PSYCH MIDTERM 2 NOTES:
Lecture 7: Neuroimaging (Structural & Functional)
1. Describe the fundamental difference between structural and functional neuroimaging.
What sorts of research questions can be addressed with structural neuroimaging? What sorts of
research questions can be addressed with functional neuroimaging?
2. Describe and compare the different methods of structural brain imaging that are listed in
this lecture
3. Explain how an MRI machine works.
4. Describe and compare the different methods of functional brain imaging that are listed in
this lecture.
5. Explain how PET and fMRI work.
6. Discuss the many challenges involved in interpreting functional brain imaging data.
7. Read the paper by Owen (2014) posted on the main course page. It is a pop-science
article, so I expect you to understand all of the material. Critically, though: Identify and
describe the patient population in this article. Describe the methodological approach by
Owen to solve these patients’ dilemma. Describe the results of these studies.
X - Ray
● Know damages n living individuals
● Type of electro-magnetic wave - magnetic energy
● Pass thru light object
● X-Ray = name of light
● Just like photography
● Features:
○ One side has x-ray beam = pass through tissues depends on density ,
○ Other side= light sensor / capturing device
● NOT USEFUL for brain but USEFUL for bones around
, 1. Describe the fundamental difference between structural and functional neuroimaging.
What sorts of research questions can be addressed with structural neuroimaging? What
sorts of research questions can be addressed with functional neuroimaging?
Cerebral Angiography : X-Ray
● Put a dye in a blood stream that observes the x-ray more than the actual blood does
● Injection of IODINE = dye show up on x-ray
● See = all blood vessels / arteries
● Structural Imaging: static image over time, it is not showing any activity like map
● USEFUL : blood flow of static picture, looking at structures
○ look for ischemic / stroke , one of the branches will cut off ,
○ hemorrhage = blood flowing into brain
○ Aneurysm =
Computed Tomography (CT / CAT)
● 1970s = product of the beetles , won nobel prize
○ They funded the research on the CT
● X-ray technology = firing from different angles
○ take from different angles and reconstruct in a 3D model
○ In the head, skull and tissue inside the head
● Reconstruction= take many scan and put together in 3D model
● Not as valuable as MRI
● 1977- 2004 :
○ Technology hasn’t changed over years but computer programs have been better
○ Better algorithm
○ Quality image improve
● Structure of brain, no movement , see tissue
● USEFUL : first time seeing a brain
○ Show us stroke
○ Can see Tissue and fluid only
○ Cheaper to use & quicker to use
● Drawbacks: won’t see grey vs. white matter
○ Tumors
○ They are X-ray = constant exposure to radiation is not good for you
3.Explain how an MRI machine works.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
● Structural imaging
● Needs to put the magnet in super cool all the time , dangerous
● Costs a lot to shut it down
○ Tesla use =around 7 tesla is a lot
● Magnetic field is stronger than earths
● Atoms facing north pole with strong magnetic field
, ● Reconstructing images to 3D pictures = high res images
● USEFUL:
○ Can see white & grey matter
○ See tumor / neurological decline
Process of MRI
1. Put head in the MRI, hydrogen atoms align all protons with the large magnetic field
2. Perturb that alignment with a second varying magnetic field
3. Measure radiofrequency (RF) signal produced during realignment with the large
magnetic field
MRI in Neuropsychology
● Overlay Plot:
○ Exp: 15 people with decision making problem all the same , also have problem
with eating/sleeping
○ Shows damages in all the patience and see the overlaying damage area
○ USEFUL:
■ Specific maps
■ Identifying which brain area is lost
● Advantage of Traditional studies
○ Instead of looking just one they can look at multiple and find similarities
Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)
● Structural imaging
● See how HYDROGEN moves within the brain
○ Out in cell bodies or out
○ INSIDE: move any direction
, ○ OUTSIDE: up and down through axon = shows where water moves where it
wants and where is constrained = show your white matter
● Variant of MRI
● USEFUL:
○ Learning schizophrenia,
○ Studying white matter
● Broca’s Area & Wernicke’s Area = language disorders
● STUDY : Adrian Owen’s research
○ Individuals are conscious state but are not moving
○ Functioning imaging
○ See if they are really in there = family says yes
Electroencephalography (EEG)
● Electrode in the scalp
● EEG has to pass through the scalp, skin etc.. then to electrode
○ Noisy
● Millions neurons at a time
● Information About the brain state
● Deep sleep : low frequency but amplitude is
high
○ They are DELTA waves =
unconscious/ deep sleep
○ GAMMA waves = consciousness
Describe and compare the different methods of functional brain imaging that are listed in this
lecture.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
● Functioning imaging
● Many slices in 3D model
● PET uses cocaine = tiny dose so the P don’t feel anything
○ Bind and act on dopamine regions
Lecture 7: Neuroimaging (Structural & Functional)
1. Describe the fundamental difference between structural and functional neuroimaging.
What sorts of research questions can be addressed with structural neuroimaging? What sorts of
research questions can be addressed with functional neuroimaging?
2. Describe and compare the different methods of structural brain imaging that are listed in
this lecture
3. Explain how an MRI machine works.
4. Describe and compare the different methods of functional brain imaging that are listed in
this lecture.
5. Explain how PET and fMRI work.
6. Discuss the many challenges involved in interpreting functional brain imaging data.
7. Read the paper by Owen (2014) posted on the main course page. It is a pop-science
article, so I expect you to understand all of the material. Critically, though: Identify and
describe the patient population in this article. Describe the methodological approach by
Owen to solve these patients’ dilemma. Describe the results of these studies.
X - Ray
● Know damages n living individuals
● Type of electro-magnetic wave - magnetic energy
● Pass thru light object
● X-Ray = name of light
● Just like photography
● Features:
○ One side has x-ray beam = pass through tissues depends on density ,
○ Other side= light sensor / capturing device
● NOT USEFUL for brain but USEFUL for bones around
, 1. Describe the fundamental difference between structural and functional neuroimaging.
What sorts of research questions can be addressed with structural neuroimaging? What
sorts of research questions can be addressed with functional neuroimaging?
Cerebral Angiography : X-Ray
● Put a dye in a blood stream that observes the x-ray more than the actual blood does
● Injection of IODINE = dye show up on x-ray
● See = all blood vessels / arteries
● Structural Imaging: static image over time, it is not showing any activity like map
● USEFUL : blood flow of static picture, looking at structures
○ look for ischemic / stroke , one of the branches will cut off ,
○ hemorrhage = blood flowing into brain
○ Aneurysm =
Computed Tomography (CT / CAT)
● 1970s = product of the beetles , won nobel prize
○ They funded the research on the CT
● X-ray technology = firing from different angles
○ take from different angles and reconstruct in a 3D model
○ In the head, skull and tissue inside the head
● Reconstruction= take many scan and put together in 3D model
● Not as valuable as MRI
● 1977- 2004 :
○ Technology hasn’t changed over years but computer programs have been better
○ Better algorithm
○ Quality image improve
● Structure of brain, no movement , see tissue
● USEFUL : first time seeing a brain
○ Show us stroke
○ Can see Tissue and fluid only
○ Cheaper to use & quicker to use
● Drawbacks: won’t see grey vs. white matter
○ Tumors
○ They are X-ray = constant exposure to radiation is not good for you
3.Explain how an MRI machine works.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
● Structural imaging
● Needs to put the magnet in super cool all the time , dangerous
● Costs a lot to shut it down
○ Tesla use =around 7 tesla is a lot
● Magnetic field is stronger than earths
● Atoms facing north pole with strong magnetic field
, ● Reconstructing images to 3D pictures = high res images
● USEFUL:
○ Can see white & grey matter
○ See tumor / neurological decline
Process of MRI
1. Put head in the MRI, hydrogen atoms align all protons with the large magnetic field
2. Perturb that alignment with a second varying magnetic field
3. Measure radiofrequency (RF) signal produced during realignment with the large
magnetic field
MRI in Neuropsychology
● Overlay Plot:
○ Exp: 15 people with decision making problem all the same , also have problem
with eating/sleeping
○ Shows damages in all the patience and see the overlaying damage area
○ USEFUL:
■ Specific maps
■ Identifying which brain area is lost
● Advantage of Traditional studies
○ Instead of looking just one they can look at multiple and find similarities
Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)
● Structural imaging
● See how HYDROGEN moves within the brain
○ Out in cell bodies or out
○ INSIDE: move any direction
, ○ OUTSIDE: up and down through axon = shows where water moves where it
wants and where is constrained = show your white matter
● Variant of MRI
● USEFUL:
○ Learning schizophrenia,
○ Studying white matter
● Broca’s Area & Wernicke’s Area = language disorders
● STUDY : Adrian Owen’s research
○ Individuals are conscious state but are not moving
○ Functioning imaging
○ See if they are really in there = family says yes
Electroencephalography (EEG)
● Electrode in the scalp
● EEG has to pass through the scalp, skin etc.. then to electrode
○ Noisy
● Millions neurons at a time
● Information About the brain state
● Deep sleep : low frequency but amplitude is
high
○ They are DELTA waves =
unconscious/ deep sleep
○ GAMMA waves = consciousness
Describe and compare the different methods of functional brain imaging that are listed in this
lecture.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
● Functioning imaging
● Many slices in 3D model
● PET uses cocaine = tiny dose so the P don’t feel anything
○ Bind and act on dopamine regions
