Exploring the Brain Responses Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Exploring the Brain Responses - Assignment Example The experimental study has the hypothesis of the inducement of either the rTMS or the stimulants triggering the dopamine production. In the two experiments, the brain is induced with rTMS for patients with depression and stimulants for the c-Fos experiment, which uses rats. Procedure outline of rTMS Eight Patients with depression was treated with rTMS, over the left prefrontal cortex on a daily basis. Each of them underwent neuropsychological test scores and PET scan before and after the rTMS treatment (Goldman et al. 1978). Procedure outline of c-Fos experiment Six rats was injected with cocaine and six with amphetamine. The rats were then killed, and the brain extracted. The brain was then preserved and treated with antibodies that recognize the c-Fos-positive cells. A special dye was then added to reveal the location of the c-Fos cells. The cells are counted easily since they are brown due to the dye. Q1a. The independent variable (IV), the conditions and the two dependent variabl es (DV) for this study First, the TMS experiment will be considered. The independent variable (IV) is the raclopride binding. This does not rely on the other variable, but it is rather depended on by the other variable. The conditions of the experiment rTMS are repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. There are four dependent variables that depend on the set conditions, which are R caudate, Laudate, R putamen, and L putamen. These will vary depending on the rTMS induced on the patient. In the second experiment (c-Fos), the Independent variable is c-positive cells, which are not necessarily dependant on the other variable set. The conditions are cocaine and the amphetamine. The independent variables are the nucleus accumbens from the sections of the rat’s brain (Goldman et al. 1978). Q1b. The study within a participant study explanation The study of rTMS involves the participation of several patients who are observed before and after the rTMS induction. A PET scanning is then done to establish the number of functional dopamine receptors using radioactive raclopride. The study is thus within a participant study where the data obtained is from the patient pairs under experiment. The participants involved are patients who are 8 rather than being a single patient. Since 2 pairs of participants had the same pre-rTMS test scores represented by a single point for each pair, the study is within a participant study. The c-Fos experiment study is also within a participant study. This is because the study experiment involved the participation of every group member. This means that obtaining the data of all the group members was essential. Q1c. The vital piece of statistical information missing from the study results obtained The essential piece of statistical information missing from the results presented here is a hypothesis. This is a vital tool in analyzing the data presented to either agree with the data or disagree. This tool would be critical in making c onclusions, like establishing the level of deviation from the expected results set on the hypothesis. This piece of information set as a hypothesis would act as the researchers’ guideline when they are setting the procedures. This tool is also helpful to a researcher in the field since it will define his research scope.