Chapter 2 - The Neural Basis of Cognition

Question 1

Capgras Syndrome

Answer 1

patients can recognize loved ones, but patients think that they are imposters (emotional appraisal is absent)
- linked to damage in the temporal lobe in the prefrontal cortex and amygdala (emotional processing)

Question 2

Normal facial recognition involves 2 systems:

Answer 2

1) cognitive appraisal - using information of the face and comparing to a mental template
2) emotional appraisal - emotional response to peoples presence

Question 3

Phenious Gage

Answer 3

damage to frontal lobe due to rod going through his head

Question 4

Hindbrain

Answer 4

• top of the spinal cord (brain stem)
• breathing, walking, balance, heartbeat , posture, alertness

Question 5

Specific Areas and Functions in hindbrain

Answer 5

Cerebellum - (largest part of hindbrain) coordinating complex thoughts and body movement , spatial recognition, discriminating sound
Pons - connection between cerebellum and brain
Medulla - breathing, heartrate

Question 6

Midbrain

Answer 6

• coordinating precise eye movements,
• relaying auditory info from ears to forebrain
• regulating pain experiences

Question 7

Forebrain (largest)

Answer 7

-Fissures - parietal, occipital, frontal, temporal lobe
- subcortical structures
- cortex

Question 8

Forebrain Subcortical Structures

Answer 8

Thalamus - sensory relay station
Hypothalamus - biological needs (4Fs)
Hippocampus - learning and memory

Question 9

Corpus Callum

Answer 9

Left - aspects of language
Right - spatial judgement and creativity

Question 10

Forebrain Subcortical Structures (Limbic System)

Answer 10

Amygdala - emotional processing
Hippocampus - learning and memory

Question 11

Neuropsychology

Answer 11

• studying behavioural impact of brain damage
• identifying overlapping areas
• Broca and Wericke’s area = language

Question 12

Neuroimaging - Structural Techniques

Answer 12

CT - X-ray slices in the brain
Pro: faster than MRI
Con: more radioactive rays, less detail
MRI - measures water content in the brain
Pro: more detailed
Cons: takes longer

Question 13

Neuroimaging - Functional

Answer 13

PET - injects radioactive isotope which traces the activity and location
Pro: quick scan
Con:
fMRI: strong magnetics attract blood flow
Pro: more clear and “better”, pinpoint exact location
Cons: takes longer, hard to tell exact time when its happening

Question 14

Electrical Recordings

Answer 14

• communications between neurons is chemical and they communicate through neurotransmitters
  EEG - recording of electrical communication within neurons
  Pro: its simple to tell when its happening as it takes ms to determine activity
  Cons: can’t pinpoint exact location
  ERPs - what activity in the environment is related t the specific area of interest

Question 15

Techniques to manipulate functions:

Answer 15

• Chemical effects on neurotransmitters (drugs)
• electrical stimulating (TMS, tCDS) - temporarily disrupt brain activity focussing on pulses targeted over areas of the scalp
• Gene manipulation (CRISPR)

Question 16

Cerebral Cortex

Answer 16

• largest portion of brain
• most important for cognitive psychologists
• thin layer of tissue covering cerebrum (forebrain)
• motor areas, sensory areas, assciation areas

Question 17

Motor areas

Answer 17

Primary sensory projection areas - arrival points in motor cortex for signals from sensory
Primary motor projection areas - departure points in motor cortex fr signals that control muscle movement
Contralateral control - left side of brain controls right side and right side of brain controls left side of the world

Question 18

Sensory areas

Answer 18

Somatosensory area - skin sensations
Primary auditory cortex - auditory sensations
Primary Visual Cortex - visual sensations
Contralateral organization

Question 19

Association Disorders

Answer 19

Apraxia - unable to perform tasks when asked
Agnosia - identifying familiar objects
Unilateral neglect syndrome - neglect an entire half of their visual world
Aphasia - language disorder

Question 20

Neurons

Answer 20

Transmit signal through action potentials (within a neuron) and neurotransmitters (between neurons)

Question 21

Glia

Answer 21

• guide development of nervous system
• repair damage
• control nutrient flow
• electrical insulation
• support with mylin sheath

Question 22

Basic parts of a neuron

Answer 22

Dendrites - detect incoming signals from neurons
Cell body - contains nucleus and cellular machinery
Axon - transmits signals to other neurons

Question 23

Synapse

Answer 23

• neurotransmitters change postsynaptic membrane
• if there is enough ion flow to reach threshold; action potential is produced
• all or none law- an action potential is always the same magnitude (signal frequency is what influences stimulation)

Question 24

Pattern coding

Answer 24

a few neurons can code multiple info