Brain Imaging Techniques

Category Module 2

Files

Created @May 19, 2023 9:46 AM

Reminder

Status Open

URL

Updated @June 3, 2023 1:41 AM

Static Imaging
CAT Scan

Computerized Axial Tomography

technique in which highly focused converging beams of X-rays are passed

through the head from many different angles

the differing types of brain tissues have differing densities and thus deflect the
X-rays differently allowing visualization of the organ

MRI Scan

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

takes advantage of the different magnetic properties of tissues in the brain that,
under a powerful magnetic field, produce an electromagnetic signal that the
scanner detects

these electromagnetic signals allow the visualization of the underlying structure

of the brain

for neural imaging purposes, MRI scans are typically preferred over CAT scans

MRI requires no exposure to radiation

Brain Imaging Techniques 1

 MRI scans provide more detailed image of underlying structures of the brain

MRI has other powerful functions: can also measure the functional aspects of
the brain

Dynamic of Functional Neuroimaging

all neuroimaging techniques rely on two different types of activity that happens in
the brain

1. When neurons fire in the brain, they produce electrical activity (Event-Related
Potentials, ERP) → electrical activity = cognitive tasks

a. By placing metal electrodes on the scalp neuroscientists can measure this

electrical activity

b. By measuring the time course and location of this activity, inferences can be
made about how the brain is responding to certain cognitive stimuli

2. A second group of functional neuroimaging techniques measure the byproduct

of this electrical activity

a. By-product is metabolism / blood flow in the brain

b. measure metabolism → Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and

functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

fMRI Scan
With MRI, the structural properties of the brain are measured

MRI was able to provide pictures of the brain by taking advantage of the different
magnetic properties of the tissues in the brain

Oxygenated and de-oxygenated blood also have different magnetic properties

fMRI can measure the inflow and outflow of oxygenated blood in the brain by
measuring the magnetic properties of the blood

BOLD Function
BOLD = Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent

Brain Imaging Techniques 2

 as neurons fire in the brain, blood flow increases as a function of that neural
activity in the brain

regions of the brain that are responsible for that task consume oxygen in that blood

relatively slow influx of blood to that region after the onset of the cognitive task

fMRI picks up this BOLD function

Brain Imaging Techniques 3

 researcher looks around the brain to find regions of the brain that show BOLD
function that is time-locked to the cognitive task

those regions relate to or are correlated with performance on that task

It is very difficult to know for sure what regions of the brain are specifically
responsible for what aspects of that task

every cognitive task will likely have many underlying mechanisms that support
that task

in cognitive psychology, we are interested in finding all those sub-components,

all those combined mechanisms that support complex thinking

Donder’s Subtractive Logic

idea originated with studies of reaction time differences

in order to measure the time for a process to occur, it needs to compare two
reaction times or tasks

one which has the same components as the other, plus the process of interest

Brain Imaging Techniques 4

 Example

measure the time it takes to make a decision about colour

green light and red light

hit the button during green light

takes around 250 ms to perform this task = 250 ms to make a decision about
colour

There are a number of diff. components to that decision task that are also
contributing to the reaction time

the decision time - the key process you are interested in

there is a manual motor component to the task

pushing the button takes time independent of having to make a decision

about any stimuli

ideally, you want to gain access to the decision time-independent of the motor
component of the task

Using Subtractive Logic

Brain Imaging Techniques 5

Brain Imaging Techniques 6
 Subtractive Logic in the Analysis of Functional
Neuralimaging Data

Concept Check 2d1

How do the structural imaging techniques of CAT and MRI differ from each other?

CAT - diffraction of X ray beams according to tissue densities

tissues deflect X-rays in different ways

MRI - electromagnetic waves produced by different regions of the brain

uses a very large magnet to capitalize the magnetic properties if the different
tissues in the brain to create an image

Concept Check 2d2

What technique is used to isolate brain activity related to a specific task?

Brain Imaging Techniques 7

 Donda’s Subtractive Logic

Donder’s Subtractive Logic/Method

Brain Imaging Techniques 8