01 Principles of Cognitive Neuroscience

Question 1

Descartes’ Theory of the Mind

Answer 1

• dualistic theory
• res cogitans = the mind (non-physical, immortal)
• res extensa = the body (physical, mortal)
• interact in pineal gland
• other proponents of dualism: Socrates, Plato

Question 2

Damasio’s Somatic Marker Hypothesis

Answer 2

• reasoning requires the guidance of emotions and feelings conveyed from the body
• proposed mechanism by which emotions guide (or bias) behavior and decision-making

Question 3

Holism / Equipotentiality

Answer 3

• every part of the brain equally contributes to every function of the brain
• brain can co-opt other areas to take over the role of damaged area
  proponents: Marie Jean Pierre Flourens, Karl Lashley

Question 4

Phrenology

Answer 4

• idea that individual differences in cognition can be mapped onto differences in skull shape
• assumptions: different regions of the brain perform different functions and are associated with different behaviors, size of these regions produces distortions of the skull and correlate with individual differences in cognition and personality
• proponents: Franz Joseph Gall, Spurzheim

Question 5

Evidence for localisation

Answer 5

• Paul Broca: patient with left prefrontal lesion, intact speech perception, single-word speech production
• Gordon Holmes: visual field maps
• Walter Penfield: motor homunculus