Techniques in Cognitive Neuroscience
Daniel Shaw, M.Sc.
Shaw et al. (2011a) Development of the Action-Observation Network During Early Adolescence: A
Longitudinal Study. Social, Cognitive, and Affective Neuroscience [SCAN]...
Shaw et al. (2011b). Development of Functional Connectivity During Adolescence: A Longitudinal
Study Using an Action-Observation Paradigm. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience....
Shaw et al. (submitted). Development of Functional Connectivity in the Face-Processing Network
During Adolescence: A Longitudinal Study. Journal of Neuroscience....

Introduction
nLecture Series:
n
1.(a) Introduction; (b) Neuropsychology
2.Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
3.Functional MRI (fMRI)
4.Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
5.Electroencephalography (EEG/ERP)

Introduction
n...lectures
n
6.Combining Techniques (e.g. TMS-fMRI)
7.Revision/Discussion
8.Exam

nEssay (50%)
n
n1500 word research proposal, applying a technique of choice to a research area of choice
n
a)Show understanding of the neurophysiologic underpinnings of the chosen technique(s)
b)Show awareness of the applications of the chosen technique in a particular domain of neuroscience
research
c)Shown an appreciation for the inferences that can be drawn through applications of the chosen
technique(s)
d)Shown understanding of the advantages and limitations of the chosen technique(s)
n
Introduction

nExam (50%)
n
n1hr written exam answering 2 questions (related to techniques covered in the lectures)
n
a)Show understanding of the neurophysiologic underpinnings of the chosen technique(s)
b)Show a critical awareness of the applications of the chosen technique in neuroscience research
c)Shown understanding of the advantages and limitations of the chosen technique(s)
Introduction

Neuropsychology
The “Lesion Method”


Basic Anatomy
Arteries 4.jpg Arteries 5.jpg Arteries 3.jpg

Stroke: Ischemic (clot) vs. Hemorrhage (rupture)

Basic Anatomy
3 - ACA.GIF
Arteries 5.jpg

Infarct (oxygen)

Basic Anatomy
1 - MCA.GIF 2 - pMCA.GIF Arteries 3.jpg


Basic Anatomy
Arteries 4.jpg 4 - PCA.GIF 5 - PCA.GIF


Memory
Amnesic Patient H.M.
(Scoville & Milner, 1957; Corkin et al., 1997)
11.GIF 12.GIF

PHG – parahippocampal gyrus; LGN – lateral geniculate nucleus; MMN - Mamillary nuclei; EC –
entorhinal cortex; CS – Collateral sulcus; Posterior/caudal section atrophic

Memory
Amnesic Patient H.M.
1.GIF
(Corkin, 1984)

Dissociation between memory and other cognitive faculties

Memory
Amnesic Patient H.M.
11.GIF
(Wickelgren, 1968)

Delays: 0.25-8s. Primacy and recency effect

Memory
Amnesic Patient H.M.
(Marlsen-Wilson & Teuber, 1975)
2.GIF

Not a storage problem

Memory
Amnesic Patient H.M.
4.GIF
(Milner, 1965)
6.GIF

Degree/severity of damage determines severity of behavioural deficit.

Memory
Amnesic Patient H.M.
1.GIF
(Milner, 1962; [Corkin, 1968])

Motor learning (Declarative vs. Non-declarative)

Language
Expressive (Broca’s) Aphasia
n
nImpairment of verbal expression (spoken and written), with (relatively) unimpaired comprehension
n
nSpeech limited to agrammatical sentences with omissions of modifiers or propositions
n
ne.g. “Me go” vs “I am going”
(Broca, 1861; Geschwind, 1970; 1965)
Broca's Brain.GIF

Language
Receptive (Wernicke’s) Aphasia
n
nImpairment of verbal comprehension (spoken and written), with (relatively) unimpaired fluent
expression
n
nSpoken and written language is fluent and grammatically correct, but nonsensical
n
nParaphasias and neologisms
(Geschwind, 1970; Ogden, 2005)
2 - pMCA.GIF

Double Dissociations
nSingle Dissociation
nDamage to brain structure A causes a deficit in behaviour A but not in behaviour B
nSuggest that behaviours A and B are independent of one another and associated with the brain
structure(s)
nBut resource artefact
nDouble Dissociation
nDamage to brain structure A causes a deficit in behaviour A but not in behaviour B, and damage to
brain structure B causes a deficit in behaviour B but not in behaviour A
nBehaviours A and B are independent of one another and associated with independent brain structures
n
n
(Chater & Ganis, 1991)

(Geschwind, 1965; 1970)
Language
Wernicke’s Theory
Wernicke's aphasia.GIF

Language
Wernicke’s Theory
(Geschwind, 1965; 1970)
Wernicke's aphasia.GIF
nExpressive (Broca’s) aphasia

(Geschwind, 1965; 1970)
Language
Wernicke’s Theory
Wernicke's aphasia.GIF
nReceptive (Wernicke’s) aphasia

(Geschwind, 1965; 1970)
Language
Wernicke’s Theory
Wernicke's aphasia.GIF
nGlobal aphasia

Wernicke's aphasia.GIF
(Geschwind, 1965; 1970)
Language
Wernicke’s Theory
nDisconnection Syndrome (“Aphasia of the insula region”; Wernicke, 1874)
n

Language
Conduction Aphasia
nImpairment of repetition, with (relatively) unimpaired fluent expression and verbal comprehension
n
nRepetition severely impaired
n
n
n
1.GIF
(Fridriksson et al., 2010)

Language
Arcuate Fasciculus
Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus (III; money).GIF
(Petrides & Pandya, 1984; see Mariën & Abutalebi, 2008)
1.GIF

Visual Perception
Two Visual Systems
Image 3a.gif
(Milner & Goodale, 1995; 2008; Ungerleider & Mishkin, 1982)

Cortico-cortical model: “What” – inferior longitudinal fasciculus; occipito-temporal. “Where” –
superior longitudinal fasciculus

Visual Perception
Two Visual Systems
Image 3a.gif

Visual Perception
 Visual Form Agnosia (D.F.)
(Goodale et al., 1994; James et al., 2003)
1.GIF

Image 5.GIF
(Goodale, Milner, Jakobson & Carey, 1991)
Visual Perception
 Visual Form Agnosia (D.F.)

Visual Perception
 Visual Form Agnosia (D.F.)
Image 7c 1.GIF Image 7c 2.GIF Image 7b 2.GIF
(Goodale et al., 1994)

Visual Perception
 Visual Form Agnosia (D.F.)
(Goodale, Jakobson &  Keillor, 1994)
Image 1b.GIF

Vision for action – online, realtime. A = object present; B = pantomimed actions to removed objects
(requires visual memory representation)

Visual Perception
Vision for Action
Image 3a.gif

D.F. alone is single dissociation. Dorsal stream: Optic ataxia

Visual Perception
Optic Ataxia (R.V.)
(Goodale et al., 1994)
Image 7c.GIF

Image 7c 1.GIF Image 7c 2.GIF
(Goodale et al., 1994)
Visual Perception
Optic Ataxia (R.V.)
Image 7c 3.GIF

Image 1.GIF
(Milner et al., 2003)
Vision for Action
Optic Ataxia (I.G.)
§A = object present; B = pantomimed actions to removed objects
§Requires visual memory representation
§
§
§

Discussion
nAdvantages
1.Early neuropsychological investigations led to animals models that advanced dramatically our
understanding of brain-behaviour relationships
2.Animals models can’t be used to investigate language
3.Neuropsychological investigations inform cognitive models (e.g. identify cognitive sub-systems)
4.Neuropsychological investigations permit formal testing of cognitive models
5.Case studies can lead to tailored rehabilitation programs
6.

nHigh variability in brain morphology (i.e. sulci/gyri; regions/BAs)
n
Limitations
 1. Morphological Variability
(Amunts et al., 2004)
5.GIF 6.GIF 7.GIF 8.GIF

nHigh variability in location and extent of lesion
nOverlay method permits group studies
n
Limitations
2a. Lesion Variability
(Rorden & Karnath, 2004; Frederickson et al., 2010)
n
3.GIF 4.GIF

nHigh variability in time lapsed since lesion
nPost-stroke anatomical/functional re-organisation occurs rapidly and in a time-dependent manner
n
(Crammer, 2004)
n
1.GIF
Limitations
2b. Lesion Variability

Limitations
4. Neural Plasticity...
nRe-organisation of neural systems following perturbation
nSynaptic plasticity
nLTP/LTD
nAnatomic plasticity
nCortico-cortical
nRe-myelination
n
9.GIF
(Raineteau et al., 2001)

nRe-organisation of neural systems following perturbation
ne.g. Contralateral compensation
(Crammer, 2001)
2.GIF
Limitations
4. Neural Plasticity...

The End