Neurophysiological techniques Flashcards
(39 cards)
name types of electrophysical neurophysiological techniques:
- direct measurement of neuronal activity
- direct manipulation of neuronal activity
electrophysiological: direct measurement eg.
- ERG (retina)
- EMG (muscle contractions)
- ECG/ EKG (heart)
- EEG
electrophysiological: direct manipulation eg.
- deep brain electrical stimulation
- transcranial magnetic stimulation - (induced electrical activation of neurons)
- optogenetics
functional imaging: features
- measures changes in neural activity indirectly
functional imaging: eg.
- functional MRI (fMRI) whole brain
- f Near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) limited to cortex
- positron emission spectroscopy (PET)
electrocenphalography (EEG): features
- traditional method of recording brain activity
- diagnostic and research uses
- increasingly replaced by imaging techniques (MRI, CT esp for locating physical damage, tumours)
electrocenphalography (EEG): still useful for diagnosis of
- sleep disorders
- epilepsy
- multiple sclerosis
- optic neuropathy (trauma, diabetes)
electrocenphalography (EEG): types of activity
- spontaneuous
- event-related activity
electrocenphalography (EEG): spontaneous activity
- electrical activity that occurs in absence of obvious stimulus or behavioural manifestation
electrocenphalography (EEG): event-related activity
- evoked potentials: electrical activity triggered by specific stimuli (images, sounds)
- induced potentials: electrical activity related to stimulus processing but w variable timing following event
electrocenphalography (EEG): mechanisms
- measures extracellular electrical currents generated by postsynaptic activity
- sum fo synchronous activity (excitation + inhibition) by neurons w similar spatial orientation
- cortical pyramidal neurons -> aligned in radial columns and fire together
electrocenphalography (EEG): volume conduction -> red arrows
- intracellular primary currents generated by synaptic activity
electrocenphalography (EEG): yellow lines
- extracellular secondary currents generated in surrounding tissues
electrocenphalography (EEG): volume conduction features
- summed w secondary currents generated by other neurons nearby
- charge spreads to surface of cortex beneath skull (volume conduction)
- voltage (potential difference) btw areas detected by scalp electrodes (V)
electrocenphalography (EEG): recording set up
- standardised scalp electrode positions to allow comparison
- 10-20 system
- spacing allows each electrode to preferentially a 6cm area of cortex
- other types of recording often performed simultaneously eg. ECG, EKG to remove artefacts or correlate w behaviours
electrocenphalography (EEG): recording compared by
- bipolar recordings = dif btw pairs of electrodes (A)
- referential recordings = dif of each electrode compared to auricle reference (B)
electrocenphalography (EEG): analysis - oscillation frequency of EEG signal indicates
- indicates normal brain state
electrocenphalography (EEG): types of brainwaves
- gamma
- beta
- alpha
- theta
- delta
electrocenphalography (EEG): recording compared by
- bipolar recordings = dif btw pairs of electrodes (A)
- referential recordings = dif of each electrode compared to auricle reference (B)
electrocenphalography (EEG): analysis - oscillation frequency of EEG signal indicates
- indicates normal brain state
electrocenphalography (EEG): types of brainwaves
- gamma
- beta
- alpha
- theta
- delta
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): technique initial
- relies on quantum properties of H atoms in body, mostly present as water
- nucleus of H atom spins around axis
- orientation is random
- in MRI machine, magnetic fields generated by electromagnets surrounding patient cause all nuclei to line up in one direction
electrocenphalography (EEG): generalised tonic-clonic ‘grand mal’ seizure
A. normal activity before
B. generalised seizure pattern (no obvious focal origin) across all electroe positions
C. waveforms obscured by muscle spasms (motor activity)
D. immediate postictal period - slow waves
E. normal activity resumed
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): features
- uses strong magnetic fields (3 Teslas)
- non-invasive tomographic techniques
- 3D reconstruction of internal anatomy from virtual sections
- no radiation