Summary Cognition and Neuroscience: Techniques for assessing brain anatomy
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Course
Psychology (PSY2010S)
Institution
University Of Cape Town (UCT)
Book
The Student\'s Guide to Cognitive Neuroscience
This is a summary of the techniques used to assess brain anatomy and activity. Typically a cognition and neuroscience course. I did this course in my second year of university, the course was NeuroPsychology. This summary is as simplified as can be without omitting important details.
Samenvatting The Student's Guide to Cognitive Neuroscience van Ward - voor het vak Cognitieve Neurowetenschappen voor Geesteswetenschappers
Aantekeningen colleges 1-10 | 0HV40 Brain Body And Behaviour
Summary of all terms and definitions from The Student's Guide to Cognitive Neuroscience by Jamie Ward, Third Edition
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University of Cape Town (UCT)
Psychology (PSY2010S)
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Rd
Banich & Compton (2011) Cognitive Neuroscience, 3 Ed. Wadsworth Cengage.
nd
Jamie Ward (2010). Student’s Guide to Cognitive Neuroscience, 2 Ed. Psychology Press
nd
M Gazzaniga, R Ivry & G Mangun (2002) Cognitive Neuroscience 2 Ed. Norton
Techniques for assessing brain anatomy
Computerized Axial Tomography (CAT SCAN)
• Uses x-rays to determine the density of the brain
• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is less dense than brain tissue. Brain tissue is less dense
than blood. Blood is less dense than bone.
• Tissue that is dense will appear white and tissue/material that is more dense will
appear black. For example: bone will appear white and CSF will appear black
• CAT provides slides of the brain stacked on top of each other
• Regions of the brain that have been damaged in the past will appear darker than the
tissue that surrounds it due to being filled with less dense CSF
• Likewise, places where bleeding has occurred will be lighter because blood is less
dense than brain tissue
• The advantages of CAT scans is that they are not expensive and can be administered
to anybody
• The disadvantage is that the x-rays use radiation and patients get exposed to that
ionizing radiation
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Technique that relies on the use of magnetic fields to distort the behaviour of protons
• This information is then used to create an image of the anatomy of the brain
• MRI relies on three magnetic fields:
• Static field – a constant magnetic field whose strength determines the strength of the
MRI machines. It causes all the magnetically sensitive particles to align themselves in
the same direction.
• Pulse sequence – an oscillating magnetic field. The time it takes for the protons to go
back to their original state (relaxation time) is recorded through a radio-frequency coil
that acts as a receiver coil (positioned around or near to the persons head).the
intensity of the signal received by the receiver coil indicates the concentration of the
particular substance in the brain.
• Gradient field – varies in intensity over the area being imaged. Provides a way to
identify particular locations which allows for the identification of where the signals
are coming from. A 3-d image of the brain is able to be formed due to spatial
information and signal intensity received.
• The advantages of MRI’s is that they do not require x-rays therefore there is no
ionizing radiation and the resolution of the image is much clearer
• The disadvantages are that it is costly and cannot be administered on individuals with
pacemakers
• There is a recently developed anatomical MRI method called diffusion tensor imaging
(DTI) which not only provides information about the structural integrity of brain
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