L12. Introduction to Cognition and Emotion Flashcards

1
Q

Define the following terms:

  1. Sensation
  2. Perception
  3. Higher level cognition
A
  1. Sensation - The act of a sensation to neural encoding of physical information
  2. Perception - The transformation and interpretation of the sensory information into constructive percepts
  3. Higher level cognition - How thoughts, prior knowledge and experiences interacts with the information as it comes through
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What does the term cognition mean?

A

Literally translates to “with knowledge”

It is a broad term to encompass information processing, the application of knowledge and reflects the internal dialogue and thoughts of an individual

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What kind of ‘actions’ does cognition include?

A
  • Memory
  • Speed of information processing
  • Language
  • Planning
  • Problem solving
  • Attention span
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the advantages of studying cognition? [2 major reasons]

A
  1. To make an informed diagnoses
  2. To figure out how to best work with that particular patient: their abilities, compliance and consent
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the frontal lobe most important for in terms of cognition?

A
  • Planning
  • Execution
  • Regulation of behaviour
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the temporal lobe most important for in terms of cognition?

A
  • Audition
  • Language
  • Music
  • Memory
  • Emotion
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the parietal lobe most important for in terms of cognition?

A
  • Somatic
  • Visuospatial representations
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the occipital lobe most important for in terms of cognition?

A

Vision

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Describe what is meant by lateralisation of function, give the most common example

A

The break up of functional responsibility between different sides/hemispheres of the brain.

The left hemisphere specialisation for language and right hemisphere specialisation for visuospatial functioning.

Note: there are individual differences and it is very rare to have absolute lateral specialisation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is Luria’s brain behaviour theory?

A

The three basic units of the CNS:

  1. Regulation of arousal and muscle tone by the brainstem and lower
  2. Reception, integration and analysis of information by the posterior cortical regions
  3. Planning, executing and verifying behaviour by the frontal and prefrontal lobes
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is important to remember when assigning the cortical zones and areas with function?

A

That many cognitive domains do not have one-to-one structural relationships with function.

There are SYSTEMS or NETWORKS for each cognitive domain so disruption to any point in that network may (or may not) result in impairment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is Luria’s principal of functional systems?

“pluripotency”

A

Each area of the brain works in conjunction with other areas and no area is singluarily responsible for voluntary human behaviour.

Each area may play a specific role in many behaviours

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Define behaviour, what are the main components of it?

A

Any outward projection of how a person presents.

  1. Cognition: what we know about the world and how we think
  2. Emotion: how we understand the world through our feelings
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Define emotion

A

An inferred behavioural state that is a conscious, subjective feeling that is wholly internal (ie. only we know how we feel). Thus it is inferred or assumed by behaviour what emotions one is experiencing.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Emotion is a psychophysiological state, what is meant by this?

A

It incorporates conscious feelings and cognition that map to physiological changes such as arousal (HR, sweating, etc)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the difference between a core emotion and a complex emotion?

A

A core emotion is culturally universal and innate (from ‘old brain’ structures) such as fear, anger, happiness, sadness.

A complex emotion involves different combinations of core emotions such as guilt

17
Q

What is the limbic system?

A

A theoretical constuct

  • A complex system of nerves and networks in the brain
  • Concerned with instinct and mood.
  • It controls the basic emotions (fear, pleasure, anger) and drives (hunger, sex, dominance, care of offspring).

It includes the amygdala, the hippocampus, regions of the limbic cortex, and the septal area

18
Q

What is the amygdala?

A

Subcortical structures (bilateral) that sits as a mass of fibres just below the hippocampus

  • Implicit emotional learning
  • Integrative center for emotions, emotional behavior, and motivation
19
Q

What is Kluver-Bucy syndrome?

(bilateral anterior temporal lobectomy)

A
  • A tameness or loss of feat
  • Exaggerated sexual responses
  • Agnosia (inability to interpret sensations and hence recognise things)
  • Related to depression and anxiety
20
Q

Describe the function of the orbitofrontal cortex (the pre-frontal cortex)

A

Identification and expression of emotion

21
Q

Describe the function hippocampus

A

Linked to memory and mood

It is linked to affective disorders such as depression and stress

22
Q

What are the conflicting theories linking cognition to emotion?

A

James Lange: We experience emotion as a result of a physiological change

Cannon Bard: We are able to experience emotion without expressing it physically

23
Q

How is cognitive appraisal thought to be related to emotion?

A

Cognitive processing is integral to emotional states and cognitive appraisal directly impacts the physiological stress response.