L5: Research Methods in Behavioral Neuroscience

Question 1

What is the goal of behavioral neuroscience research?

Answer 1

to understand the neural determinants of a specific behavior

Question 2

A scientific strategy to break a system down into increasingly smaller parts to understand it

EX: brain –> structure –> NT –> receptor –> 2nd messenger

Answer 2

Reductionist approach

Question 3

Answer 3

Question 4

Answer 4

Question 5

turning point of operant self-administration;

“_____” maintain addictions

Answer 5

turning point of operant self-administration = extinction

“ques” maintain addictions

Question 6

When observing or manipulating the brain following/during a behavior, there are many different “________” that allow us to see what is happening in the brain to cause ________

Answer 6

When observing or manipulating the brain following/during a behavior, there are many different “endpoints” that allow us to see what is happening in the brain to cause relapse

Question 7

Answer 7

Question 8

“solid arrangement” surgery that immobilizes the head and allows us to know the location of the brain w/ an atlas

Answer 8

stereotaxic surgery/apparatus

Question 9

way to navigate through the brain areas located by their “coordinates”; 2 landmarks it relies on?

Answer 9

stereotaxic atlas; lamba & bregma

Question 10

region of stereotaxic atlas that everything is marked laterally and relative to

Answer 10

Bregma

Question 11

region of the stereotaxic atlas where 3 lines meet

Answer 11

Lambda

Question 12

Answer 12

Question 13

Answer 13

Question 14

Answer 14

Question 15

Endpoint #3?

and what are the 2 tests?

Answer 15

Genetic Methods–> Protein Expression

Immunohistochemistry & Western Blots

Question 16

Endpoint #3: Genetic Method of protein expression that refers to the process of detecting antigens (e.g. proteins) in cells of a tissue section by exploiting the principle of antibodies binding specifically to antigens in biological tissues.

Answer 16

Immunohistochemistry

Question 17

Endpoint #3: Genetic method of protein expression that refers to the less specific method which utilizes gel electrophoesis on an entire slice

• Different from other method bc?
• What signifies increased proteins?
• Preferred method if..?

Answer 17

Western Blotting

Differs bc do NOT need a specific antibody

Larger, Darker band signifies increased proteins

Preferred method if have an idea of protein

Question 18

Endpoint #3: Genetic Methods that utilizes mRNA (2)

Answer 18

In situ hybridization

qPCR

Question 19

A method for detecting particular RNA transcripts in tissue sections by providing a nucleotide probe that is complementary to, and will therefore hybridize with the transcript of interest to identify neurons

Answer 19

In situ hybridization

Question 20

method for detecting particular RNA transcripts in tissue by monitoring the amplification of DNA with a polymerase chain reaction in a test tube in real time

Answer 20

qPCR

Question 21

2 methods used by targeted mutations/expressions to manipulate behavior

Answer 21

1. Knockout animals
   
   1. Knocking out all areas of brain
2. Viral over/Under Expression
   
   1. Increase/decrease by stereotaxic surgery in specific brain region being studied

Question 22

type of endpoint protein expression typically used in mice where you eliminate 1 gene from the genotype & look for phenotypic differences

Answer 22

knock-out animals

Question 23

type of endpoint protein expression where viruses enter the host cell & insert their genome (sometimes permanently); can take advatage of this property & insert a target gene into the viral DNA so target gene is overexpressed instead of “sickness” gene

Answer 23

viral vector mediated over-expression

Question 24

KNOW!

virus that takes genes out and puts genes in?

What makes virus replication inefficient?

Answer 24

Adenovirus

Spread and infection of all cells

Question 25

technique used to stop RNA from creating proteins

Answer 25

Gene Silencing Techniques

Question 26

Answer 26

Question 27

Identify the type of study:

Answer 27

Viral Over-Expression Study

Question 28

Answer 28

Question 29

Answer 29

Question 30

Example of which endpoint?

Component of?

Attempting to?

Answer 30

Example of Patch Clamp; component of Brain Slicing of endpoint #4- electrical properties of neurons w/ Microelectrodes; attempting to change voltage

Question 31

Answer 31

Question 32

Answer 32

Question 33

Answer 33