Research Methods

Question 1

Retrograde labeling

Answer 1

Identify locations of neurons whose axons terminate in a certain region
Inject substance into a target region
Animal

Question 2

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Answer 2

Uses magnetic field and radio waves to show a slice of the brain
Shows damage
Human

Question 3

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)

Answer 3

Uses an MRI scanner to show bundles of axons (tracts)
Measures water flow in the axon
Human and animal

Question 4

Microelectrode arrays

Answer 4

Implanted in brain; Record electrical activity of single neurons
Good spatial and temporal
Animals

Question 5

EEG (macro electrodes)

Answer 5

Record dendritic postsynaptic potentials across a population
Good temporal, poor spatial
Human and animal

Question 6

Position emission tomography (PET)

Answer 6

Injects radioactive glucose to see activated parts of brain
Poor temporal and spatial resolution
Good for measuring chemistry of brain
Animal and human

Question 7

Functional MRI

Answer 7

Records metabolic activity of regions of brain
Good spatial, poor temporal
Animal and human

Question 8

Advantages of fMRI over PET:

Answer 8

1. No radioactive injections needed
2. Structure and function
3. Shorter imaging time
4. Better temporal and spatial resolution

Question 9

Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

Answer 9

Measures changes in magnetic fields induced by neuronal activity
Can determine the location of a group of neurons firing at the same time and the order of firing
Good temporal and spatial
Animal and human

Question 10

Magnetic source imaging (MSI)

Answer 10

Used to make functional neuroimages from MEG data

Better temporal resolution than fMRI but worse spatial resolution

Question 11

Electrical stimulation

Answer 11

Stimulates neurons near the tip of the electrode and axons passing through region to discover the function of an area
Animal and human

Question 12

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Answer 12

Induce functional lesions in cortex with an electromagnet

Animal and human

Question 13

Fiber optic neural control OR optogenetics

Answer 13

To stimulate the brain with light
Can target specific types of neurons
Animal

Question 14

Convergence

Answer 14

Group of methods all point to the same interpretation

Question 15

Double dissociation

Answer 15

2 patients with damage to 2 discrete brain areas where 1 person can do x but not y and vice versa.
Left hemisphere lesion causes verbal processing deficits and disrupts speech
Right hemisphere lesion causes visuospatial or melody recognition deficits

Question 16

Stereotaxic atlas

Answer 16

Map of animals brain you would apply to another animal

Question 17

Types of stains:

Answer 17

Golgi – stains random, while neurons
Nissel – stains cell bodies
Weigert – stains myelin

Question 18

Cat scan (CT)

Answer 18

Uses x-rays to make a picture

Question 19

Anterograde labeling

Answer 19

Identify axons leaving a particular region and the terminal buttons of these axons
Inject substance into the nucleus & its transported to the terminal
Animal