Introduction Flashcards
What are the aims of neuropsychology?
To establish a relationship between psychological functions
What is the mind-body problem?
The body is physical. The mind is intangible. How can one influence the other?
What is phrenology?
The philosophy that cranial bumps reflect the size of brain regions, and so can be used to determine cognitive traits
What is Broca’s aphasia?
The word recall one
What is Wernicke’s aphasia?
The coherency one
Where is Broca’s area?
Left interior frontal lobe
Where is Wernicke’s area?
Superior temporal gyrus
What is prosopagnosia?
The inability to differentiate between faces
What are double dissociations?
Two different forms of neurological impairment, which rarely co-occur and appear to be mutually exclusive, though are related
What are the limitations of dissociation studies?
> Compensatory strategies
May be impaired in both, but more impaired in one
Methodological variation
What are the advantages of the lesion method of neurological study?
> Links specific brain regions to functions
> Advances theories of cognitive functioning
What are the limitations of the lesion method?
> Brain damage is not specific
Individual differences
Other brain regions may have a supporting role
Damaged region may be a major site, or just a connection
Compensation strategies
What are the advantages of single participant research designs?
> Comprehensive longitudinal insight
> Results are highly representative
What are the limitations of single person research designs?
> Invasive
May be confounded by medication
Little external validity
Not amenable to certain designs
What are the advantages of group studies?
> Increase external validity
Reduce sampling errors
Replication
Can use full range of research designs