module 2: research methods in biopsych

Question 1

computed tomography

Answer 1

multiple x-ray’s on each horizontal plane; computed to generate a scan of one horizontal section of the brain; done for about 8 or 9 sections

Question 2

positron emission tomography (PET)

Answer 2

radioactive substance injected into patient; different amounts taken up at different areas, a measure of metabolism; areas that are working harder will take up more of the substance

Question 3

what was the first technique to provide images of brain activity (functional brain images)?

Answer 3

PET

Question 4

common radioactive substance used in PET scans

Answer 4

fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)

Question 5

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Answer 5

structural brain-imaging procedure in which high-resolution images are constructed from the measurement of radio-frequency waves that hydrogen atoms emit as they align with a powerful magnetic field; can be 3D

Question 6

which provides clearer images, CT or MRI?

Answer 6

MRI

Question 7

functional MRI (fMRI)

Answer 7

produces images representing the increase in oxygen flow in the blood to active areas of the brain; active areas take up more oxygenated blood and oxygenated blood has magnetic properties that influence the RF waves emitted by hydrogen atoms in an MRI; signal recorded is called the BOLD signal

Question 8

BOLD signal

Answer 8

blood-oxygen-level-dependent signal; fMRI signal

Question 9

fMRI advantages over PET (4)

Answer 9

(1) no injection, (2) both structural and functional info, (3) better spatial resolution and (4) can be used to produce 3D image of active over the entire brain

Question 10

disadvantage of fMRI

Answer 10

poor temporal resolution

Question 11

transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Answer 11

used to turn off/on an area of human cortex by creating a magnetic field under a coil positioned next to the skull

Question 12

transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

Answer 12

stimulate cortex area by applying an electrical current through two electrodes placed directly on the scalp

Question 13

electroencephalography (EEG)

Answer 13

measure of gross electrical activity of the brain; some EEG wave forms are associated with particular states of consciousness

Question 14

EEG alpha waves

Answer 14

regular, 8-12 per second, high amplitude relaxed wakefulness

Question 15

event-related potentials (ERPs)

Answer 15

EEG waves that accompany certain psychological events

Question 16

signal averaging

Answer 16

method used to reduce the noice of the background EEG,

Question 17

magnetocephalography

Answer 17

measures changes in magnetic fields on the surface of the scalp that are produced by changes in underlying patterns of neural activity

Question 18

electromyography

Answer 18

measures muscle tension

Question 19

electrooculography

Answer 19

records eye movement

Question 20

indexes of electrodermal activity (2)

Answer 20

(1) skin conductance level (SCL) and (2) skin conductance response (SCR)

Question 21

electrocardiogram

Answer 21

measures electrical signal associated with each heartbeat

Question 22

normal resting blood pressure for an adult

Answer 22

130/70 mmHg

Question 23

sphygmomanometer

Answer 23

measures blood preasure

Question 24

plethysmography

Answer 24

measures changes in blood volume in a particular area

Question 25

stereotaxic atlas

Answer 25

used to locate brain structures; reference point is the bregma (point where the two major sutures intersect)