Cognitive neuroscience Flashcards
Define cognitive neuroscience
The scientific study of biological substrates underlying cognition. How cognitive functions are produced by neural circuits in the brain
Define neurons
Cells in the nervous system that communicate with one another to perform information processing tasks
Role of sensory neurons
Receives information fro the external world and sends information to the brain
Role of motor neurons
Carry signals to the muscles from the spinal cord to produce movement
Role of relay neurons
Connect sensory and motor neurons or other interneurons
What is the axon?
Transmits information to other neurons, muscles or glands
What is the myelin sheath
An insulating layer of fatty material made up of glial cells
What are dendrites?
Receive information from other neurons and relay is to the cell boy
Define spatial summation
The process of determining whether the cell should send a signal or not
Describe the process of spatial summation
Cell receives excitatory and inhibitory signals
Cell will make a decision whether to send a signal down its axon
Electrical signal travels down the neuron
Cell releases neurotransmitters at the synapse and will attach to receptors on the other side
Describe place cells
Specific types of cells, particularly in the hippocampus of the rat brain
Cells become excited and send a signal when an animal is in a particular area of the environment
These cells have place fields
When animal in particular part of the environment, the animal will know where it is based on which place cells are firing
Describe grid cells
Also play an important role in the animal knowing where it is
What are ions?
Charged atoms
Describe the charge of a neuron when is is not sending signals
Inside of the neuron has a negative charge relative to the positive charge outside the cell
Define neuraxis
The direction central nervous system lies
Describe the difference in the neuraxis of humans and animals
Animals- neuraxis is in the same plane throughout
Human- neuraxis bends
Differences between computer and brain
Computer:
typically has 1 processing unit where all computations are done
Various stages to achieve computation
Fast, accurate
Brain
Billions of euros
Work not just done in one place
Lots of computations being carried out in parallel, slower
Explain polygraphs
Lie detector Detects arousal Measures blood pressure, sweat Assumption that lying is stressful which cases arousal Not accurate
Define neurotransmitters
Chemicals that transmit information across the synapse to a receding neurones dendrites
Define action potential
An electrical signal that is conducted along the length of a neuron’s axon to a synapse
Grey and white matter
Grey- cell bodies
White- axons
Describe the Hind brain
Oldest part of the brain in terms of evolution
Co ordinates information flow to/from the spinal cord
Medulla- controls heart rate, circulation, respiration
Cerebellum- controls fine motor movement
Pons-relays information between cerebellum and rest of the brain
Describe the mid brain
Smallest area
Co ordinates basic functions related to perception and action
Describe the forebrain
Basal ganglia- plan initiation of intentional movements
Thalamus- relays and filters information from the senses to the cortex
Hypothalamus- relates internal body functions
Describe the hemispheres of the brain
Hemispheric differences do exist
Both sides work together
Most prominent lateralisation: language
Connected by the corpus callous
What are the 3 membranes which protect the brain?
Dura mater
Pia mater
Arachnoid
What were the ideas of phrenology (1800s)
The first time people started to think brain functions could be localised
Brain is the organ of the mind
The mind is composed of multiple distinct innate faculties
Dominant faculties create bumps on the skull
Phrenology was the starting point for neuropsychology
Define neuropsychology
The study of the brain
Investigating the brain behaviour relationship s by studying the effects of localised brain damage
Explain frontal lobotomy
One of the earliest famous types of neurosurgery which impacted peoples behaviour
Procedure destroys the frontal lobes or damages connections to the limbic system
People awake during procedure- no pain receptors in the brain
Surgery not successful- patients then had difficulties such as not motivated to do anything
Explain hemispheric callostomy
Surgery cuts corpus callous preventing spread of epileptic seizures
Cut the corpus callous so hemispheres can\t communicate to at least keep epileptic seizures in one hemisphere
Seizures did reduce
