why is animal research beneficial
some methods are unethical and impossible on humans
brain behavior relationships are similar in animals and humans
what are the 6 steps of the histological method
- kill animal
- drain blood and replace it with a different fluid
- neural tissue in a fixative to harden the tissue
- tissue is sliced with a microtome
- tissue gets stained
- examine using the electron microscope
how many lesion methods are there
5
Name that lesion method:
destruction and removal of a brain region
experimental ablasion
Name that lesion method:
- Injection of excitatory amino acid
- Destroys cell bodies but not axons
excitotoxic lesion
Name that lesion method:
- Performed on a control animal
- Insert electrode/cannula but do not perform a lesion
- This is done to confirm that the handling of the animal or other aspects of the surgery were NOT what caused the changes in the experimental animal
Sham lesion
Name that lesion method:
Standardized process specific to the species by using an apparatus that locates the brain region with more precision than human hands can
Stereotaxic surgery
Name that lesion method:
- Dissecting the brain after death
- This is done on humans with neurological disorders (if they give permission) to confirm/explore the brain regions that were affected by the disorder.
Postmortem
what brain recording method is used animals only
single unit recording
Name that brain recording method:
Involves inserting an electrode into the brain of an animal
single unit recording
Name that brain recording method:
Based on same principles as x-rays
visualize large general structures
done on body parts and brains
computerized tomography (CT scan)
Name that brain recording method:
Takes advantage of the magnetic properties of organic tissue
Gives a much clearer image of the brain than the CT scan
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Name that brain recording method:
Used to treat depression (and some other clinical disorders) and to research brain function
transcranial magnetic simulation
Name that brain recording method:
Recording of magnetic potentials at the scalp
Synchronous activity of aligned fields of dendrites (e.g. active neurons) creates a dipole (magnetic field)
Tiny signal
Magnetoencephalograhy (MEG)
Name that brain recording method:
can measure bloodflow and/or the metabolism of neurotransmitters
Mildly invasive
Very expensive, well established, requires specially trained medical staff
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
Name that brain recording method:
confirms the lateralization of language and the location of other important brain
Electroencephalography (EEG)
5 behavioral neuroscience methods
brain lesion studies double dissociation Neuropsychological assessment Brain imaging Electrophysiological studies
Drug-induced changes in the functioning of cells in the nervous system
neuropharmacology
Drug-induced changes in mood, thinking, and behavior
psychopharmacology
Specific molecular changes produced by a drug when it binds to a particular target site (or receptor)
drug action
The result of drug action
widespread alterations in physiological or psychological functions
drug effect
t/f: The site of drug action may be different from the site of drug effects
true
Desired physical/behavioral changes
therapeutic effects
Undesired physical/behavioral changes (can be minor or life-threatening)
side effects
