Chapter 2: Cognitive Neuroscience Flashcards
Module
A specialized mechanism in the brain that performs a special function
What is the mind?
The element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences, to think, and to feel; the faculty of consciousness and thought
Dualism
The mind exists outside of the brain and body, both receiving information from the brain and directing the body via the brain.
Materialism
The view of modern psychology and neuroscience; treats the mind as a product of the brain; it other words, all cognition has a neural basis and there is no mind without the brain
Cognitive neuroscience
The interdisciplinary study of the neural mechanisms of cognition and behavior
Functional Specialization
The principle that different brain areas serve different perceptual and cognitive skills
Neurons
the cells of the nervous system; makes the decision about whether to pass on a signal to other neurons in a network
What are the neuron’s 3 major parts?
- Dendrites
- Soma (cell body)
- Axon
Dendrites
Like branches of a tree, receiving input from sensory receptors or other neurons
Soma (or cell body)
Also receives input, and provides the metabolic machinery for the neuron
Axon
Transmits signals to other neurons
Action potential
If the input from the dendrite and cell body exceeds a threshold, which corresponds to a decision to fire, an electric signal (action potential) is generated
Action potentials occur in an _______ fashion
All or nothing; the neuron either fires to influence other neurons or does not
Neurotransmitters
How the neurons community with other networked neurons; chemicals triggered by the action potential
Synapses
gaps neurons communicate across via neurotransmitters
Presynaptic neuron
Sending neuron; can either facilitate or inhibit the firing of the postsynaptic neuron
Postsynpatic neuron
Receiving neuron
Connections between neurons are _____, meaning that their strength can change with learning and experience
plastic
Glial cells
more numerous than neurons; provide both structural and functional support to the neurons
What are some differences in the functioning of the left and right hemisphere?
- The left hemisphere process sensory and motor functions for the right side of the body, while the right hemisphere controls the left side of the body
- Language functions are somewhat stronger in the left hemisphere, while visuospatial tasks are a little more concentrated in the right hemisphere
Corpus callosum
A massive interconnection between the two hemispheres that allow them to communicate; is a large bundle of neural fibers (axons) forming an information highway
Cerebral cortex
The outer layer of each hemisphere; a thin, folded sheet of neurons
What are the four lobes + 1 other that each hemisphere can be divided into
- Frontal Lobe
- Parietal Lobe
- Occipital Lobe
- Temporal Lobe
Cerebellum
Occipital lobe
Devoted to visual perception
Cerebellum
has classically been linked with control of fine motor movements, but more recent research revealed it is involved in the coordination of complex thought as well
Temporal lobe
Important for complex perception, memory, and language
Frontal lobe
Involved in thinking, planning, and decision making
Parietal lobe
Important for controlling action
The _____ and ____ are close partners in leading many complex cognitive operations such as memory, attention, and decision making
Frontal and parietal lobes
Spatial Resolution
Researchers ability to pinpoint where neural activity occurs
Temporal Resolution
Researcher’s ability to pinpoint when neural activity occurs
Invasiveness
The level of impact on the individual whose brain is being studied
Neuropsychology
Studies the behavioral consequences of brain damage
Broca’s area
works with speech production
Wernicke’s area
works with language comprehension
Electrophysiology
The ability directly measure electrical activity from neurons using electrodes
What is the goal of electrophysiology?
To find experimental manipulations that change there firing rate of a neuron, thereby demonstrating the neuron’s function
Primary visual cortex
An area in the occipital lobe that receives visual information from the eyes
Intracranial recordings
electrode implantation that can help localize the sources of seizures, as targets for removal
Electroencephalography (EEG)
uses electrodes on the scalp to detect and amplify global electrical activity
Event-related potential (ERP)
The EEG pattern in response to a stimulus or task
Functional brain imaging
Uses medical technologies to non invasively study brain activity
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
The most widely used technique for studying cognition
Correlation and causation problem
when people confuse a correlation as cause and effect: CORRELATION DOES NOT EQUAL CAUSATION
