How Do We Know What We Know? Neuroscience Methods.

How Do We Know What We Know?Neuroscience Methods

Tools for Viewing Brain StructureNeuroanatomy

• Cell Body Staining

• Tract (Myelin) Staining

• Tract Tracing

• Immunocytochemistry

Tools for Viewing Brain FunctionNeurophysiology

Where can signals be recorded?

Channels Inside Outside Many

“Patch Clamp” “Intracellular” “Extracellular” “Mass Unit”

Tools for Viewing Brain FunctionNeurophysiology

Where can signals be recorded?

1

2

3

x

x x

1 = EEG

2 = ECoG

3 = Intracranial

Tools for Viewing Brain FunctionNeurophysiology

• Patch Clamp Recording

• Intracellular Recording

• Extracellular Recording

• Mass Unit Recording

• Evoked Potentials

• Electrocorticography (ECoG)

• Electroencephalography (EEG)

Where can signals be recorded?

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

Emotiv Demo

Brain Imaging

• Computed Tomography Scan (CT Scan)

• Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

• Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

CT scan• Also called a CAT scan• Computerized axial tomography• X-ray of brain tissue• Shows brain structure

Brain Imaging

PET scan• Positron Emissions Tomography• Patients drinks radioactive glucose and image shows

areas of brain activity.

Tools for Viewing Brain Structure and Activity

MRI• Magnetic Resonance Imaging• Exposes brain to magnetic field• Shows brain structure

Tools for Viewing Brain Structure and Activity

fMRI • Functional MRI• Uses magnetic field• Detects blood flow changes• Not harmful• Shows brain structure and activity

Tools for Viewing Brain Structure and Activity

Behavioral Neuroscience

• Stereotaxic Surgery

• Lesion Production/Injury

• Electrical Brain Stimulation

• Microinjection

Injury – Clinical Findings

Paul Broca and “Tan”

Injury – Clinical FindingsPhineas Gage

Brain MappingFinding out what each part of the brain does

Electrical Brain Stimulation

Also:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation