Background: Cognitive Neuropsychology: The Brain

Question 1

What is a limitation of human cognition,, and why might it be limited

Answer 1

We cannot do two complex tasks at once (safely or successfully): i.e. read and converse, text and drive, or surf the Internet while listening to a lecture.
this is because many neurons inhibit each other

For Example:
In the Visual cortex: When one neuron fires, it suppresses the firing of other nearby neurons. If two neurons that are hooked up in an inhibitory way both fire, then neither neuron can fire as vigorously as it would otherwise. This competitive behavior among neurons limits how much visual information the brain can respond to at the same time.

our limitations more likely reflect the complex way in which neurons talk to each other rather than the depletion of any specific resource.

Question 2

What is a metabolite

Answer 2

A substance necessary for a living organism to maintain life. such as oxygen and glucose

Question 3

How many neurons in an average brain

Answer 3

100 billion neurons.

Question 4

What is the main purpose of visual cortex

Answer 4

the part of the brain responsible for processing visual information

Question 5

What are the 3 main parts of the brain

Answer 5

1. Cerebral hemispheres
2. Brain stem
3. Cerebellum

Question 6

The 3 parts can be broken down into 7 main structures - what are these?

Answer 6

A. Cerebral hemispheres
B. Midbrain
C. Pons
D. Medulla
E. Thalamus
F. Hypothalamus
G. Cerebellum

Question 7

What is the structure of the cerebral hemispheres?

Answer 7

The cerebral cortex, white matter (cerebrum) and subcortical structures (basal ganglia, amygdala, hippocampus)

Question 8

What is the function of the cerebral hemisphere

Answer 8

They are responsible for our cognitive abilities and conscious experience.

Question 9

What are the gyri and sulci and where are they located?

Answer 9

Located in the cerebral cortex, the gyri are the bumps/folds, and the sulci are the grooves.

Question 10

What is the cerebral cortex

Answer 10

It is the outer layer of grey matter and comprised of 4 main lobes

Question 11

What are the 4 lobes in the cerebral cortex?

Answer 11

Frontal lobe
parietal lobe
temporal lobe
occipital lobe

Question 12

What functions are associated with the frontal lobe

Answer 12

houses the motor cortex and enables 
planning, 
reasoning 
language, 
judgement and 
decision making

Question 13

What functions are associated with the parietal lobe

Answer 13

Houses the somatosensory cortex and structures involved in visual attention and multisensory convergence.
Helps with movement,
orientation
perception of stimuli.

Question 14

What functions are associated with the temporal lobe

Answer 14

perception/recognition of auditory stimuli
memory
multisensory integration (eg convergence of vision and audition)

Question 15

What function is associated with the occipital lobe

Answer 15

Visual Processing

Question 16

What is the function of basal ganglia?

Answer 16

They are critical to voluntary movement and as such make contact with the cortex, the thalamus, and the brain stem

Question 17

What is the function of the amygdala and hippocampus?

Answer 17

Forms part of the limbic system and plays an important role in emotion

Question 18

What is the corpus callosum?

Answer 18

The white matter tracts that connect the cerebral hemispheres.

Question 19

What is gray matter composed of?

Answer 19

Neuronal cell bodies (or soma) which contain the genes of the cell and are responsible for metabolism (keeping the cell alive) and synthesizing proteins

Question 20

What is white matter?

Answer 20

White matter is composed of neuronal axons. These are covered with a myelin sheath (fatty support cells that are whitish in color). Axons conduct the electrical signals from the cell for communication.

Question 21

What are the main components of the brain stem and what structures are these comprised of?

Answer 21

The midbrain
Pons,
Medulla
The Diancephelon (Thalamus and Hypothalamus) is also connected to the brain stem

Question 22

What are the functions of the brain stem?

Answer 22

Responsible for respiration, heart rate, and digestion.

Sleep-wake cycle, sensory and motor functions, growth and some hormonal behaviours

Question 23

What are the functions of the Cerebellum

Answer 23

Movement Coordination,  
Posture  
Fine motor control
Balance and equilibrium
Muscle tone

Question 24

What functions are associated with the pons

Answer 24

Facial expressions
eye movement
hearing
posture
respiration
sleep
swallowing
taste
bladder control

Question 25

What are some functions associated with the medulla

Answer 25

breathing
heart rate
blood pressure

Question 26

What are some functions supported by the limbic system?

Answer 26

emotion
behavior
motivation
long-term memory
olfaction (smell)

Question 27

What is the diencephalon comprised off

Answer 27

Thalamus and Hypothalamus

Question 28

What is the function of the thalamus

Answer 28

“Command center” of the brain

Processes and relays sensory information

Question 29

What is phrenology

Answer 29

A now-discredited field of brain study, one of first attempts at studying brain function by correlating bumps and indentations of the skull with specific functions of the brain

Question 30

What is Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)?

Answer 30

A technique that applies a brief magnetic pulse to the head that temporarily induces a weak electrical current in the brain.

Question 31

What is Neuroimaging

Answer 31

It is the study of the brain when it is engaged in a specific task, through various imaging devices.
These include
Positron emission tomography (PET) which records blood flow in the brain, while a participant performs a task
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) which measures changes in oxygen levels in the blood in the brain.
Electroencephalography (EEG), measures the electrical activity of the brain, with millisecond precision. Electrodes are placed on participants head while performing a task.
Diffuse optical imaging (DOI) – in which an infrared light into the brain and measures the light that comes back out. Researchers can then infer from the properties of the collected light what regions in the brain were engaged by the task..
Because the spatial and temporal resolution of each tool varies, strongest evidence for what role a certain brain area serves comes from converging evidence