PSYC 207 Chapter Notes -Hindbrain, Genetic Disorder, Melatonin
Document Summary
Detect changes in the electrical activity of neurons: brain stimulation: Induce changes in electrical activity of brain: x-ray imaging: Sensitive to density of different parts of the brain, ventricles, nuclei, and pathways: dynamic imaging: Record and manipulate ongoing changes in brain activity, including electrical activity of cells, biochemical events, difference in glucose consumption, and flow of blood to various regions. Recording the brain"s electrical activity: activity of nerve cells has an electrochemical basis (can be recorded with instruments sensitive to small electrical activity changes) Electrode inserted directly into animal"s brain, adjacent to single neuron. *most experiments must be done on nonhuman animals (place electrodes directly on brain tissue) Primates: reaching movements: sensations and experiences are conveyed in the form of action potentials. When observing brain activity, actually measuring action potential over period of time. Neurons exhibit many firing patterns in different animal species. Some discharge @ a rate, seems unrelated to behavior.