Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Bio Psych 210 > Research Methods > Flashcards

Research Methods Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 5 techniques used to measure brain activity?

A

Structural, Functional, Non Imaging, Animal, and Neuropsychological Techniques

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is Structural Imaging Techniques?

A

What the brain looks like

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the components to Structural Imaging Techniques?

A

X - ray: which are 2D image on film and best for hard tissues such as bones ~ doesn’t pick up tissues or muscles

Computerized Tomography (CT) scan - CAT Scan: series of X-ray style images taken by a specialized computer and better at soft tissues than X- ray

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): uses powerful magnets to get an image of the brain, no radiation, and can see tissue & everything in better details

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the 2 main techniques in Functional Imaging?

A

Direct and Indirect Techniques

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the sub techniques in direct imaging?

A

Electroencephalography (EEG) and Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What are the sub techniques in indirect imaging?

A

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (FMRI)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is an EEG?

A

it records electrical activity from electrodes that are on the scalp and electrical activity smears through the skull

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is spatial resolution?

A

how accurately can researchers figure out where the activity occurred

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

what is temporal resolution?

A

how accurately can researchers figure out when the activity occurred

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are EEG’s spatial and temporal resolution?

A

EEG has poor spatial resolution (lobes) - not precise and good temporal resolution (ms-difference in miliseconds)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are the pros and cons for EEG?

A

Pros:
-good temporal resolution
-relatively cheap
-able to conduct it in a small space
Cons:
-poor spatial resolution
-activity closest to the scalp is easiest to measure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is a MEG?

A

-every electrical field has a perpendicular magnetic field
-MEG detects the magnetic field (EEG would detect the electrical field)
-magnetic fields don’t smear through the skull

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the pros and cons for MEG?

A

Pros:
-good temporal resolution (ms)
-better spatial resolution than EEG
Cons:
-spatial resolution still not great
-only measures information in the grooves/sulci of the brain
-very expensive and not commonly found

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is direct imaging and which techniques are used

A

Direct imaging techniques directly measure electrical (or magnetic) activity from the brain.
- Typically use EEG and MEG

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is indirect imaging and which techniques are used?

A

Indirect Imaging techniques measure something else and assume it relates to electrical activity from the brain - Typically use PET and FMRI and measures blood flow

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What does a PET scan do?

A

a tracer is injected into the bloodstream, positrons are emitted from the tracer and creates a map of where the activity came from over a span of multiple minutes

17
Q

What are the pros and cons of PET scans?

A

Pros:
spatial resolution is good (cm)
Cons:
-temporal resolution is poor (minutes)
-small levels of radiation exposure in PET scans

18
Q

What does a FMRI do?

A

It is able to detect changes in the blood flow by looking at oxygen levels and can easily take a structural MRI scan while the subject is in the scanner

19
Q

What are the pros and cons of FMRI?

A

Pros:
-spatial resolution is good (mm)
-temporal resolution is better than PET, but not as goof as EEG/MEG
-no radiation (unlike PET)
Cons:
-scanner is loud
-only so many things you can do inside of a magnet

20
Q

What is an another concern about PET and FMRI?

A
  • both are indirect techniques
    -the assumption that blood flow equals brain activity is incorrect, the findings of PET and FMRI would be incorrect
21
Q

What non imaging technique is used ?

A

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

22
Q

What does TMS do?

A

uses magnetic wand to stimulate/inhibit the brain, magnetic waves travel through the skull easily, and can excite a brain area or inhibit it

23
Q

What are the applications used for TMS?

A

-it is used clinically for many disorders including: schizophrenia, depression, Alzheimers, and autism spectrum disorder
- rTMS can reduce brain activity and possibly stimulate cortical plasticity

24
Q

What animal technique(s) are used?

A

single - cell recordings

25
Q

What does single - cell recordings do?

A
  • an invasive technique
  • records activity using a tiny device known as a mircoelectrode
    -allows researchers to determine the specific function of a neuron
26
Q

What are the pros and cons of single-cell recordings?

A

Pros:
-excellent temporal and spatial resolution
Cons:
-misses what is happening everywhere else in the brain
- damaging to the brain of the subject
- recordings are likely extracellular and gathers activity from a few cells

27
Q

What are the 3 neuropsychological techinques?

A

direct cortical stimulation, Wada procedure, and surgeries

28
Q

What is direct cortial stimulation?

A

researchers apply a small electrical current directly to the brain and can excite or inhibit areas - typically done as a part of cortical mapping ~ allows doctors to map put areas of the brain in order to help them navigate the brain during surgery
-implanted grids of electrodes that allow for stimulation between surgeries

29
Q

What is Wada procedure?

A

-inject a barbiturate to put one half of the brain to sleep
-researchers are able to determine the functions of each brain hemisphere

30
Q

What do surgeries do?

A
  • removal of parts of the brain have been useful to understand what those areas were responsible for
  • the smaller the part removed, the easier it is to determine what it did
31
Q

What is an example of surgeries for neuropsychological techniques?

A

split brain studies

32
Q

what are split brain surgeries?

A

series of surgeries that cut the corpus callosum in a handful of epileptic patients
-left side: processed in the right hemisphere, the left hand can draw it, and can’t speak
-ride side: processed in the left hemisphere and can speak it

33
Q

What is a concern about neuropsychological techniques?

A
  • subjects brain aren’t “normal” to begin with
  • not clear how generalizable these findings are
34
Q

What is animal subject research?

A

-nervous systems are less complex
-have shorter life cycles
-have larger neurons
-have translucent embryos
- has to be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at the institution

35
Q

What are the three R’s for animal subject research?

A

the three R’s:
- Replacement ~ try to use inanimate systems instead of animal subjects
-Reduction ~ use fewer animals if possible
-Refinement ~ minimize discomfort for the animal subjects

Bio Psych 210 (9 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions