Methods in modern neuroscience

Question 1

What are sharp electrode recordings?

Answer 1

Record changes in membrane potential by injecting current into cells

Question 2

What are the disadvantages of sharp electrode recordings?

Answer 2

no solution change inside or outside cell which means some electro injection is still possible
limited possibility for controlling membrane potential
cannot measure singular channels

Question 3

What are the two different types of patch clamping?

Answer 3

pipette-based patch clamp
planar patch clamp

Question 4

How is GFP used?

Answer 4

fusion of GFP and 2 calcium binding proteins forms a GFP based calcium indicator
in presence of calcium the 2 proteins interact, GFP becomes much brighter
when neurons are active and Ca is released it becomes brighter

Question 5

What are the benefits of confocal microscopy?

Answer 5

rejects light coming not from the focal plane and decreases the area of excitation which increases spatial resolution

Question 6

What are the problems associated with enhancer traps?

Answer 6

Does not allow for staining of individual neurons
cannot combine electrophysiology and morphology assessment for the same cell