4A Approaches to how we though about the brain

Question 1

The brain vs heart debate

Answer 1

Debates whether our thoughts, feelings and behaviours originate from our brain or our heart.

Question 2

The mind body debate

Answer 2

Debating the extent the mind and the body are the same or separate things.

Question 3

Monism

Answer 3

The belief that the mind and body are a single entity

Question 4

Dualism

Answer 4

The belief that the mind and body are separate entities

Question 5

Phrenology

Answer 5

The study of the shape of the skull as an indicator of the extent of one’s mental faculties and character traits.

Question 6

Key principles of Phrenology

Answer 6

27 “mind organs”

Each mind organ has their own location and function

Suggested there was a direct correlation between the use of a particular mind organ to it’s size

Question 7

What did Phrenology get right?

Answer 7

There is localized areas of the brainresponsiblefor differentfunctions.
If you do not use parts of your brain,they willdeteriorate

Question 8

Ablation

Answer 8

Ablation is the surgical removal or destruction of brain tissue

Question 9

Lesioning

Answer 9

Brain lesioning is inducing and/or studying the effects of damage to the brain (not necessarily the removal)

Question 10

Stroke

Answer 10

When the brain is deprived of oxygen
Leads to a localised death of neurons in a specific brain region

Question 11

Split brain research

Answer 11

Studying patients who have undergone split-brain surgery
The tissue connecting their left and right hemispheres (corpus callosum) have been severed

Question 12

Neuroimaging

Answer 12

A range of techniques that are used to capture images of the brain’s structure, function, and activities

Question 13

Structural Neuroimaging

Answer 13

Produce images of the brain’s structure and composition
CT
MRI

Question 14

Functional Neuroimaging

Answer 14

Produces images of the brain’s activity and function
PET
fMRI

Question 15

Computerised tomography

Answer 15

Combines a series of x-rays taken from different angles to create 3D images of the body
Usually individuals are asked to take a dye/substance for contrast in the images
Pros:
Cost effective
Can identify location of tumours/damage/deterioration
Cons:
Not as detailed as other techniques
X-rays emit radiation

Question 16

Magnetic resonance imaging

Answer 16

Uses magnetic fields to activate atoms in the brain, which allows a computer to generate an image of the brain
Pros:
3D detailed colour images
Safe (no X-rays)
Cons:
Expensive
Claustrophobic
Cannot be used by those with metals in their body (e.g. pacemakers, screws)

Question 17

Positron emission tomography

Answer 17

Provides structural and functional information (brain activity)

Individual is injected with aradioactiveglucose solution

Question 18

Functional magnetic resonance imaging

Answer 18

Shows brain activity by measuring oxygen consumption by cells in the brain