Chapter 2: Cognitive Neuroscience Flashcards
Modules
Different parts of the brain are responsible for different cognitive functions.
Phrenology
The study of the shape, size, and protrusions and dents of the cranium to understand their relationship with mental activities, abilities, and traits.
Localization of Function
The idea that there is a direct correspondence between specific cognitive function and specific parts of the brain.
Law of Mass Action
Learning and memory depend on the mass of brain tissue remaining, rather than properties of individual cells.
Law of Equipotentiality
Even though some areas of the brain may become specialized for certain tasks, any part of an area can do the job of another area (within limits).
Interactionism
Mind and brain are two separate entities that interact and influence one another.
Epiphenomenalism
“Mind” is a by-product of physical body function (including the brain) and has no role in determining behaviour.
Parallelism
“Mind” and brain are two aspects of the same reality (i.e. every event in the mind also has an event in the brain).
Isomorphism
“Mind” events and neural events share the same structure; an experience and its corresponding brain process share the same pattern.
Broca’s Aphasia
The loss of the ability to produce speech due to damage in Broca’s Area.
Broca’s Area
The part of the left hemisphere that is responsible for how words are spoken .
Wernicke’s Aphasia
The loss of ability to comprehend speech due to damage in Wernicke’s Area.
Wernicke’s Area
The part of the left hemisphere that is responsible for speech comprehension.
Interhemispheric Transfer
Communication between the brain’s hemispheres through the corpus callosum.
Split Brain
A condition created by damaging the corpus callosum.
