Lecture 9

Question 1

How many hemispheres is the cerebral cortex made up of

Answer 1

2

Question 2

Name a connection between hemispheres

Answer 2

Corpus callosum and commissures

Question 3

Discuss the contralateral control

Answer 3

Left hemisphere controls the right side and right hemisphere controls the left side

Question 4

Discuss the auditory connections

Answer 4

Ear to cochlea nucleus to primary auditory cortex

Question 5

Discuss visual connections

Answer 5

Left visual field goes to right hemisphere. Different neurons are activated in retina depending on the incoming angle. Optic chaism

Question 6

Discuss lateralization

Answer 6

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

Question 7

What is the right-hemisphere hypothesis

Answer 7

The right hemisphere is dominant for emotion recognition - so left sides on faces look sadder

Question 8

What is the valence hypothesis

Answer 8

The right hemisphere is dominant for negative emotions, the left hemisphere is dominant for positive emotions

Question 9

Discuss attention

Answer 9

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

Question 10

What happens to attention when the left hemisphere is damaged

Answer 10

Not much of a neglect

Question 11

Discuss why split brain patients are good for researchers to research lateralization and contralateral connections

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Give an example of what problems split brain patients have

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Who are split brain patients

Answer 13

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

Question 14

What is the most efficient type of language

Answer 14

Speech

Question 15

Discuss how speech is produced between humans and nonhumans

Answer 15

Speech is produced in similar ways as vocalisations of nonhuman animals

Question 16

How is speech produced

Answer 16

Through vocal capacities; Source-filter model of speech production. Vocal control, vocal cavities, Larynx, and Lungs

Question 17

What is the source-filter model of speech production

Answer 17

Source = Vocal folds of larynx which transforms aerodynamic energy to sound waves. Filter = Supralaryngeal cavity - filters sounds (important for vowel productions)

Question 18

What does the vocal cavity do

Answer 18

Filters sound

Question 19

What is the Larynx

Answer 19

The source of sound

Question 20

Why do only humans speak and discuss the reasons

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Name the three speech/language components

Answer 21

Semantics - significance/meaning. Syntax - rules & principles (grammar). Prosody - melody/rhythm/intonation/stress

Question 22

What are the two areas on language in the brain and where are they

Answer 22

Broca’s area, in the left frontal cortex and Wernicke’s area in the left temporal cortex

Question 23

What is the Broca’s area used for

Answer 23

Language production: speaking, writing, gesturing and sign language. As well as comprehending complex sentences: especially grammar

Question 24

What is the Wernicke’s area used for

Answer 24

Language comprehension: Overall comprehension and finding the correct words

Question 25

Is speech perception a purely auditory process?

Answer 25

McGurk & McDonald (1976) - the McGurk effect - visual’s can affect the way we hear things, Pa;Ka;Ga;Ba;Da. Syllable fusion, so hearing ga-ga and seeing ba-ba and perceiving da-da! Children were better at noticing the difference than adults when seeing/hearing the dubbed videos - is this a developmental change in out speech perception?

Question 26

Why did language evolve?

Answer 26

Tradition view = information exchange; instructing others and informing them about the environment - we need semantics for this (understanding meaning of words). Animal research has given examples of referential vocalisations - alarm calls in meerkats. The recent view is the social aspect of language; exchanging social information - animal research has shown behaviours may promote social cohesion (grooming, playing etc). If language evolved from modified existing systems do apes share these systems with humans