Mod 5

Module Five: Understanding Brain Function and Neural Activity

Introduction to Brain Function

• Overview of how psychological information is understood through brain activity.

• Reference to Franz Gall's phrenology which involves studying head bumps to infer behavioral traits.

• Historical context: Changes in behavior and personality following brain trauma led to insights about brain regions responsible for specific functions.

Methods of Brain Study

• Destruction of Brain Cells: The selective destruction of brain cell clusters to observe the resulting effects on behavior and functions.

• Brain Stimulation: Using electric, chemical, or magnetic stimulation to study brain function and observe behavioral changes.

• Tissue Lesions: Can occur naturally (due to disease/trauma), during surgeries, or experimentally for research.

Measuring Neural Activity

• EEG (Electroencephalogram)

  • Amplified recording of electrical activities across the brain measured through electrodes on the scalp.

  • Notable improvements made since 1972; modern techniques don't require physical scalp alteration.

• MEG (Magnetoencephalography)

  • Imaging technique measuring magnetic fields resulting from the brain's electrical activity.

• PET (Positron Emission Tomography)

  • Detects activity by tracking radioactive glucose to see where it moves during tasks, indicating brain function.

• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

  • Uses strong magnetic fields to create detailed images of brain anatomy and soft tissues overlaid with radio waves.

• fMRI (Functional MRI)

  • Focuses on changes in blood flow to infer activity and brain function through comparison of successive MRI scans.

Case Studies and Images

• Reference to Table 5.1, demonstrating neural measures and their characteristics.

• Example images:

  • Comparison of brain scans between non-schizophrenic individuals and those with schizophrenia, notably enlarged ventricles in schizophrenia patients.

Innovations in Brain Imaging

• Mention of Europe's Human Brain Project, which utilizes advanced diffusion tensor imaging MRI methods to study neural interconnectivity.

• Creation of a diffusion spectrum image showcasing a new brain map highlighting 100 newly described neural centers.

Conclusion

• Summary of emerging techniques to better understand brain functionality and connectivity through ongoing advancements in neurological research.