Lecture 9 Flashcards
How many hemispheres is the cerebral cortex made up of
2
Name a connection between hemispheres
Corpus callosum and commissures
Discuss the contralateral control
Left hemisphere controls the right side and right hemisphere controls the left side
Discuss the auditory connections
Ear to cochlea nucleus to primary auditory cortex
Discuss visual connections
Left visual field goes to right hemisphere. Different neurons are activated in retina depending on the incoming angle. Optic chaism
Discuss lateralization
Certain processes are more highly developed on one side of the brain than the other - Left hemisphere dominance = specialised for language. Right hemisphere = specialised in emotional content, face recognition, spatial ability
What is the right-hemisphere hypothesis
The right hemisphere is dominant for emotion recognition - so left sides on faces look sadder
What is the valence hypothesis
The right hemisphere is dominant for negative emotions, the left hemisphere is dominant for positive emotions
Discuss attention
Spatial ability = right hemisphere. When attention goes wrong and there is damages on the right hemisphere and right parietal cortex = there is neglect on the left side of the body. Right temporal cortex = Neglect of surroundings on the left side
What happens to attention when the left hemisphere is damaged
Not much of a neglect
Discuss why split brain patients are good for researchers to research lateralization and contralateral connections
The corpus callosum is cut and there is almost no communication between hemispheres - if information is presented to only one hemisphere, this is not interpreted by the other
Give an example of what problems split brain patients have
A split brain patient reads HATBAND as BAND and writes it as BAND with their right hand as the hat is in the left visual field
Who are split brain patients
Epilepsy - very cases have their corpus callosum cut out as thy believe only half the body will be affected so less seizures - but NO impact on intelligence, motivation, overall movements and familiar motor tasks
What is the most efficient type of language
Speech
Discuss how speech is produced between humans and nonhumans
Speech is produced in similar ways as vocalisations of nonhuman animals
How is speech produced
Through vocal capacities; Source-filter model of speech production. Vocal control, vocal cavities, Larynx, and Lungs
What is the source-filter model of speech production
Source = Vocal folds of larynx which transforms aerodynamic energy to sound waves. Filter = Supralaryngeal cavity - filters sounds (important for vowel productions)
What does the vocal cavity do
Filters sound
What is the Larynx
The source of sound
Why do only humans speak and discuss the reasons
Limitations in speech-sound production in other animals: Larynx position = lower position in humans makes it more flexible (Lieberman, 1984), Vocal & motor control = advanced and voluntary, Breathing control is also more advanced and there is a better vocal flow (MacLaron & Hewitt, 2004). Speech/language is more than just production
Name the three speech/language components
Semantics - significance/meaning. Syntax - rules & principles (grammar). Prosody - melody/rhythm/intonation/stress
What are the two areas on language in the brain and where are they
Broca’s area, in the left frontal cortex and Wernicke’s area in the left temporal cortex
What is the Broca’s area used for
Language production: speaking, writing, gesturing and sign language. As well as comprehending complex sentences: especially grammar
What is the Wernicke’s area used for
Language comprehension: Overall comprehension and finding the correct words
