PSYC 2160 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Diffusion Mri, Electromyography
CH5 RESEARCH METHODS OF BIOPSYCHOLOGY
PART 1:
methods of visualizing or stimulating the living human brain
Xray Based Techniques
–contrast xrays
→ involve injection, into one compartment of the body, of a substance that absorbs xrays either
less than or more than surrounding tissues
–CT (computed tomography)
→ a computer-assisted xray procedure than can be used to visualize the brain and other internal
structures of the living body
Radioactivity Based T's
–PET (positron emission tomography)
→ used for visualizing brain activity, usually by measuring the accumulation of radioactive
flurorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in active areas of the brain
–FDG ( flurorodeoxyglucose)
→ a molecule that is similar to glucose, and is thus rapidly taken up by active cells. However,
unlike glucose, FDG cannot be metabolized; it therefore accumulates in active cells until it is
generally broken down. A radioactive isotope of this molecule is commonly used in PET
Magnetic Field Based T's
–MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
→ a structural brain imaging procedure in which high-resolution images are constructed from the
measurement of waves that hydrogen atoms emit when they are activated by radio-frequency
waves in a magnetic field
–fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging)
→ a MRI technique for inferring brain activity by measuring increased oxygen flow into
particular areas.
–Diffusion tensor imaging
→ a MRI technique that is used for identifying major tracts
Transcranial Stimulation
–TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation)
→ can be used to stimulate (“turn on”) or turn off an area of the cortex by creating a magnetic
field under a coil positioned next to the skull
–tDCS ( transcranial direct magnetic stimulation)
→ can be used to stimulate (“turn on”) or turn off an area of the cortex by applying an electrical
current through 2 electrodes placed directly on the scalp
recording human psychophysical activity
Measures of the Brain Activity
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Part 1: methods of visualizing or stimulating the living human brain. Involve injection, into one compartment of the body, of a substance that absorbs xrays either less than or more than surrounding tissues. A computer-assisted xray procedure than can be used to visualize the brain and other internal structures of the living body. Used for visualizing brain activity, usually by measuring the accumulation of radioactive flurorodeoxyglucose (fdg) in active areas of the brain. A molecule that is similar to glucose, and is thus rapidly taken up by active cells. However, unlike glucose, fdg cannot be metabolized; it therefore accumulates in active cells until it is generally broken down. A radioactive isotope of this molecule is commonly used in pet. A structural brain imaging procedure in which high-resolution images are constructed from the measurement of waves that hydrogen atoms emit when they are activated by radio-frequency waves in a magnetic field fmri (functional magnetic resonance imaging)
