Cognitive Functions Flashcards
Explain lateralisation.
Division of labour between the two hemispheres.
Name three areas where information is exchanged through the hemispheres.
The corpus callosum, the anterior commissure, and the hippocampal commissure.
What do the corpus callosum, the anterior commissure, and the hippocampal commissure have in common.
They are all areas where information is exchanged through the hemispheres.
What is the left hemisphere usually specialised for?
Language.
Where does each hemisphere of the brain get visual input from?
The opposite half of the visual world.
Where does light from the right half of the visual field hit the retina?
The left half of both retinas.
Where does light from the left half of the visual field hit the retina?
The right half of both retinas.
Which ear does each hemisphere pay most attention to?
The ear on the opposite side.
Where do the ears send information?
Both sides of the brain, where input is compared from the two ears.
What does damage to the corpus callosum prevent?
The hemispheres from exchanging information.
What is epilepsy?
A condition characterised by repeated episodes of excessive synchronised neural activity.
What do most split-brain people have trouble with?
Naming objects briefly viewed in the left visual field, as the left side of the brain is dominant for language in most people.
What occurs just after split-brain surgery?
The brain hemispheres are often in conflict.
What did Gazzaniga propose regarding the left brain?
The left brain is the interpreter, and invents and defends explanations for actions.
What is the right hemisphere adept at? (2)
Comprehending spatial relationships and seeing the bigger picture.
Name three things that the right hemisphere recognises.
Patterns, language comprehension, and emotion.
What does damage to the right hemisphere result in?
Difficulty perceiving other’s emotions, failure to understand humour and sarcasm, and a monotone voice.
What happens when the left hemisphere is inactivated?
The patient cannot speak.
What happens when the right hemisphere is inactivated?
The patient can describe traumatic or emotional experiences, but do not remember feeling the emotion.
What is the planum temporale?
An area of the temporal cortex that is larger in the left hemisphere in 65% of people.
What happens when the planum temporale is larger in the left hemisphere?
A preference for using the right hand occurs.
What happens to the corpus callosum during childhood and adolescence?
It grows and thickens as myelin increases around certain axons.
What happens to the axons that the brain does not need?
Many are discarded to allow for neurons to connect with functionally corresponding neurons.
What do most tasks require?
Cooperation from both hemispheres.