Research methods

Imaging, genetic and electrophysiological techniques used to observe and control the living brain.

4 entries

• Electroencephalography (EEG)EEG records the brain's electrical activity through scalp electrodes with millisecond precision. It is used in sleep research and in epilepsy evaluation.
• Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)fMRI uses MRI to track blood-oxygen changes (the BOLD signal) that follow neural activity, showing noninvasively which brain regions are active.
• Optogenetic fMRI (ofMRI)Optogenetic fMRI (ofMRI) drives specific neurons with light while measuring whole-brain responses with fMRI, mapping the circuits those cells recruit.
• OptogeneticsOptogenetics delivers light-sensitive proteins to chosen neurons so researchers can switch those cells on or off with light, with millisecond precision.