Chapter 5: METHODS AND STARTEGIES OF RESEARCH
Chapter Five Overview
Chapter 5 provides and overview of the methods and strategies used by physiological psychologists to link brain mechanisms with behavior. The chapter is organized into three sections, with each describing a different research approach. The general approach of experimental ablation is the topic of the first chapter section. The section discusses the logic and the pitfalls of the ablation approach. The stereotaxic technique is introduced, as are stereotaxic brain atlases. Techniques to trace neural; connections are described as are histological methods. Electrophysiological recording and electrical stimulation techniques are covered in the second chapter section. Neurochemistry methods that either localize specific neurochemicals in brain or that localize receptors are covered in the final section of the chapter.
Learning Objectives: Chapter Five
After completing the chapter, each student should be able to:
- Describe the rationale behind the experimental ablation technique.
- Define brain lesion.
- Explain how kainic acid produces brain lesions.
- Describe the logic behind a reversible lesion technique.
- Describe the stereotaxic surgery technique.
- Explain the process of brain histology including:
- Perfusion
- Fixation
- Sectioning
- Staining
- Compare the research methods used trace efferent and afferent connections in brain.
- Describe the logic behind the immunocytochemical approach.
- Describe the techniques used to provide images of the living human brain.
- Contrast the recording approaches using microelectrodes vs. macroelectrodes.
- Describe how the autoradiography technique provides information on the metabolic activity of brain cells.
- Explain how investigators use Fos induction to identify neuron activity in discrete brain regions.
- Describe the logic behind the microdialysis technique.
- Define microintophoresis.
- Describe how Penfield used the electrical stimulation technique to study the function of human cortex.
- Discuss research techniques to identify genetic factors that influence behavior.