neuromono

• What is the purpose of contrast X-ray procedures?

  To increase contrast between a bodily compartment and surrounding tissue.
• How does cerebral angiography enhance visualization of the cerebral circulatory system?

  By infusing a radio-opaque dye into a cerebral artery.
• What can contrast X-ray procedures help locate?

  Vascular damage and tumors.
• What is computed tomography (CT)?

  A computer-assisted X-ray procedure for visualizing internal structures.
• How does a brain CT scan work?

  The patient is placed in the middle of an X-ray tube and detector that circle the head.
• What is the outcome of taking 8-9 horizontal sections in a brain CT scan?

  It yields 3D brain reconstructions.
• What does Positron Emission Tomography (PET) provide images of?


  Brain activity rather than brain structure.
• What is injected into the patient's carotid artery during a PET scan?

  Radioactive fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG).
• Why do active cells absorb FDG during a PET scan?

  Because FDG is comparable to glucose and accumulates in activated neurons.
• How are areas of high activity represented in a PET scan image?


  Red and yellow colors indicate high activity.
• What does functional MRI (fMRI) measure?

  The increase in oxygen flow in the blood to active areas of the brain.
• What is the BOLD signal in fMRI?

  It is the signal recorded based on the magnetic properties of oxygenated blood.
• How has fMRI been used in cognitive neuroscience?

  It has become a widely used tool for medical diagnosis and research.
• What does diffusion tensor imaging identify?

  Pathways along which water molecules rapidly diffuse in the brain.
• Why is understanding the connectome important in brain research?


  It helps comprehend the network of connections between brain parts.
• What is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)?

  The application of an intense magnetic field to temporarily inactivate neurons.
• How does TMS help researchers study brain function?

  By enabling them to observe behavior with the brain area active and inactive.
• What is the purpose of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)?

  To stimulate an area of the cortex by applying an electrical current.
• What does scalp electroencephalography (EEG) record?


  Electrical activity of the brain through electrodes on the scalp.
• What does the scalp EEG signal reflect?

  The sum of all head electrical events, including action potentials.
• How are alpha waves characterized in EEG?

  Regular, 8-to-12-per-second, high-amplitude waves associated with relaxed wakefulness.
• What are evoked potentials in EEG studies?

  Correlations between cortical sensory neuron activity and stimuli presented to participants.
• What is electromyography (EMG) used for?

  Measuring muscle tension.
• How does magnetoencephalography (MEG) work?

  It measures changes in magnetic fields on the scalp produced by neural activity.
• What is the main benefit of MEG over EEG?

  It reduces interference from skull bones and other tissues.
• What does electrooculography (EOG) measure?


  Eye movements.
• What is skin conductance level (SCL)?

  A measure of the background level of skin conductance associated with a situation.
• What does an electrocardiogram (ECG) measure?

  Heart rate.
• What does a sphygmomanometer measure?

  Blood pressure, including systolic and diastolic pressures.
• What is stereotaxic surgery used for?

  To precisely place experimental devices in the brain.
• What is required for stereotaxic surgery?

  An atlas to guide the surgeon and an instrument to reach the target site.
• What is a stereotaxic atlas?

  A tool used to locate brain structures.
• What does skin conductance level (SCL) measure?

  It measures the background level of skin conductance associated with a particular situation.
• What does skin conductance response (SCR) measure?

  It measures transient changes in skin conductance associated with discrete experiences.
• What is the purpose of an electrocardiogram (ECG)?

  To measure heart rate using electrodes placed on the chest.
• What does a sphygmomanometer measure?

  It measures blood pressure, specifically systoles and diastoles.
• What is plethysmography used for?

  To measure changes in the volume of blood in a particular part of the body.
• What is the purpose of stereotaxic surgery?

  To precisely place experimental devices in the brain.
• What is a stereotaxic atlas used for?

  To locate brain structures similar to how a geographic atlas locates landmarks.
• How does a stereotaxic atlas represent the brain?

  It depicts the brain as a sequence of individual maps, each representing a two-dimensional frontal brain slice.