Foundation 6 Flashcards
What are the scientific tools used to study brain functions?
Electroencephalogram (EEG), Positron emission tomography (PET), Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and Functional MRI.
What does an Electroencephalogram (EEG) do?
Records electrical activity from the brain.
What is Positron emission tomography (PET)?
Creates images of brain activity through computer interpretation of PET scan data.
What does Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) do?
Creates images of brain anatomy by detecting magnetic activity from atomic nuclei.
What does Functional MRI measure?
Measures brain activity by detecting changes in neuronal oxygen use.
What is the primary role of the left cerebral hemisphere?
Analyzes the logical content of language.
What is the primary role of the right cerebral hemisphere?
Processes information about shapes and spatial locations.
In what percentage of the population is language control primarily in the left hemisphere?
0.9
Which hemisphere is more active when memorizing verbal items?
Left frontal lobe
Which hemisphere is more active when memorizing visual shapes and locations?
Right frontal lobe
What type of information does the left cerebral cortex primarily handle?
Verbal information
What type of information does the right cerebral cortex primarily handle?
Visual information
Which hemisphere is more involved in processing negative emotions?
Right hemisphere
Which hemisphere is more involved in processing positive emotions?
Left hemisphere
How does a stroke in the left hemisphere affect emotions?
Increases likelihood of depression
How does damage to the right hemisphere affect emotions?
May result in cheerfulness and lack of depression
How does the average size of the female brain compare to the male brain?
Smaller
What structural difference is noted in the female brain?
More folds, more complex, greater surface area
In which tasks do females tend to be more accurate?
Verbal tasks
Which hemisphere shows more activation in females?
Left cerebral hemisphere
Which hemisphere shows more activation in males?
Right cerebral hemisphere
Is the brain a changeable structure?
Yes
How does the brain change throughout life?
Through changes in white and gray matter and neurogenesis
What happens to the brain’s white and gray matter from childhood through middle age?
White matter increases, gray matter decreases due to neural pruning
What is neural pruning?
Elimination of unnecessary neural cells to improve efficiency
What happens to the brain’s gray and white matter after the 5th decade of life?
Both decrease, leading to reduced working memory and cognitive speed
What is neurogenesis?
Growth of new neurons in the brain
What role does neurogenesis play?
Important for learning and storing new memories
How does learning a new skill affect the brain?
Increases the number of neural cell bodies (gray matter) in relevant cortical areas.
