Research Methods in Behavioral Neuroscience

Question 1

Microdialysis

Answer 1

Measure neurotransmitter output from local brain region

Question 2

Histology

Answer 2

Microanatomy of cells

Question 3

Sort of stains opposite nissil stains

Answer 3

myelin stain

Question 4

Random which cells take the stain. Single cell. Complex structure

Answer 4

Golgi stain

Question 5

What does the speed tell us when looking at research

Answer 5

Temporal resolution. Slow vs fast. The timing

Question 6

Molecules tagged with radioactive isotope and injected into blood. Positrons are emitted, collide with electrons, create photons that are detectable

Answer 6

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Question 7

Individual neurons express different colors

Answer 7

brainbow

Question 8

Infusion

Answer 8

Put chemicals directly in to local brain region. Keep it from being widespread. Only affects one area.

Question 9

Great still image quality, no radiation. Long scan time, expensive, claustrophobic

Answer 9

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Question 10

Low vs High invasiveness

Answer 10

Does it require surgery?

Question 11

Early method used to inaccurately link bumps to traits. Led to localizations

Answer 11

Phrenology

Question 12

Shows structural connections

Answer 12

brainbow

Question 13

Improved spatial resolution over EEG, fast temp. resolution, non-invasive. Very large, expensive, requires helium for SQUID sensor.

Answer 13

Magnetoencephalogram (MEG)

Question 14

Aligns water molecules, adjusts the molecules, then takes an image

Answer 14

MRI

Question 15

Criticized as “dead fish” and modern phrenology

Answer 15

fMRI

Question 16

Fine wire/glass electrodes implanted into brain. Answers when action potentials correlate with behavior. Fast temporal resolution with small spatial resolution

Answer 16

Intracellular: Microelectrode single unit or multi unit

Question 17

Used in gene editing: Cre-Lox recombination. Merging genetics and neuroscience

Answer 17

brainbow

Question 18

Records sum total of extracellular post-synaptic potentials (not action potentials)

Answer 18

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Question 19

Piercing the skull

Answer 19

craniotomy

Question 20

Nissil Stains

Answer 20

Cell bodies/nuclei, layers

Question 21

Identifies neural pathways and connections

Answer 21

myelin stain

Question 22

Cannulation

Answer 22

Insert a specialized probe

Question 23

What does the scale tell us when looking at research

Answer 23

Spatial resolution. Small vs large. The zoom

Question 24

Accessible, good for diagnosing, less claustrophobic, quick scan time. Not great quality, not often used in research, radiation exposure

Answer 24

CT scan

Question 25

Microcrystalization of silver chromate

Answer 25

Golgi stain

Question 26

Recorded with micro electrode arrays implanted in brain. Detects oscillatory (sinusoidal) patterns. Like sections in a stadium. When regions are synchronized in electrical communication

Answer 26

Extracellular: Local field potentials (LFP)

Question 27

Light coloring shows cell bodies, dendrites

Answer 27

myelin stain

Question 28

High temp. resolution, safe, portable, affordable. Low spatial resolution, can't go beyond a few mm deep, signal noise

Answer 28

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Question 29

Golgi Silver Stain

Answer 29

Structural. Random single cells, structural features.

Question 30

How do you pick the right tool

Answer 30

depends on the population you study

Question 31

Focusing a strong magnet to decrease or increase neural activity in a certain section

Answer 31

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

Question 32

The black reaction

Answer 32

Golgi stain

Question 33

What to think about when looking at research

Answer 33

Scale, speed, structure v function, static v dynamic, low v high invasiveness, unique risks, ethical concerns, cost, and accessibility

Question 34

What can you do with a stereotaxic machine in surgery?

Answer 34

Lesion, ablation, cannulation, infusion, and microdialysis

Question 35

Changes in blood flow and blood oxygenation closely linked with neural activity. Ratio of oxygenated hemoglobin to deoxyhemoglobin determines areas of brain activation

Answer 35

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

Question 36

Shows dark coloring that are axons, fiber tracts (white matter)

Answer 36

myelin stain

Question 37

Reasons for animal models

Answer 37

Controlled environment, homogenous history, briefer development and lifespan, some experiments can't be ethically done on people

Question 38

Shows bright multicolored labeling of neuronal circuits with fluorescent proteins and chemical tags

Answer 38

brainbow

Question 39

Uses glass micro-pipettes to show a single ion channel open or closed

Answer 39

Cellular: patch clamp electrodes

Question 40

Tells us where are connections and how do they change

Answer 40

Connectome mapping

Question 41

Ethical research with humans

Answer 41

Institutional oversight, informed consent, minimizing pain discomfort and risk, debriefing, no coercion, confidentiality

Question 42

Lesion

Answer 42

Any abnormal damage or change in tissue

Question 43

Stains fatty myelin sheath that forms insulation around axons

Answer 43

myelin stain

Question 44

Ablation

Answer 44

Removal of tissue. Suck it out with a vacuum

Question 45

What machine is used in assisting brain surgery?

Answer 45

Stereotaxic machine

Question 46

Sort of stains opposite myelin stains

Answer 46

nissil stain

Question 47

Myelin stains

Answer 47

axon/fiber tracts, connections

Question 48

Electrodes placed directly on surface of cortex. Records local field potentials, not action potentials. Usually done during brain surgery. High risk.

Answer 48

Cortical surface: Electrocorticogram (ECoG)

Question 49

Answers big structural questions by combining x-ray images taken from different angles. Exposure to ionizing radiation

Answer 49

Computed Tomography (CT or CAT) scan

Question 50

Structure vs Function

Answer 50

``` Structure = what does it look like Function = what does it do ```

Question 51

Two electrical stimulation methods

Answer 51

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and Deep brain stimulation (DBS)

Question 52

Structural imaging tools

Answer 52

CT, MRI, DTI

Question 53

Measures aggregate graded potentials (extracellular ionic flow) from many thousands of neurons. Correlates with changes in behavior and consciousness

Answer 53

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Question 54

Shows dark spots that are the rough endoplasmic reticulum in the cell nucleus (gray matter)

Answer 54

nissil stain

Question 55

Uses diffusion of water to map white matter tracts throughout the brain. Connectome mapping - where do the connections form and how do they change. Normal and abnormal pathways

Answer 55

Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)

Question 56

Static vs Dynamic

Answer 56

``` Static = stays the same Dynamic = Changes over time ```

Question 57

Brainbow

Answer 57

Bright, fluorescent single cell. Certain cells color under certain conditions

Question 58

Measures neurons electrical activity using a SQUID sensor

Answer 58

Magnetoencephalogram (MEG)

Question 59

Identifies populations of cell bodies and layered structures like the cortex and hippocampus

Answer 59

nissil stain