Developmental of Neuropsychology Flashcards
Describe the brain’s structure.
The brain has two symmetrical hemispheres. The basic plan of the brain is that it is made of a long tube that is wrapped around to form the shape of our brain. In these tubes is a fluid called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which serves as a cushion for the brain and gets rid of waste. The outer layer of this tube that forms the brain is called the cerebral cortex. The bumps and folds of the cerebral cortex are called gyri. The creases between the gyri are called sulci. Larger sulci are called fissures - the longitudinal fissure divides our brain into two hemispheres, and the lateral fissure divides each hemisphere into half. The pathways in our brain are called commissures. The largest pathway/commissure is called the corpus callosum which connects the brain’s hemispheres.
What are the four lobes of each hemisphere and where are they located?
The four lobes are temporal lobe which is located below the lateral fissure, the frontal lobe located above the temporal lobe, the parietal lobe is located behind the frontal lobe, and the occipital lobe located at the area behind each hemisphere.
In what order are the three-part brain formed?
spinal cord -> brainstem -> forebrain
Distinguish between the functions of the spinal cord, brain stem, and forebrain.
The spinal cord conveys information into the brain and sends information from the brain to the muscles about movement. The brainstem mediates regulatory functions like eating and drinking, and the forebrain mediates cognitive functions.
Briefly discuss what John Hughlings-Jackson meant by his concept of “hierarchical organization.”
Hughlings-Jackson suggested that the spinal cord, brainstem and forebrain had developed successively, in that order during evolution and that earlier-evolved animals and animals with injuries at higher levels would have simpler behaviours that those with the spinal cord, brainstem and forebrain intact.
What is the nervous system made of?
Nervous system is made of two systems - Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS). CNS is made of the brain and spinal cord. PNS consists of the nerve fibres that are connected to the CNS. PNS is made of two systems: Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) and Somatic Nervous System (SNS). SNS have sensory connections to receptors in the skin, and motor connections to body muscles. ANS is divided into two opposing divisions - sympathetic division and parasympathetic division. Sympathetic division involves flight or flight - heart beat gets accelerated, pumps blood faster into arms and legs which makes you react to danger and run. Parasympathetic division is the opposite, it is resting and digesting.
What is the difference between CNS and PNS?
Tissues in the PNS can regrow while tissue in the CNS cannot regrow.
Who believed that the mind was responsible for our behaviour? If so, how did the psyche (i.e., our mind) work?
Aristotle believed in mentalism - the mind was responsible for our behaviour, but can interact with one another. He believed that our mind is located in our hearts. He claimed, our language justified this belief (ex. The saying “put your heart into it.”)
Why did Galen believe that our mind was inside the brain?
He opposed Aristotle’s hypothesis because veins and arteries travel up to the body and so that is where the mind probably is - the brain hypothesis
What was Descartes’s view of the mind-body problem?
Descartes believed that the mind and body were separate entities. He views the nonmaterial mind as controlling the material body through the pineal body in the brain.
Why did Descartes’s view of the mind-body problem not make sense?
He believed that the material body was like a machine, and the nonmaterial mind was like the movements performed by the machine. But the problem was that how the nonmaterial mind could produce movements in the material body. The answer to that was that it would have to expend energy, however, that defied the law of physics.
Why did Descarte believe that the mind existed in the pineal body?
Pineal body was the only structure that wasn’t separated into two halves and that it was close to the ventricles. He believed that the mind, through the pineal body, controlled valves that allowed CSF to flow from ventricles through nerves to muscles.
How were Descartes’ followers able to justify inhumane treatment to animals, children and mentally ill?
He claimed that animals did not have minds, and so were machine-like. Minds only developed in children, as they began to speak. Mental disease impaired the minds of the mentally ill and so they did not impair the process.
What are the implications of Darwin’s theory that all animals had a common ancestor for the study of nervous system functions?
Darwin’s theory inspired the study of the nervous system functions in different species for comparison with one another. If all the animals, including humans, have a common ancestor, then there will be similarities across species in brain structure and function.
What is the Contemporary Brain Theory?
Contemporary Brain Theory is both materialistic and neutral with respect to beliefs.
