Exam 4 Flashcards
Study for Exam 4
Cerebral Dominance
each hemisphere specializes in different tasks, 1 takes the dominant role while 1 plays assist.
Damage to Broca’s area causes what?
nonfluent aphlasia which causes a failure in written or verbal language expression
- “Tan” man
damage to Wernike’s area causes what?
fluent aphasia which causes one to not be able to remember certain words
Damage to Liepman causes what?
aproxia which causes loss of control over muscles required to produce speech
Which side of the body does the Right hemisphere process
The right hemisphere processes the left side of the body’s infromation
Which side of the body does the left hemisphere process
the left hemisphere processes the right side of the body
In which direction is information processes in the brain?
Contralaterally: Having to do with the opposite side of the body.
What areas of information does the left hemisphere process? How can the left hemisphere be characterized?
The left hemisphere processes information related to
- language
- writing
- motor control needed for language
- positive emotion regulation
It can be characterized as more analytical and detail oriented, the ‘nerdy’ half of the brain
What areas of information does the right hemisphere process? How can the right hemisphere be characterized?
The right hemisphere process information related to
- emotional perception (of tone, body language, etc…)
- facial recognition
- visual processes
- negative emotions
The right hemisphere is more concerned with the ‘gist’ of things can be considered the ‘artsy’ side of the brain
What is a fact concerning language and lateralization
language is the most lateralized cognitive process; centered in the left hemisphere
for right handed people 95% of language is processed in the left hemisphere
For left handed people 80% of language is processed in the left hemisphere
Planum Temporale
larger in the left hemisphere (called the Wernicke’s area in the left)
- 5x larger in left hemisphere for
65% of people
Responsible for language comprehension
Heshcl’s Gyrus
Location of primary auditory cortex and responsible for speech comprehension
- larger in left hemisphere
Frontal Operculum
In the left hemisphere is known as Broca’s area; responsible for speech production
what is a commissure
the nerve fissures that connect the two hemispheres of the brain.
- SUBCORTICAL
Commissurectomy
“Split brain surgery” which separates the two hemispheres of the brain
- usually separating the
CORPUS COLLOSUM
What are some affect arising from a Commissurectomy aka “Split Brain Surgery”
- the brain hemispheres can still communicate indirectly (through body, etc…)
- Helping hang phenomenon
- capable of learning 2 things at once
- Chimeric figures processed differently based on which hemisphere is doing processing
Innateness Theory of Language Acquisition
A biological / nativist approach to language acquisition; states we are born with biological structures / programming that allow us to learn language easily and naturally.
-
Which side of the brain is responsible for the emotional intonation of speech
Right
Long Term Potentiation
the strengthening on synapses due to frequent activation which increases the responsiveness of the synapse in the future; the basis of learning
what is the most lateralized function?
Language
Semantic memory
memory for words and concepts; part of declarative memory.
what is memory consolidation where does it occur?
it’s the process where information is strengthened and converted into long term storage largely handled by the hippocampus
what is the main commissure that connects the two hemispheres of the brain called?
Corpus callosum
Which neurotransmitter allows LTP to happen?
Glutamate
Which part of the brain plays a key role in habit formation and procedural memory?
The Striatum
what is a individual mental activity that makes up larger categories of function
constituent cognitive processes
What are the branches of Long term memory?
Procedural
Declarative 1. semantic
2. episodic
Which type of long term memory is least likely to be “lost” to amnesia or otherwise?
procedural LTM, because it’s more implicit than the other types of LTM
What is the difference between implicit and explicit memory
we are only aware / conscious of explicit memory; implicit memories seep in overtime
What was the hypothesis and conclusion of the Lashley engram study?
Lashley hypothesized there was a physical connection created through classical conditioning.
His hypothesis was wrong and there is no one specific spot of connection which facilitates learning, but rather many areas throughout the brain
What is an area of the brain that modern research suggests is important for learning?
modern research suggests that the Lateral interpositus nucleus is important for learning
What is memory reconsolidation?
When a consolidated memory is retrieved it has to go through the process of consolidation again
what is something that can go wrong with memory reconsolidation?
When a memory is retrieved and then reconsolidated, the memory can be mis-remembered or altered and then is reconsolidated “wrong” or falsely
what is the relationship between cortisol and memories?
Slightly elevated cortisol can improve memory by activating the amygdala and hippocampus
too much cortisol can impair memory
How do we learn language through constituent cognitive processes
- phonological analysis
- Grammatical analysis
- Semantic analysis
What are the results of the Willems study?
connection between thinking a word and the motor cortex response for that word lights up
EX: think throw -> brain parts used for physical throwing light up
What are the results of the Damasio study?
PET scans show our brains light up in different areas depending on the category of the word in the temporal lobe.
What are the results of the baveliers study?
found in fMRI that the small areas of the brain involved with language all around the brain are different withing different people
What are some additional qualities of LTP?
- Specificity
- Cooperativity
- Associativity
What is Specificity?
A quality of LTP which states only active synapses can be strengthened through LTP
ACTIVE ONLY
What is cooperativity?
when two or more axons stimulate the post synaptic neuron at the same time, it produces LTP more strongly than if it was just one axon stimulating the postsynaptic
Associativity
weaker synapses that are connected to a really strong LTP synapse can become strengthened by association.
MUST BE ACTIVE
What is the process of LTP?
What symptoms are required for a schizophrenia diagnosis?
at least two symptoms, one of which must be hallucination, delusion, or disorganized
speech
What part of the brain is often enlarged due to schizophrenia?
Ventricles
What are some symptoms of postpartum depression?
Sadness - Fatigue - Irritability - Sleep disturbances - Impaired concentration - Impaired activity of daily living
What hormones are involved and are affected during postpartum depression?
Estrogen and Progesterone - Cortisol – Oxytocin
What areas of the brain are affected by psilocybin?
Claustrum, prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and striatal connectivity
What are some behavioral benefits to microdosing?
Reduce anxiety, mood improvement, Improved Mental Health
Do serial killers have a high IQ?
Serial killers are more likely to have either a higher or lower IQ than average
What mental disorders are definitely more common in serial killers?
Every personality disorder
Does the amount of grey matter impact the actions of serial killers?
No sig dif
What biological systems does mindfulness affect?
HPA axis, SAM (sympathetic, adrenal, medullary) axis
prefrontal cortex
amygdala
insula
hypothalamus
Which parts of the brain are smaller for individuals who are diagnosed with DID?
hippocampus and amygdala
Why might the nucleus accumbens be activated during personality switch?
allow escape from pain and consequently has reinforcing (rewarding) value
What are the brain structures involved with attraction?
Ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens , Caudate nucleus, Ventral pallidum
Which two hormones are involved in lust?
b. testosterone and estrogen
Does PTSD Affect the size of the hippocampus?
Decreased volume
What areas in the brain does PTSD affect?
Hippocampus, Prefrontal cortex, Hypothalamus, Amygdala
How do abnormalities in the amygdala and the limbic system cause the symptoms and development of Borderline Personality Disorder?
Excessive amygdala activation to negative emotion
hippocampus and amygdala show atrophy (decreased volume)
Can genetics influence the likelihood of developing BPD?
yuh
