Introduction to cognitive psychology Flashcards
gain an understanding of cognitive psychology
What does the concept of ‘Action potential’ refer to?
A brief electrical signal that travels along a neuron
Action potentials are crucial for transmitting information in the nervous system.
What are axons responsible for?
Carrying electrical signals away from the neuron’s cell body
Axons are essential for communication between neurons.
What is brain imaging used for?
Visualizing brain activity and structure
Techniques like MRI and fMRI are commonly used for brain imaging.
What is Broca’s aphasia characterized by?
Difficulty producing speech
Comprehension typically remains intact in Broca’s aphasia.
Where is Broca’s area located, and what does it control?
In the frontal lobe, controlling speech production
Damage to this area can result in speech production difficulties.
What does the cell body of a neuron do?
Contains the neuron’s nucleus and carries out metabolic functions
The cell body is essential for the overall health of the neuron.
Which part of the brain is responsible for higher-level cognitive functions, such as thinking and decision-making?
Cerebral cortex
The cerebral cortex is involved in complex cognitive processes.
What is the connectome?
A network of brain connections that links different areas together
Mapping the connectome helps understand brain function and organization.
Which brain network is most active when the brain is at rest and not focused on external tasks?
Default mode network (DMN)
The DMN is involved in self-referential thinking and daydreaming.
What are dendrites responsible for in a neuron?
Receiving signals from other neurons
Dendrites play a crucial role in the communication between neurons.
What does distributed representation mean in the brain?
Information is processed and stored in multiple brain areas
This concept emphasizes the collaborative nature of brain function.
What is a neural network?
A collection of neurons that work together to process information
Neural networks are foundational for tasks like visual processing.
What does functional connectivity measure?
How different brain regions work together during a task
Functional connectivity is often assessed using fMRI.
Which technique uses magnetic fields to measure brain activity based on changes in blood oxygen levels?
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
fMRI is widely used in cognitive neuroscience research.
The fusiform face area (FFA) is specialized for recognizing:
Faces
Damage to the FFA can lead to prosopagnosia, the inability to recognize faces.
What is hierarchical processing in the brain?
Simple features are processed in the brain before more complex features
This reflects how visual information is organized and interpreted.
What does the concept of ‘Levels of analysis’ refer to?
Studying cognition from multiple perspectives, from neural circuits to behavior
This approach allows for a comprehensive understanding of cognitive functions.
Which brain region is primarily responsible for spatial awareness and attention?
Parietal lobe
The parietal lobe integrates sensory information to inform spatial awareness.
What is the principle of neural representation?
The brain represents experiences through neural patterns
This principle underlines how cognitive functions are encoded in the brain.
What condition does prosopagnosia cause?
Inability to recognize faces
Prosopagnosia can significantly affect social interactions.
What are neurotransmitters?
Chemicals that transmit signals across synapses
Neurotransmitters are crucial for communication between neurons.
What does the occipital lobe of the brain primarily process?
Visual information
The occipital lobe is the main center for visual processing.
What is sparse coding in neural activity?
A few neurons represent information, firing together
Sparse coding can enhance the efficiency of neural representation.
What is the purpose of structural connectivity studies in the brain?
Mapping physical connections between brain regions
Understanding structural connectivity helps clarify how brain areas communicate.
What does the synapse do in neural communication?
It is the junction where one neuron passes a signal to another neuron
Synapses are vital for transmitting information throughout the nervous system.
