Methods of Studying the Nervous System - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards generated from Chapter 5 study notes covering nervous system research methods, imaging techniques, noninvasive and invasive procedures, chemical and genetic tools, and animal behavioral paradigms.

Converging operations

The use of different research methods that independently address the same question to strengthen scientific conclusions.

Contrast X-rays

An imaging technique where a contrast substance is introduced into a body compartment to make specific structures stand out.

Cerebral angiography

A contrast X-ray technique that uses contrast material to visualize blood vessels in the brain.

Computed tomography (CT)

A brain-imaging method that reconstructs multiple X-ray measurements taken from different angles into cross-sectional and 3-D images.

Positron emission tomography (PET)

A functional brain-imaging technique that administers a radioactive tracer to measure aspects of metabolism or receptor activity based on positron decay signals.

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)

A specialized form of MRI that estimates the direction of water diffusion in white matter to map probable fiber pathways.

Functional MRI (fMRI)

A neuroimaging method that measures blood oxygenation changes (BOLD signal) as an indirect indicator of neural activity.

Functional ultrasound (fUS)

An imaging technique that uses ultrasound to detect blood-flow changes and provide functional information with high temporal resolution.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)

A noninvasive technique using changing magnetic fields to induce electrical currents in the cortex, temporarily disrupting or facilitating processing.

Electroencephalography (EEG)

A technique using scalp electrodes to record summed electrical activity from synchronized postsynaptic potentials, offering excellent temporal resolution.

Magnetoencephalography (MEG)

A noninvasive technique that measures magnetic fields produced by neural activity with excellent temporal resolution.

Electromyography (EMG)

A physiological recording method that measures electrical activity associated with muscle contraction.

Electro-oculography (EOG)

A technique that measures eye movements by recording voltage differences around the eyes.

Skin conductance level/response (SCL/SCR)

A measure of sweat-gland activity frequently used as an index of autonomic arousal.

Stereotaxic surgery

An invasive surgical procedure using a stereotaxic apparatus and a brain atlas to position electrodes, cannulas, or lesions at precise brain coordinates.

Cryogenic lesions

A lesion method that temporarily inactivates neural tissue by cooling it.

6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)

A selective neurotoxin used to selectively damage catecholamine neurons, particularly dopamine pathways.

2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) autoradiography

A metabolic technique using a radioactive glucose analog that active cells absorb but cannot fully metabolize, revealing relative metabolic activity in tissue.

Cerebral microdialysis

An invasive chemical method using a probe to sample extracellular fluid and measure neurotransmitters or chemicals in a specific brain region over time.

Immunocytochemistry

A cellular technique using labeled antibodies to locate specific proteins, neurotransmitters, enzymes, or receptors in brain tissue.

In situ hybridization

A technique using labeled nucleic-acid probes to locate specific RNA sequences and reveal gene expression in tissue.

Gene knockout

A genetic procedure in which a specific gene is disabled or removed to investigate the effects of its absence.

Gene knockin

A genetic technique where a gene or altered DNA sequence is inserted at a targeted location to add, modify, or track a gene's function.

CRISPR/Cas9

A gene-editing tool using a guide RNA to target Cas9 to cut specific DNA sequences, allowing gene disruption or targeted editing.

Brainbow

A technique using combinations of fluorescent proteins to distinctively color neighboring neurons and trace neural connections.

Optogenetics

A method that inserts light-sensitive proteins (opsins) into specific neurons, allowing light to activate or inhibit them with high temporal precision.

Paired-image subtraction

A functional imaging analysis technique that subtracts brain activity during a control task from activity during a target task to isolate process-specific activity.

Default mode network (DMN)

A set of brain regions showing increased activity during rest or internal thought and decreased activity during externally focused tasks.

Functional connectivity

A measure of the statistical relationships between activity patterns in different brain regions, categorized as intrinsic or extrinsic.

Conditioned taste aversion

A seminatural behavioral paradigm in which animals learn to avoid a distinct flavor that has been previously associated with illness.

Morris water maze

A seminatural behavioral task used to test spatial learning and memory in animals as they search for a hidden submerged platform.

Conditioned defensive burying

A seminatural behavioral paradigm that measures an animal's defensive response, such as spraying bedding material toward an aversive stimulus.