Research Methods in Behavioral Neuroscience Flashcards
Microdialysis
Measure neurotransmitter output from local brain region
Histology
Microanatomy of cells
Sort of stains opposite nissil stains
myelin stain
Random which cells take the stain. Single cell. Complex structure
Golgi stain
What does the speed tell us when looking at research
Temporal resolution. Slow vs fast. The timing
Molecules tagged with radioactive isotope and injected into blood. Positrons are emitted, collide with electrons, create photons that are detectable
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
Individual neurons express different colors
brainbow
Infusion
Put chemicals directly in to local brain region. Keep it from being widespread. Only affects one area.
Great still image quality, no radiation. Long scan time, expensive, claustrophobic
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Low vs High invasiveness
Does it require surgery?
Early method used to inaccurately link bumps to traits. Led to localizations
Phrenology
Shows structural connections
brainbow
Improved spatial resolution over EEG, fast temp. resolution, non-invasive. Very large, expensive, requires helium for SQUID sensor.
Magnetoencephalogram (MEG)
Aligns water molecules, adjusts the molecules, then takes an image
MRI
Criticized as “dead fish” and modern phrenology
fMRI
Fine wire/glass electrodes implanted into brain. Answers when action potentials correlate with behavior. Fast temporal resolution with small spatial resolution
Intracellular: Microelectrode single unit or multi unit
Used in gene editing: Cre-Lox recombination. Merging genetics and neuroscience
brainbow
Records sum total of extracellular post-synaptic potentials (not action potentials)
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Piercing the skull
craniotomy
Nissil Stains
Cell bodies/nuclei, layers
Identifies neural pathways and connections
myelin stain
Cannulation
Insert a specialized probe
What does the scale tell us when looking at research
Spatial resolution. Small vs large. The zoom
Accessible, good for diagnosing, less claustrophobic, quick scan time. Not great quality, not often used in research, radiation exposure
CT scan
Microcrystalization of silver chromate
Golgi stain
Recorded with micro electrode arrays implanted in brain. Detects oscillatory (sinusoidal) patterns. Like sections in a stadium. When regions are synchronized in electrical communication
Extracellular: Local field potentials (LFP)
Light coloring shows cell bodies, dendrites
myelin stain
High temp. resolution, safe, portable, affordable. Low spatial resolution, can’t go beyond a few mm deep, signal noise
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Golgi Silver Stain
Structural. Random single cells, structural features.
How do you pick the right tool
depends on the population you study
Focusing a strong magnet to decrease or increase neural activity in a certain section
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
The black reaction
Golgi stain
What to think about when looking at research
Scale, speed, structure v function, static v dynamic, low v high invasiveness, unique risks, ethical concerns, cost, and accessibility
What can you do with a stereotaxic machine in surgery?
Lesion, ablation, cannulation, infusion, and microdialysis
Changes in blood flow and blood oxygenation closely linked with neural activity. Ratio of oxygenated hemoglobin to deoxyhemoglobin determines areas of brain activation
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
Shows dark coloring that are axons, fiber tracts (white matter)
myelin stain
Reasons for animal models
Controlled environment, homogenous history, briefer development and lifespan, some experiments can’t be ethically done on people
Shows bright multicolored labeling of neuronal circuits with fluorescent proteins and chemical tags
brainbow
Uses glass micro-pipettes to show a single ion channel open or closed
Cellular: patch clamp electrodes
Tells us where are connections and how do they change
Connectome mapping
Ethical research with humans
Institutional oversight, informed consent, minimizing pain discomfort and risk, debriefing, no coercion, confidentiality
Lesion
Any abnormal damage or change in tissue
Stains fatty myelin sheath that forms insulation around axons
myelin stain
Ablation
Removal of tissue. Suck it out with a vacuum
What machine is used in assisting brain surgery?
Stereotaxic machine
Sort of stains opposite myelin stains
nissil stain
Myelin stains
axon/fiber tracts, connections
Electrodes placed directly on surface of cortex. Records local field potentials, not action potentials. Usually done during brain surgery. High risk.
Cortical surface: Electrocorticogram (ECoG)
Answers big structural questions by combining x-ray images taken from different angles. Exposure to ionizing radiation
Computed Tomography (CT or CAT) scan
Structure vs Function
Structure = what does it look like Function = what does it do
Two electrical stimulation methods
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and Deep brain stimulation (DBS)
Structural imaging tools
CT, MRI, DTI
Measures aggregate graded potentials (extracellular ionic flow) from many thousands of neurons. Correlates with changes in behavior and consciousness
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Shows dark spots that are the rough endoplasmic reticulum in the cell nucleus (gray matter)
nissil stain
Uses diffusion of water to map white matter tracts throughout the brain. Connectome mapping - where do the connections form and how do they change. Normal and abnormal pathways
Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)
Static vs Dynamic
Static = stays the same Dynamic = Changes over time
Brainbow
Bright, fluorescent single cell. Certain cells color under certain conditions
Measures neurons electrical activity using a SQUID sensor
Magnetoencephalogram (MEG)
Identifies populations of cell bodies and layered structures like the cortex and hippocampus
nissil stain
