The Use of Technology in Brain Research

1. The Use of Technology in Brain Research Group 1 M’Kyla Walker Imani Ross Tony Ho Johnia Murray JantaviaWerts

2. Research Researchers use a lot of technology to study the localization functions of the brain. Option to study active brain See where specific brain processes take place

3. Invasive Techniques The more invasive techniques that scientist use to study the brain are reserved for animals such as rats They benefit us because we are to complete ablations which is where a piece of the brain is removed in order to examine the differences in behavior.

4. Invasive Technique Hetherington and Ranson - Lesion part of the brain called ventromedial hypothalamus in rats ~ Increased food intake dramatically & doubled weight ~ Hypothalamus acts as a brake on food intake

5. Ethics Raise serious ethical concerns Modern Researchers use EEG (electroencephalogram) Thought of as Brain Waves Transports information through ethical change EFG registers patterns of voltage change in the brain

6. Position Emissions Topography (PET) Scan Monitors glucose metabolism in the brain Patient is injected with a harmless dose of radioactive glucose and the radioactive particles emitted by the glucose are detected by the PET scanner Produces color maps of brain activity Diagnoses abnormalities

7. Functional magnetic Resonance imaging (fMRI) Provides 3D pictures of brain structures using magnetic fields and radio waves. Shows actual brain activity and indicated which areas of the brain are active. ~Have higher resolution than PET scans ~ Most frequently used technologies in biopsychological research today.

8. Brain Plasticity AMANDA CAULFIELD SHELBY SMITH JEFFREY TABOADA

9. Then and Now • Then (1960’s) -Thought that brain was influenced only by genetics • Thought to be unchangeable • Hubel & Weisel (1965) • Showed that brain changes as response to environmental input • Were based on rats • Now • Generally accepted that environment enrichment can modify brain, especially in cerebral cortex (area of higher cognitive function) • Brain is constantly changing as result of experience throughout lifespan

10. Brain Plasticity • Refers to brain’s ability to rearrange the connections between its neurons • Changes that occur in the structure of brain as result of learning/experience • Adapts to challenges of the environment • Can change functional qualities of various brain structures depending on regularity and type of new tasks that neurons are asked to perform • Neural connection density affected by high level stimulation and learning opportunity at appropriate times

11. Brain Plasticity (cont.) • Dendritic Branching • The dendrites of the neurons grow in numbers and connect with other neurons

12. Rosenzweig and Bonnett (1972) • Studied brain plasticity with rats • To measure the effect of either enrichment or deprivation on the development of neurons in the cerebral cortex • Used interesting tags to play with (stimulating) and no tags (deprived environment) • Last 30-60 days then were sacrificed • Stimulated environment rats had increased thickness in the cortex • Frontal lobe, associated with thinking, planning, and decision making, was heavier in rats that were in stimulated environment

13. Rosenzweig and Bonnet (1975) (cont.) • Similar studies show if the rats had more rats with them, the cortex would he was thicker • Company + toys=best conditions for cerebral thickness • These findings can be generalized to humans to some extent • Humans brains differ in genetic make-up and environment inputs • Makes it difficult to decide what is considered to be an enriched environment • Raises questions of the importance of education in growth of new synapses • If it works as though, environmental stimulation is important for human cortex

14. Mozart Effect (Rauscher et al. 1993) One of the most well-known claims of brain plasticity Listening to Mozart temporarily increases spatial reasoning ability Structurally complex musical compositions excites brain firing pattern as when physically completing spatial tasks

15. Mozart Effect (Rauscher et al. 1993) • Research shows that it has nothing to do with Mozart but with arousal • May just be increase in sense of attention • Thompson et al. (2001) if mood elevates -> improved spatial skills but if mood doesn’t elevate -> no improvement (all in result of music) • This idea suffers from problems with ecological validity • Doesn’t show behavior in a real-life situation

16. Videos about Brain Plasticity http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaDlLD97CLM (Ben Carson) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MKNsI5CWoU (Cameron: Today Show)

17. The Effect of Cognition on Physiology Scottie and Sam

18. Richard Davidson In 2004 he held an experiment with eight Buddhist monks. They were highly experienced with meditation, and the ten volunteers that were there were trained in meditation for one week. The participants were told to meditate on love and compassion.

19. The experiment He used a PET scan to observe that two of the controls and all of the monks experienced an increase in brain waves during meditation. As soon as they were done meditating, the gamma waves returned to normal. The monks were more experienced so their gamma waves had no difference. The spot where the gamma waves were found in the monks brains during meditation on love and compassion was found to be larger than the other volunteers brains.

20. Conclusion Davidson argued that meditation could have long term effect on the brain and the way it processes emotions. The brain adapts to stimulation (either from environment or our own thinking)

21. Mirror Neurons Jay Brad ;) Eli Bianca

22. Mirror Neurons One of the ways that people learn is by observing others and then imitating their behavior. Mirror Neurons – Neurons that fire when an animal (or person) performs an action or the animal/human is observing an action being performed

23. Mirror Neurons (CONT.) Mirror Neurons play a vital role in the ability to learn from – as well as empathize with – another person.

24. Gallese et. al. (1996) Researchers at the University of Parma in Italy, accidentally discovered mirror neurons. Because neural messages are electrical in nature, the researchers would hear a telltale crackling sound whenever the neurons were activated in the monkeys. Every time a monkey would reach for a peanut, the crackling sound was heard, not from just the monkey performing the action, but from the other monkeys as well.

25. Real Life Examples At a football game or sporting event, when a player gets hit hard, the crowd cringes and reacts as if they were the one who had been hit. When you are really hungry and you see someone taking a bite out of a burger you are like

26. Functions of Hormones in the Human Body (Biological) Elton Loo-ong, Wizard Pirrung, Alexaeus Pope, Amanananananabanananada Pinto

27. The Endocrine System Glands that produce hormones in the body Enter from glands to bloodstream (longer) i.e. pituitary, adrenal, testes, ovaries, etc.

28. Various Horomones

29. Oxytocin, the “Love Hormone” Produced by hypothalamus Firing of neurons by amygdala From stimulation by pituitary gland, hugs, and touches Plays role in inducing labor, trust, generosity, and attachment to others

30. Melatonin, the “Sleep Hormone” • Made by pineal gland • An unbalance of melatonin gives symptoms of insomnia and/or jet lag • Increase during night/darkness, vice-versa • Release correlates with circadian rhythm

31. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) • Side effect of excess melatonin • Found by Rosenthal in 1987 • Subcategory of depression • Sleepiness, lethargy, carbohydrates craving and apathy • Cure is sunlight AKA go outside more