The Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent (BOLD) signal indicates brain activity, with areas showing higher oxygen levels having a stronger MRI signal.
What are the pros and cons of fMRI?
Pros: Excellent spatial resolution. Cons: Poor temporal resolution and only provides indirect measurements of brain activity.
What is the main advantage of non-invasive brain stimulation like TMS?
It provides causal information by showing that stimulation in one brain region affects specific functions, helping infer brain function relationships.
What are the challenges in using neuroimaging to study brain and cognition?
Integrating information from different methods, as each technique has strengths and weaknesses depending on spatial and temporal resolution and the type of data (structural vs. functional).
