Lecture 2 - Neurobiological Foundations Flashcards
What are models of the mind?
These are representations of structures or processes that help us simplify, visualise or explain the respective structure or process.
What are the 2 types of models?
Structural models
Process models
What are process models?
Illustrate how a process operates
Breaking processes down into units and subprocesses
- flow diagrams
What are structural models?
Represent structures in the brain that are involved in specific functions
Useful for localization, visualization, brain comparison.
What is cognitive neuroscience?
The study of the physiological basis of cognition.
What are the levels of analysis?
Different points in understanding cognitive phenomena
- context
- individual differences
- experience
- emotions
- brain regions
- neural communication
- hormones
What are neurons?
Cells specialised to create, receive and transmit information in the nervous system
What are the structures in a neuron?
Cell body
Dendrites - receive messages
Axon - passes messages on (outgoing signals)
Action potential - electrical signal travelling down axon
Myelin sheath - covers axon of some neurons
Terminals - form junctions
Dendrites (incoming signals)
What is a nerve net?
Interconnected neurons
- continuously interconnected
- allows nonstop continuous communication of signals
What is the neuron doctrine?
(Ramon and Cajal)
Argue that nerve nets are not continuous but rather made up of individual cells that transmit in the nervous system
Neurons form connections to specific neurons resulting in groups of interconnected neurons which together form neural circuits
What are receptors?
Neurons that receive information from outside the senses
How do we measure how neurons communicate?
Electronic amplifiers that are sensitive enough to pick up and amplify a single neuron firing
First recorded by Adrian in 1920s with micro electrodes placed near axons
