Tuesday, 19 April 2022
Lecture 1-2: Neuroanatomy (Chapter 4)
Cognitive Neuroscience
- We study mental functions that we use everyday such as perception, thinking,
decision making, action, language, attention, emotion, motivation, learning and
memory
How can we study the brain and its functions?
- Correlational research
- Experimental research
- Tools and strategies to measure brain function and cognition
1. Correlational Research:
Measures the association between two variables e.g. Whether there is a relationship
between brain size and intelligence, the relationship between the volume of the
amygdala and depression
- Correlational research cannot provide information about causality (whether A
causes B) whereas Experimental research can\
2. Experimental Research
Measures the effect of the manipulation on behaviour set by the researcher, this
approach allows inferences about causaliy. Behaviour and/or brain activity of the
subject is measured and related to the experimental manipulation e.g/ Does Alcohol
increase reaction time
Tools to measure brain function and cognition
1
,- BEHAVIORAL LEVEL
1. Reaction times
2. Eye tracking
-NEURONAL LEVEL
1. fMRI: Functional magentic resonance imaging (location)
2. EEG: Electroencephalography (timing)
Animal lesion studies
- Logic: Damaged area plays a role in accomplyshing whatever task is de cient after
the lesion
Human lesion studies
- Brain injury or surgery in patients
- Broca’s area destroyed -> Patient cannot talk
- Frontal brain damage -> Different personality
- TMS: Transcranial Magnetiuc Stimualtion -> Magnetic pulse induces a focal and
temporary virtual lesion
-Electroencephalography (EEG): Measures the activity of large groups of neurons
through a series of large electrodes placed on the scalp.
- Magnetoencephalography (MEG): A brain imaging method that detects activity via
the magnetic elds generated by brain activity.
-Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Creates images based on how atoms in living
tissue respond to a magnetic pulse delivered by the device.
-Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI): Measures how water molecules diffuse in tissue.
-Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI): Can produce images of blood ow
in the brain taken less than a second apart.
2
fi fi fl
,-Positron-Emission Tomography (PET) Scans: Measure brain activity, including
metabolism, blood ow, and neurotransmitter activity.
Broca’s area
- Man suffered from a stroke, could understand language but could not speak. Left
frontal lobe was damaged
Wernicke’s area
- Stroke victim who could talk freely but what he said made little sense (word salad)
- Patient could not understand spoken or written language
- Left upper temporal lobe damaged
Contemporary methods to map the functions of the brain
Social pain: Being left out hurts
Neural correlate of social pain can be measured with fMRI
Do psychological processes take time?
- EEG can track the time course of all processing stages between stimulus and
response with millisecond precision
Complex neural network carrying info through the body
The nervous system
1. Central nervous system (CNS)
- Composed of brain & spinal cord
- Spinal cord is the primary means for transmitting messages between the brain
2. Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
- SOMATIC DIVISION: Voluntary muscle activation
- AUTONOMIC DIVISION: Involuntary muscle action
3
fl
, a) Sympathetic
b) Parasympathetic
Peripheral Nervous System:
SOMATIC SYSTEM
Sensory neurons: Carrying messages to the central nervous system
Motor neurons: Carrying messages from CNS to voluntary muscles
4
Lecture 1-2: Neuroanatomy (Chapter 4)
Cognitive Neuroscience
- We study mental functions that we use everyday such as perception, thinking,
decision making, action, language, attention, emotion, motivation, learning and
memory
How can we study the brain and its functions?
- Correlational research
- Experimental research
- Tools and strategies to measure brain function and cognition
1. Correlational Research:
Measures the association between two variables e.g. Whether there is a relationship
between brain size and intelligence, the relationship between the volume of the
amygdala and depression
- Correlational research cannot provide information about causality (whether A
causes B) whereas Experimental research can\
2. Experimental Research
Measures the effect of the manipulation on behaviour set by the researcher, this
approach allows inferences about causaliy. Behaviour and/or brain activity of the
subject is measured and related to the experimental manipulation e.g/ Does Alcohol
increase reaction time
Tools to measure brain function and cognition
1
,- BEHAVIORAL LEVEL
1. Reaction times
2. Eye tracking
-NEURONAL LEVEL
1. fMRI: Functional magentic resonance imaging (location)
2. EEG: Electroencephalography (timing)
Animal lesion studies
- Logic: Damaged area plays a role in accomplyshing whatever task is de cient after
the lesion
Human lesion studies
- Brain injury or surgery in patients
- Broca’s area destroyed -> Patient cannot talk
- Frontal brain damage -> Different personality
- TMS: Transcranial Magnetiuc Stimualtion -> Magnetic pulse induces a focal and
temporary virtual lesion
-Electroencephalography (EEG): Measures the activity of large groups of neurons
through a series of large electrodes placed on the scalp.
- Magnetoencephalography (MEG): A brain imaging method that detects activity via
the magnetic elds generated by brain activity.
-Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Creates images based on how atoms in living
tissue respond to a magnetic pulse delivered by the device.
-Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI): Measures how water molecules diffuse in tissue.
-Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI): Can produce images of blood ow
in the brain taken less than a second apart.
2
fi fi fl
,-Positron-Emission Tomography (PET) Scans: Measure brain activity, including
metabolism, blood ow, and neurotransmitter activity.
Broca’s area
- Man suffered from a stroke, could understand language but could not speak. Left
frontal lobe was damaged
Wernicke’s area
- Stroke victim who could talk freely but what he said made little sense (word salad)
- Patient could not understand spoken or written language
- Left upper temporal lobe damaged
Contemporary methods to map the functions of the brain
Social pain: Being left out hurts
Neural correlate of social pain can be measured with fMRI
Do psychological processes take time?
- EEG can track the time course of all processing stages between stimulus and
response with millisecond precision
Complex neural network carrying info through the body
The nervous system
1. Central nervous system (CNS)
- Composed of brain & spinal cord
- Spinal cord is the primary means for transmitting messages between the brain
2. Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
- SOMATIC DIVISION: Voluntary muscle activation
- AUTONOMIC DIVISION: Involuntary muscle action
3
fl
, a) Sympathetic
b) Parasympathetic
Peripheral Nervous System:
SOMATIC SYSTEM
Sensory neurons: Carrying messages to the central nervous system
Motor neurons: Carrying messages from CNS to voluntary muscles
4
