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Research Methods

Learn about research methods in psychology: brain imaging, staining techniques, EEG, evoked potentials, MRI, behavioral techniques, and technological advancements. Discover how to examine neurons, synapses, and brain functions using innovative tools in the field of psychology.

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Research Methods

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  1. Research Methods Psychology 2617

  2. Or, so how do we know this stuff • We can look at the whole brain • We can look at parts thereof • We can look at neurons • We can look at synapses

  3. neurons • Even before electron microscopes, we could look at neurons thanks to Golgi • He discovered that when stained with Silver chromate, neurons went black • Today we call this golgi stain • Led to the classification of neurons, as we could finally see their physical properties

  4. Stains are not always bad • Golgi stain does not show number of neurons in a region that well though • It stains just a few • Nissl Used dyes! • Methelyne blue • Myelin staining • HRP and axonal transport allow us to see circuits!

  5. Radiation, run for your lives! • X Rays are cool, but, they don’t work well on brains • AEG, kinda dangerous • CAT scans are cool though • Gives us a good idea about form

  6. Some of this stuff is a little, oh yucky • Angiography • Wada technique • Both involve injections into the blood supply of the brain while the patient is awake • Wada technique proved once and for all the idea of hemispheric specialization

  7. EEG • Electroeds placed on the head

  8. Brain waves • Gamma activity is fast and big, peak activity • Beta low amplitude but fast, being alert • Alpha quiet • Theta quiet, sleep • Delta super slow, deep sleep

  9. Diagnostic uses of EEG • Epilepsy is associated with crazy EEGs • Basically uncontrollable firing • Spreads can lead to a seizure

  10. Evoked potentials • Stimulus given • Basically computer subtracts out the background EEG • Used lots in research and in diagnostic areas • Some disorders show characteristic ERPs

  11. Electrical Brain stimulation • Basically put an electrode in the brain with the patient awake • The classic Dr. Penfield approach • Not nearly as effective as Penfield made it out to be…

  12. Looking at metabolism • Blood flow techniques • Use radioactive isotopes • Look for anomalies • SPECT sort of a poor mans….

  13. PET scan • Positron emission tomography

  14. MRI • Magnetic Resonance Imaging

  15. MRI • Basically a combo of RF signals and a REALLY strong magnetic field • Has no ill effects, unless you have a metal plate in your head • Shows form and function

  16. Behavioural techniques • These are really the kind of thing that involve say, touching your nose • Or presenting a stimulus to one visual field and not the other • Really quite telling, but nowadays you then end up in an MRI often

  17. Advances • Basically the imaging techniques remain the same • It is the computing power and software that is allowing for real time analysis that is having the biggest effect • When MRI first came out the fastest desktop computer was MAYBE running a 75 MHz • This little powerbook runs at 1.25 Ghz

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