Chapter 2: Cognitive Neuroscience

Question 1

Module

Answer 1

A specialized mechanism in the brain that performs a special function

Question 2

What is the mind?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Dualism

Answer 3

The mind exists outside of the brain and body, both receiving information from the brain and directing the body via the brain.

Question 4

Materialism

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Cognitive neuroscience

Answer 5

The interdisciplinary study of the neural mechanisms of cognition and behavior

Question 6

Functional Specialization

Answer 6

The principle that different brain areas serve different perceptual and cognitive skills

Question 7

Neurons

Answer 7

the cells of the nervous system; makes the decision about whether to pass on a signal to other neurons in a network

Question 8

What are the neuron’s 3 major parts?

Answer 8

1. Dendrites
2. Soma (cell body)
3. Axon

Question 9

Dendrites

Answer 9

Like branches of a tree, receiving input from sensory receptors or other neurons

Question 10

Soma (or cell body)

Answer 10

Also receives input, and provides the metabolic machinery for the neuron

Question 11

Axon

Answer 11

Transmits signals to other neurons

Question 12

Action potential

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Action potentials occur in an _______ fashion

Answer 13

All or nothing; the neuron either fires to influence other neurons or does not

Question 14

Neurotransmitters

Answer 14

How the neurons community with other networked neurons; chemicals triggered by the action potential

Question 15

Synapses

Answer 15

gaps neurons communicate across via neurotransmitters

Question 16

Presynaptic neuron

Answer 16

Sending neuron; can either facilitate or inhibit the firing of the postsynaptic neuron

Question 17

Postsynpatic neuron

Answer 17

Receiving neuron

Question 18

Connections between neurons are _____, meaning that their strength can change with learning and experience

Answer 18

plastic

Question 19

Glial cells

Answer 19

more numerous than neurons; provide both structural and functional support to the neurons

Question 20

What are some differences in the functioning of the left and right hemisphere?

Answer 20

1. 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
2. Language functions are somewhat stronger in the left hemisphere, while visuospatial tasks are a little more concentrated in the right hemisphere

Question 21

Corpus callosum

Answer 21

A massive interconnection between the two hemispheres that allow them to communicate; is a large bundle of neural fibers (axons) forming an information highway

Question 22

Cerebral cortex

Answer 22

The outer layer of each hemisphere; a thin, folded sheet of neurons

Question 23

What are the four lobes + 1 other that each hemisphere can be divided into

Answer 23

1. Frontal Lobe
2. Parietal Lobe
3. Occipital Lobe
4. Temporal Lobe
   Cerebellum

Question 24

Occipital lobe

Answer 24

Devoted to visual perception

Question 25

Cerebellum

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Temporal lobe

Answer 26

Important for complex perception, memory, and language

Question 27

Frontal lobe

Answer 27

Involved in thinking, planning, and decision making

Question 28

Parietal lobe

Answer 28

Important for controlling action

Question 29

The _____ and ____ are close partners in leading many complex cognitive operations such as memory, attention, and decision making

Answer 29

Frontal and parietal lobes

Question 30

Spatial Resolution

Answer 30

Researchers ability to pinpoint where neural activity occurs

Question 31

Temporal Resolution

Answer 31

Researcher’s ability to pinpoint when neural activity occurs

Question 32

Invasiveness

Answer 32

The level of impact on the individual whose brain is being studied

Question 33

Neuropsychology

Answer 33

Studies the behavioral consequences of brain damage

Question 34

Broca’s area

Answer 34

works with speech production

Question 35

Wernicke’s area

Answer 35

works with language comprehension

Question 36

Electrophysiology

Answer 36

The ability directly measure electrical activity from neurons using electrodes

Question 37

What is the goal of electrophysiology?

Answer 37

To find experimental manipulations that change there firing rate of a neuron, thereby demonstrating the neuron’s function

Question 38

Primary visual cortex

Answer 38

An area in the occipital lobe that receives visual information from the eyes

Question 39

Intracranial recordings

Answer 39

electrode implantation that can help localize the sources of seizures, as targets for removal

Question 40

Electroencephalography (EEG)

Answer 40

uses electrodes on the scalp to detect and amplify global electrical activity

Question 41

Event-related potential (ERP)

Answer 41

The EEG pattern in response to a stimulus or task

Question 42

Functional brain imaging

Answer 42

Uses medical technologies to non invasively study brain activity

Question 43

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Answer 43

The most widely used technique for studying cognition

Question 44

Correlation and causation problem

Answer 44

when people confuse a correlation as cause and effect: CORRELATION DOES NOT EQUAL CAUSATION