Cognitive Neuroscience Flashcards
What is neuropsychology?
Studies behavior of people with brain damage
What is Electrophysiology?
Studies electrical responses of the nervous system including brain neurons
What is cognitive neuroscience?
The study of the physiological basis of cognition
Levels of analysis
We look at topics of interest from many different perspectives. Each viewpoint adds small amounts that when added together create a greater understanding
What are neurons?
Cells specialized to create, receive, and transmit information to the NS
Parts of the neuron
Dendrites, cell body (SOMA), and an axon
Cell body
Has mechanisms to keep the cell alive
Dendrites
Multiple branches that RECEIVE information from other neurons
Axon
Tube filled with fluid that SENDS electrical signal to other neurons
Action potential
Neuron receives signal and info travels down the axon to be sent to another neuron
How to measure action potential
Through a microelectrode
What is a microelectrode?
A receptor that measures action potentials in nerves. Placed near the axon
Measuring Action Potential
Size is not measured, it remains constant
What is measured during AP?
Rate of firing
Low intensity: slow firing
High Intensity: fast firing
What is the synapse?
The space between the axon of a neuron and a dendrite of another neuron
When the Action potential reaches the end of an axon, ____________
synaptic vesicles open and release chemical neurotransmitters
What are neurotransmitters?
chemicals that affect the electrical signal of the receiving neuron
Excitatory
INCREASES chance neuron will fire
Inhibitory
DECREASES chance neuron will fire
Action potential results only if the _______ is reached
Threshold level
What is threshold level?
Interaction of excitation and inhibition
Definition of the mind
A system that creates representations of the world, so that we can act on it to achieve goals
Principle of neuronal representation
Everything a person experiences is based on representations in the person’s NS; Vision example
What did Hubel and Wiesel bring to the psych world?
Researched vision stimulus with cats; discovered feature detectors
What are feature detectors?
Neurons that respond best to a specific stimulus
The stimulus for vision is ________
Light
What did Hubel & Wiesel conclude?
Different neurons would respond to different orientations; different neurons respond to vertical stimuli, while others respond to horizontal stimuli.