Area of Study 2 Flashcards
How are mental processes & behaviour influenced by the brain?
What is the brain vs. heart debate?
The brain vs. heart debate discusses whether the brain or the heart is the source of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
Describe the heart hypothesis (brain vs. heart debate)
The heart hypothesis suggests that the heart is the source of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours and the brain has no purpose at all. Early philosophers and ancient Egyptians held this view.De
Describe the brain hypothesis (brain vs. heart debate)
The brain hypothesis suggests that the brain is the source of thoughts, feelings and behaviours. Greek philosophers held this belief, and it is not the accepted view.
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What is the mind-body problem?
The mind body problem discusses the extent to which the mind and the body are seperate.
What is monoism (mind-body)
Monoism is the view that the mind and the body are a single, complete entity. (they are one)
What is the mind? (in terms of the mind-body problem)
Mind = Thoughts, consciousness and mental processes
What is the body? (in terms of the mind-body problem)
body = structure of the brain and the neurons it’s made up of
What is phrenology?
The study of the shape and size of the human skull to determine personality and mental functioning. The external form of the skull reflects the internal form of the brain.
How is intellect and personality determined (in regards to phrenology)
Intellect and personality come from the organisation and size of the different ‘organs’ of the brain.
What are Gall’s 3 principles
- faculties depend on the organisation of the brain
- the brain is made up of many ‘organs’ responsible for different mental faculties.
- The external form of the skull reflects the internal form of the brain.
Who developed phrenology and in what year?
Franz Joseph Gall, 1796
What type of science is Phrenology considered as?
Pseudoscience
What was an accurate element of Phrenology?
The theory of Phrenology correctly introduced the idea that different mental functions are located in different parts of the brain. (An early theory of brain localisation)
What is the difference between the mind and the brain?
The mind is a concept, whereas the brain is physical.
What are 3 first brain experiments?
- Brain ablation
- Brain lesioning
- Split brain research
What is brain ablation?
Brain ablation is the surgical removal, destruction, or cutting of a region of the brain.
What does brain lesioning involve?
brain lesioning involves the damage of brain tissues in animals and observing changes in the animals behaviour
What is split brain research?
This involved severing the corpus callosum and observing the effects
What was split brain research generally performed on?
Patients with epilepsy. This helped to treat the condition in addition to aiding research into hemispheric specialisation.
Which hemisphere is responsible for language?
The left hemisphere
What is a limitation of brain ablation/lesioning
a limitation is that both of these methods of research and usually irreversible and highly invasive, and the potential for great harm.
What does ESB stand for?
Electrical Stimulation of the Brain
Which two researchers performed ESB (Electrical stimulation of the brain)
Gustav Fritsch & Eduard Hitzvig
What is ESB?
Electrical Stimulation of the brain involves electrically stimulating a specific area of the brain which results in a response. From this, it is assumed that area is responsible for that action
What is a key finding of ESB?
5 sites triggered distinct contralateral movements
What is a key limitation of ESB
It was primarily used on animals and may not be applicable to humans.
What does neuroimaging describe?
Procedures and devices used to scan the brain for information on structure and functioning
What are the two main catagories of neuroimaging techniques?
Structural techniques
Functional techniques
What are structural techniques of neuroimaging used to provide?
Use to provide information on brain structure (what is looks like)
What is Computerised Tomography?
(CT)A non-invasive structural technique of neuroimaging developed in the 1970s that uses X-rays to take 2D images of the brain.
how does computerised tomography work?
Computerised tomography (CT) involves dye or contrast being injected into the bloodstream.
What is Magnetic resonance imaging?
A non-invasive structural imaging technique developed in the 1970s that takes photographs of the brain using magnetic & radio fields.
What are functional techniques of neuroimaging used to provide?
Information on brain activity (brain function)
What are two structural neuroimaging techniques?
Computerised tomography (CT)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
What are two functional neuroimaging techniques?
Positron emission tomography (PET)
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
How does magnetic resonance imaging work?
:the atoms in water molecules in the brain’s neurons vibrate and generate a signal that creates a computer image of the brain.
What is positron emission tomography?
PET is a non-invasive functional neuroimaging technique that uses radioactive glucose and produces coloured images of the brain.
How does positron emission tomography show brain function?
By injecting a patient with a radioactive glucose solution which enters the bloodstream, images are produced of the brain where different colours can indicate different levels of brain activity
What is functional magnetic resonance imaging?
fMRI is a non-invasive functional neuroimaging technique developed in the 1990s that uses the same methods as MRI but traces the biochemical changes in the brain that are reflected with different colours. (shows function and structure)
where is the hindbrain located?
at the base of the brain near the spinal cord
What is the hindbrain responsible for?
- Regulation of sleep-wake cycle
- Basic survival functions (autonomic functions, breathing,
heart rate, digestion) - Coordination of muscle
movement