Holzel (psych, Backround)

Question 1

What is localisation of function?

Answer 1

The idea that certain functions (language/memory) have certain locations within the brain.

Question 2

How can you study localisation of function?

Answer 2

• Brain scanning living people (getting people to complete tasks under a brain scan)

Question 3

What are the 2 types of basic brain scans?

Answer 3

1. Structural: Take detailed pictures of the brain (MRI)
2. Functional: Scans show activity levels in different brain areas (FMRI scans)

Question 4

What is a MRI scan?

Answer 4

• A non invasive neuroimaging technique using powerful radio frequencies and magentic feilds to produce intricate and detailed images of the brain

Question 5

Strengths and Weaknesses of MRI scans

Answer 5

• Strengths= Painless/noninvasive
• Weaknesses= Unsuitable for people with metal in their bodies or claustophibic. Patient must stay v still. Loud noises which some find unpleasant

Question 6

What can MRI scans detect…

Answer 6

• Small structural changes in the concentration of grey matter concentration over time
• Amount of grey matter can be compared to white matter
• Size of diffrent structures can be calculated

Question 7

What is brain plasticity?

Answer 7

• The brain’s ability to change its activity in repsonse to in response to intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli by reoganising its structures, functions or neural connections

Question 8

What is the hippocampus?

Answer 8

• Part of the brains limbic system
• Involved in memory, learning, navigation and controlling emotion and responsiveness in the cortex
• Known to show plasticity

Question 9

What is mindfulness meditation?

Answer 9

• A type of meditation that aims to increase awarness of the present moment
• Enables a person to look at themselves in a nonjugmental wau

Question 10

What is grey matter concentration?

Answer 10

• Porportion to grey matter compared to other tissues in an area
• (postive numbers expressed in increases/numbers are relative changes thus can be converted to %)

Question 11

What is brain symmetry?

Answer 11

• The brain is mostly symmetrical
• As many areas are bilateral (found in both left/right hemispheres)
• The left hand side of the body is controlled by the right hand brain and vice versa

Question 12

What is unilateral brain functioning?

Answer 12

processes that occur within one hemisphere of the brain.

Question 13

What is a correlation coefficent?

Answer 13

: A number between (minus 1 and 1) that shows the strength of the relationship between 2 variables.

Question 14

Summarise the psychology being investigated

Answer 14

1. Localisation of function
2. Brain plasticity
3. MRI scans
4. Brain areas associated with mindfulness practices
5. Mindfulness practices and stress reduction

Question 15

Psych being investigated: Brain plasticity

Answer 15

• Refers to the brain’s ability to change, reorganize, or grow neural networks
• The study hypothesises that mindfulness meditation can lead to changes in brain structures.
• Thus reaffirming that the brain is malleble and can be shaped by experiences (including meditation)

Question 16

Psych being investigated: Brain areas associates with mindfulness practices

Answer 16

• The study focuses on certain brain areas like the hippocampus, PCC, TJP,LC,CV which have functions such as memory, learning, emotional regulation, self-referencial processing.
• And suggests that changes in theses areas may result in psychological benifts resulting from with mindfulness.

Question 17

Psych being investigated: Mindfulness and stress reduction

Answer 17

• The study explores how mindfulness-based intervention can reduce stress and improve overall psych health. As mindfulness can alter one’s relationship to stressful events, thus its psychological impact

Question 17

What are cross-sectional studies?

Answer 17

• Compairing diffiernt groups of ppts

Question 17

Cross sectional studies and mindfullness

Answer 17

• There has been cross sectional studies looking at meditation and mindfulness
• That found larger grey matter areas in thoes who engage in mindfulness
• But as they compared diff groups of people
• These ppl could have larger areas to start with pre-meditations

Question 18

Why did Holzel use longitudinal studies?

Answer 18

• To compare the same people and look at changes in specfic brain regions before and after a mindfulness course
• To control for indiviudal differneces