chapter 1

Question 1

behaviorism

Answer 1

the school of psychology founded by Thorndike and popularized by Skinner, which places emphasis on the acquisition of behavior through learning and reinforcement.

Question 2

Clinical neuropsychology

Answer 2

a branch of clinical psychology that specializes in the assessment of patients with focal brain injury or neurocognitive deficits.

Question 3

Cognitive neuropsychology

Answer 3

A branch of neuropsychology that studies how brain structure and function relate to specific psychological processes.

Question 4

In vivo imaging techniques

Answer 4

a range of imaging techniques that explore structure and/or function in living subjects.

Question 5

Paralysis

Answer 5

loss of movement in a body region (such as a limb).

Question 6

Sensory nerves

Answer 6

Nerves carrying action potentials from sensory receptors towards the CNS (e.g., the optic nerve).

Question 7

Descartes

Answer 7

French philosopher famous for his ideas about the separate identities of mind and body.

Question 8

Mind-body problem

Answer 8

Explaining what relationship, if any, exists between mental processes and bodily states.

Question 9

Localization of function

Answer 9

The concept that different parts of the brain carry out different function, and conversely, that not all parts of the brain do the same thing.

Question 10

Cerebral Cortex

Answer 10

The outer surface of the brain which has, in higher mammals, a creased and bumpy appearance.

Question 11

Gyrl

Answer 11

Elongated bumps (convexities) in the cortex (singular: gyrus).

Question 12

Sulci

Answer 12

the smaller folds or indents on the surface of the cortex (singular: sulcus). Larger ones are called fissures.

Question 13

Neuron cell bodies

Answer 13

The central part of neurons (nerve cells) that contain the nucleus.

Question 14

Axon

Answer 14

Long, thin projection from a neuron that carries electrical impulses from the cell body.

Question 15

Aphasia

Answer 15

Deficit in the production and/or comprehension of language.

Question 16

Open head injuries

Answer 16

Head injuries involving damage to the cranium so that the brain is exposed or visible. Often compared with “closed head injury” in which brain damage has occurred although the cranium has not been penetrated for example, dementia, pugilistica (brain damage associated with boxing)

Question 17

Lesion

Answer 17

A cut in (or severing of) brain tissue. This may occur as the result of an accident or may be part of a surgical procedure.

Question 18

Abiation

Answer 18

The surgical removal of brain tissue.

Question 19

Stroke

Answer 19

A catch- all term for disturbances of the blood supply to the brain. Most commonly, strokes are caused by obstruction to, or rupture of, blood vessels in the brain.

Question 20

Fluent aphasia

Answer 20

Another name for Wernicke’s aphasia. Language is fluent but nonsensical.

Question 21

Conduction aphasia

Answer 21

Aphasia in which the principle deficit is an inability to repeat spoken language.

Question 22

Temporal lobe

Answer 22

The region of the cortex (on both sides of the brain) running forward horizontally above and in front of the ear, known to be involved in language, memory, and visual processing.

Question 23

Disconnection

Answer 23

The general term for a group of disorders thought to be caused by damage to a pathway between two undamaged regions (e.g., split-brain syndrome).

Question 24

Angular gyrus

Answer 24

A region of cortex on the temporal/ parietal border roughly equivalent to Broadman’s area 39. The left side is probably involved in reading (sentences).

Question 25

Alexia

Answer 25

inability to read.

Question 26

Mass action

Answer 26

the principle (alongside equipotiallity) that cortical regions of the brain are inherently non-specialized and have the capacity to engage in any psychological function.

Question 27

Equipotentiality

Answer 27

The term associated with Lashley, broadly meaning that any region of cortex can assume responsibility for a given function (memory being the function of interest for Lashley).

Question 28

Reinforcement

Answer 28

Typically, some form of reward (positive reinforcement) or punishment (negative reinforcement) that affects the likelihood of a response being repeated.

Question 29

Psychoanalysis

Answer 29

The school of psychology initiated by Freud that emphasizes the role(s) of unresolved subconscious conflicts in psychological disorder.

Question 30

Synapses

Answer 30

The tiny fluid-filled gap between neurons where synaptic transmission may occur. Typically, 20-30 nanometers (millionths of a millimeter) wide.

Question 31

Agnosia

Answer 31

Loss of ability to recognize objects, persons, sounds, shapes, or smells in spite of intact sensory functions.

Question 32

Apraxia

Answer 32

the inability to carry out certain motor acts on instruction without evident loss of muscle tone (acts may be performed spontaneously, for example).

Question 33

Module

Answer 33

A core unit in an integral modular system.

Question 34

Parallel information processing

Answer 34

The idea that the brain processes two sources of information simultaneously.

Question 35

Brodmann Area

Answer 35

A region of the cortex defined on the basis of cytoarchitecture.

Question 36

Thalamus

Answer 36

A multifunctional subcortical brain region.

Question 37

Striatum

Answer 37

A collective name for the caudate and putamen: key input regions in the basal ganglia.

Question 38

Brainstem

Answer 38

The lower part of the brain, adjoining and structurally continuous with the spinal cord