ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
single cell recording - CORRECT ANSWER function
microelectrode is placed close to individual neuron to record discharge of action potentials in the
cell
used to identify neurons that respond to particular stimuli
ex: mirror neurons fire when monkey grasps food and when the money observes experimenter
grabbing food
electroencephalogram (EEG) - CORRECT ANSWER function
multiple electrodes attached to skull and wired up to computer
amplified recording of waves of electrical activity that sweep across brain's surface
measure event-related potentials (ERPs) - provoked by specific stimulus
good temporal precision, poor spatial resolution
most widespread and least expensive technique for studying electrical activity of a large
population of neurons
gamma wave (EEG) - CORRECT ANSWER high frequency waves
,signals active exchange of information between cortical and other areas of the brain
seen in conscious state or REM
beta wave (EEG) - CORRECT ANSWER irregular, low amplitude waves
evident in frontal and usually seen on both sides of brain in symmetrical distribution
state of arousal or alertness
alpha wave (EEG) - CORRECT ANSWER synchronous waves (7.5 - 13 Hz)
relaxed, awake state
theta wave (EEG) - CORRECT ANSWER synchronous waves (3.5 - 7.5 Hz)
between sleep and wakefulness
associated with meditation, hynagogic state, creativity, memory retrieval
delta wave (EEG) - CORRECT ANSWER low frequency, high amplitude waves
during deepest stages of sleep and loss of consciousness (ex: coma)
quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) - CORRECT ANSWER function
new variant of EEG using computer algorithms
,EEG converted into brain maps
magnetoencephalography (MEG) - CORRECT ANSWER function
a lot of magnetically sensitive sensors are placed on scalp
measures magnetic fields created by brain's electrical activity
finer spatial resolution than EEG
CT/computed tomography/CAT scan - CORRECT ANSWER structure
series of x ray photos taken from different angles, then combined into picture of slice through
brain or body
PET/positron emission tomography scan - CORRECT ANSWER function
display of brain activity that shows where a radioactive form of glucose goes when the brain
performs a task
MRI/magnetic resonance imaging - CORRECT ANSWER structure
uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish
among different types of soft tissue
helps see structures within the brain
fMRI/functional magnetic resonance imaging - CORRECT ANSWER function
, measures level of activity in different parts of the brain
better than PET
very sensitive + easily skewed
measures BOLD: difference between oxygenated and deoxygenated blood flow to the brain
1990s: event related fMRI able to measure the BOLD signal
associated with individual rapidly occurring neural events
- parahippocampus + right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex correlated with levels of memory
performance for individual events
VBM/voxel based morphometry - CORRECT ANSWER structure
uses MRI scans to reveal differences between groups' regional brain volume and tissue
concentration
- posterior hippocampi of London taxicab drivers larger than control
DTI/diffusion tensor imaging + FA/fractional anisotropy - CORRECT
ANSWER structure?
DA
type of MRI
sensitive to the hindrance of water diffusion
measures white matter tracts in brain, axon density