Biopsychology- The Brain Flashcards
fMRI scan
.While doing a task
.Locates Oxygenated blood
+Non invasive -poor temporal res
EEG scan
.Brain cap .Electrodes .Detects electrical activity \+non-invasive +Good temporal res -Poor spatial res
ERP scan
.EEG when performing task
+can tell more about causation as it creates stimulus
Post-Mortem
.After death, brain is cut up, specific parts examined \+non-invasive as person is dead \+provides very detailed examination \+Amazing spatial resolution -Does not show active brain
which Cortex is in the frontal lobe?
Motor Cortex
which cortex is in the Parietal lobe
Sensory Cortex
which cortex is in the Temporal lobe
Auditory Cortex
which cortex is in the Occipital lobe
Visual cortex
Where is Broca’s area located?
In Frontal lobe, bordering the parietal lobe
Where is Wernickes area located?
Temporal lobe
Role of Wernicke’s area
language comprehension
Role of Broca’s area
Speech production
What is the localisation of Function theory
Overall, the localisation of function theory argues that different parts of the brain have different functions
What is the Lateralisation of Function theory?
The Idea that two halves of the brain are functionally different
Sample of Sperrys split Brain research
-Investigated 11severe epileptic participants who had undergone commissurotomy
(corpus collosum cut down middle + two hemispheres separated). Communication between hemispheres removed
procedure of Sperry’s splt Brain research
‘Describe what you see’
Image or word presented on either the Left visual field (processed by the right hemisphere) or on the Right Visual field.
Because participants had ‘split Brains’ , the information could not be shared to either hemisphere.
Findings of Sperrys split Brain research
+ Conclusion
Describe what you see
‘Describe what you see’
If object shown to Right visiual field, could easily describe what they’d seen.
-If same object shown on Left visiual field, could not describe what they’d seen.
Concluded that the inability to describe the object wwhen displayed in left visual field (processed by right hemisphere) was due to a lack of languages centers in right Hemisphere
What is the function of the Right Hemisphere in lateralisation of function?
Spatial awareness
What is the function of the Left Hemisphere in lateralisation of function?
Language
What is the theory of Neuroplasticity?
The brain is ‘plastic’
-has the ability to change through life
What did Maguire et Al (2000) research?
What did they find?
(neuroplasticity)
Interested in London Taxi drivers’ brain and how their brain changed because of their jobs.
As part of their training, London Taxi Drivers had to complete a test assessing their recall of possible city routes.
Found There was more gray area within the hippocampus of the brain which facilities spatial memory
also Found the longer they were in the job, the more profound the differences were
Who did Draganski research within neuroplasticity?
What did they find?
(neuroplasticity)
Studied the brains of Medical students 3 months after and before exams
Learning resulted in changes in the hippocampus and parietal lobe
What is axonal sprouting?
A form of plasticity in which axons grow nerve endings to reconnect with neurons. Forming new neural pathways to spread Information
homologous area adaptation
Suggests even if one Hemisphere is damaged, the intact Hemisphere can sometimes take over some functions of the damaged area
What is reformation of blood vessels
When damaged in the brain, the blood vessels reform
What procedure had sperrys patients had?
commissurotomy
Sperry’s findings of recognition by touch
p.p could not attach verbal labels to objects shown in LVF,
they could slect a matching object by touch using hteir left hand
Sperry’s findings of Composite words
if two words presented on either visual field simultaneously, e.g ‘key’ in LVF and ‘ring in RVF. Indiv would select key object with left hand and say ring
Sperry’s findings of Matching faces
Right hemisphere dominant in terms of recognizing and then recalling faces
When composite pictures of two faces, half in each visual field, the picture shown in the right visual field was described whereas the picture in the left visual field was selected/matched
