Cherish Madu

This wiki explores the methods that those interested in neuroscience most frequently employ when investigating and explaining cognitive processes in terms of brain structure and function.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Overview, Advantages, Disadvantages

Optogenetics Overview, Advantages, Disadvantages

Electrophysiological recording of neurons Overview, Advantages, Disadvantages

Electroencephalography (EEG) Overview, Advantages, Disadvantages

Positron Emission Tomography Positron emission tomography (PET) is a three-dimensional brain imaging technique that takes advantage of changes in metabolism to localize brain activity and functional processes in the body. The most active parts of the brain use more metabolic processes than do relatively inactive parts of the brain and PET is able to track this metabolic flow. Oxygen-15, the most commonly used radioactive tracer isotope, is injected into the bloodstream where it disperses to more active parts of the brain. Inside the brain, the radioactive tracer decays into a positron and an electron. When the positron collides with an electron, two gammas rays are produced. The accumulation of these pairs of gamma rays is measured by gamma-ray detectors which are placed all around the subject's head. Computer analyses construct the radioactive tracer concentration into three-dimensional images. High Spatial resolution No temporal resolution Invasive. Injection of radioactive molecules

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Like PET, Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)