Brain and Neural Theory Flashcards
Neuropsychology
The study of the relationship between the brain (it’s many structures, organization, physiology, chemistry etc) and human behaviour
What seperates the two hemispheres?
The two sides of the brain are separated by the longitudinal fissure
Cerebrospinal fluid
Saline fluid made by the ependymal glial cells that circulates through the brains meninges and the spinal column to cushion the CNS and remove metabolic waste
Where does cerebrospinal fluid drain?
Flow through the ventricles and drains out of the fourth ventricle
Cerebrocortex
Aka just the cortex is the folded tissue that covers the outside of the brain. It’s made up of cell bodies and this is gray matter and is divided into 4 generally lobes. The creases and folds are called sulci and gyri
What is a gyrus
It’s one of the folds on the cortex
Commissures
Are structures that connect the brains pathways, the biggest one being the corpus callosum which connects the right and left hemisphere
What are the four cortical lobes? Where are they located?
Temporal Lobes : a lateral structure located on each ear side (hint being that it deals with auditory input)
Frontal: intuitive so it’s just the rostral most lobe
Parietal Lobes: posterior to the frontal lobe and anterior/superior to the occipital lobe
Occipital lobe: The caudal most lobe
Brain theory
That the brain is the most important structure in cognition and behaviour
Mind-Body Problem
Asks whether it’s the mind that controls the body or the body that influences the mind
Epigenetics
The science of environment and experience effects on not gene inheritance but rather gene expression
Neuroplasticity
The neuron/brains ability to adapt to its surroundings,like for example if there’s damage to the brain, often the other neurons will adapt to compensate for that loss of function
What concept is the biological basis for the Theory of Learning and Memory?
Neuroplasticity
What is Localization of function?
The theory that individual neural structures are responsible for individual functions and behaviours (Gall & Spurzheim)
What is Lateralization of Function?
Theory stating that each side of the brain can perform functions that the other cant
What concept seemingly undermines localization of function?
Hierarchical Organization. While it’s true that each part of the brain can be responsible for a given function or behaviour, as shown through various lesion studies, the brain still has a hierarchy of function in which complex functions are an amalgamation of smaller level functions building on top of each other. So, in the case of damage to a higher cortical level, the lower levels can sometimes compensate for that loss. Though this does not work the opposite way around as higher cortical levels cannot compensate for the lower ones
Why is disconnection important?
Disconnection is essentially a proof for hierarchical organization; it shows that each function is an assembly line of events made through connections between structures. When this connection is severed, part of this assembly line is shut down
Hierarchical Organization
Theory by John Hughlings Jackson saying that the brain processes information and perfoems functions in a hierarchy where one function is more complex and builds upon the next
What is dissolution and what could cause it?
Dissolution is the inverse of evolution, where an organism reverts to their most ancestral and survivalist state. This can be because of a disconnection between higher and lower structures in terms of hierarchy
Neuron theory and its principles
Neuron theory is built on the assumption that the main unit of the brain and the cause of its function is the neuron
1) neurons are their own autonomous structures that do not actually touch other neurons as they’re divided by the synaptic gap
2)Neurons send electrochemical signals between eacvh other
Tracts
Neural fibre pathways
Hemorrhagic Stroke
results from a burst vessel bleeding into the brain ; less common than ischémic stroke
Ischemic Stroke
Resulting from a blot in a blood vessel leading to less blood flow in a region of the brain
Ipsilateral
On the same side
Contralateral
On opposing sides
Bilatéral
On both sides
Dorsal vs Ventral
Dorsal is the top view almost like birds eye,, dorsal is nearer to the sky
Ventral is a worms view,, nearer to the ground
Genotype v Phenotype
Genotype is your actual genetic makeup
Phenotyoe is how your genes get expressed into physical charasteristics, this can change and is influence by your environment
What’re the steps of Wernicke’s Model?
- Sound waves enter the auditory pathway in the temporal lobe
The binding problem and why its important
The binding problem investigate how cortical connections and functions bind together our sensory perception into one coherent experience even though differing sensory processes are controlled by different cortical structures