Brain Systems

Question 1

Neuroplasticity

Answer 1

Function – structural & functional brain adaption throughout life in response to experience

Types – Grafman’s 4
* homologous area adaption
* cross-modal reassignment
* map expansion
* compensatory masquerade

Question 2

Homologous Area Adaption

Answer 2

Function – neuroplasticity; function of an area shifts to the corresponding area on the opposite hemisphere (usually from early damage) at the expense of the pre-existing functions of the new area.

ex: left parietal takes over visuospatial functions from damaged right parietal, left’s o.g. math functions may become mid (impaired).

Question 3

Cross-Modal Reassignment

Answer 3

Function – neuroplasticity; neural functions will change in a brain area that’s deprived of sensory input.

ex: a born-blind child doesn’t receive nor process visual input, so those neurons will start to receive other somatosensory input to still serve the child a cognitive representation of the physical world.

Question 4

Map Expansion

Answer 4

Function – neuroplasticity; due to exercise/practice, a brain area will become enlarged & even recruit neurons from bordering regions.

Question 5

Compensatory Masquerade

Answer 5

Function – neuroplasticity; when a cognitive process is damaged, other cognitive processes will be used to compensate for the damage.

ex: people who have lost spatial sense (sense of direction) from a TBI may rely on memorizing landmarks to get around.

Question 6

Central Nervous System
CNS

Answer 6

Function – transmits info throughout the brain & spinal cord

Contains – brain, forebrain, hindbrain, spinal cord

Question 7

Peripheral Nervous System
PNS

Answer 7

Function – transmits info from CNS to the rest of the body using sensory neurons located outside the CNS.

Location – periphery of the CNS
Contains – somatic & autonomic nervous systems

Question 8

Somatic Nervous System

Answer 8

Function – transmits info from body’s sensory receptors to the CNS & from the CNS to skeletal muscles; voluntary actions

Location – peripheral nervous system

Question 9

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Answer 9

Function – rest & energy conservation

Location – peripheral nervous system -> autonomic nervous system

Question 10

Sympathetic Nervous System

Answer 10

Function – fight/flight & energy output

Location – peripheral nervous system -> autonomic nervous system

Question 11

Neural Mechanisms

Answer 11

Kandel 1976 study with sea slugs (Aplysia) – classical conditioning of reflexes results in increased serotonin for short-term memory storage and long-term memory storage changes the development new synapses & structure of existing ones.

Long-term potentiation LTP – first observed in the hippocampus with glutamate, is essential for learning & forming memory and is the result of rapid/high-frequency stimulation of the neuron (myelin helps with this).

RNA synthesis – RNA is essential for long-term memories, but not short-term.