1. Intro Flashcards
Why was Phrenology important?
The underlying principle that functions could be localized in the brain turned out to be valuable.
What is monism?
Opposite of dualism. The mind is viewed as the product of activity in the brain and nervous system.
What is mentalism? And who first proposed it?
The idea that “something” inside us controls behaviour. Proposed by Aristotle.
Why is evolution important to biological psychology?
Evolution causes adaptive behaviours which are encoded and passed on in genes which instruct behaviour.
What is the neuron doctrine?
States that neurons are a collection of independent cells working together.
Who invented the first microelectrode?
Ida Hyde
What is a microelectrode?
A tool that uses electricity to stimulate cells on a cellular level.
Where is Broca’s area, and what is it’s function?
Left frontal cortex. Motor movement associated with language.
Where is Wernicke’s area, and what is it’s function?
Left temporal cortex. The organization and meaning of words in language.
What is the brain hypothesis?
That the brain and nervous system are the source of behaviour.
What is the cerebral cortex?
The outer layer of the brain.
Name the four outer lobes of the brain.
Frontal, temporal, parietal, temporal, occipital.
What is the name of the bumps on the brains surface?
Gyro (ghy-ree)
What is the name of the cracks on be brains surface?
Sulci (suhl-sigh)
What is the unit of the nervous system?
Neuron
What are the three sections of the nervous system?
Central, somatic and autonomic
What systems are included in the central nervous system?
Brain and spinal cord
What systems are included in the somatic nervous system?
Cranial and spinal nerves.
What systems are included in the autonomic nervous system?
The sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions.
What is the function of the parasympathetic division?
Resting and digesting
What is the function of the sympathetic division?
Fight or flight. (Heart rate, breathing, pupil dilation)
What are the three hierarchical sections in the organization of the brain?
Reptilian, limbic system and neo-cortex
What is the function of the limbic system?
Emotionality
What is the function of the neo-cortex
Abstract thinking, time travel, complex behaviour, counting, cognition, meta-cognition, control over the other systems.
What is a distributed system?
A series of structures in one or more parts of the brain that are interconnected through function.
How is vision a distributed system?
Visual information is sent to the visual cortex then splits into the dorsal and ventral streams for processing. Both pathways work together to allow visual recognition of objects.
What is the function of the dorsal stream?
The dorsal stream determines “where” an object is.
Where is the dorsal stream located?
The dorsal stream is located at the top (dorsal) from the occipital lobe to the parietal lobe.
What is the function of the ventral stream?
Ventral stream recognizes “what” an object is.
Where is the ventral stream located?
At the bottom (ventral) from the occipital lobe to the temporal lobe.
