Lecture 1: Introduction to Techniques Flashcards
Where does the word neuropsychology come from?
Two Greek words:
1. Neurologie - doctrine of the nerves
2. Psychologie - and the soul
What is neuropsychology
The study of the relationship between brain function and behaviour
John Hughlings Jackson
First credible localisation view - realised that seizures in epilepsy have a localised start. Nervous system highly organised.
When was the term neuropsych first used?
Karl Lashley in 1936 at a presentation, however Goldstein used in 1934
Broca’s Aphasia
Could understand language, but could not produce it.
- Left inferior frontal gyrus must be responsible for language production
Wernicke’s aphasia
Could produce language but couldn’t understand it.
- Lesion in temporal and parietal lobe.
Double dissasociation
Method used to identify specialised function by comparing two patients.
Fritsch & Hitzig: Electrical stimulation
Created small lesion in dog brain. Discovered motor cortex, as when this site was stimulated, it evoked muscular responses.
Wilder Penfield.
Figured out how much of the brain was dedicated to each somatosensory sensation.
Homunculus
Represents either the motor or the sensory distribution along the cerebral cortex of the brain.
Karl Lashley
Realised lesions in brain don’t always create problems in learning new tasks.
- Couldn’t find area of brain dedicated to memory.
Localisation vs Holistic
Room for both theories
- complex functions aren’t achieved by a single process
- simple processes are more localised
Holistic approach
Some processes aren’t based on localist parts. A lesioned brain is like a ew system, it is constantly changing.
Psychometric testing
Compares score to a standardised score of norms
- if score is out of norm, something is wrong
Clinical observations
Gives clear diagnosis via. MRI scans or other techniques
