Module 02: Brain Structure and Function Flashcards
general purpose of areas in the hindbrain
sends info between spine and brain
life support functions and balance
most primitive structures
2 parts in the hindbrain and what they do
medulla – transmits info from spinal cord to brain and regulates life support functions
pons – the neural relay center, cross over of info between different sides of the body, balance and processing of visual and auditory info
the cerebellum
balance, general motor behaviour and coordination
governs balance
contains neurons that coordinate muscular activity
damage to what part of the brain causes irregular and jerky movements and inability to shift attention between visual and auditory stimuli
the cerebellum
the midbrain
contains tectum – relays info between other brain regions
rectular formation – awake and alert, responding to threats
what four lobes are the cerebellum and describe them
frontal — motor cortex (fine motor movements), executive functioning (planning, decisions, inhibits inappropriate behaviour, mood, personality)
parietal – attention and spatial info
occipital – visual info
temporal – auditory info, recognizing stimuli like faces, memory
cerebral cortex
in the forebrain
neurons with white matter, carries info between different parts of the cortex
corpus callosum
separates the left and right cortex
who is franz gall
early localization theory
faculty psychology: different mental abilities independent and autonomous functions carried out in different parts of the brain
define phrenology
psychological strengths and weaknesses correlated to relative sizes of brain regions (not true)
what is broca’s area
damage to left frontal lobe
results in broca’s aphasia
causes disruptions of expressive language (can understand but has trouble speaking)
define wernicke’s aphasia
damage to temporal lobe
impairment with understanding speech
what did karl lashley when removing parts of the brain of rats
maze running impairment related to total amount of cortex removed (not specific to removal area)
brain platsicity
brain regions can adapt to take over parts of damaged brain
double dissociation
brain damage and behaviour disassociated from each other, show opposite mirror image patterns
laterization of function
idea that two cerebral hemisphere play different roles in cognitive functions
right: visual, auditory, spatial, navigation, musical ability
left: language, serial processing, analytical processing
what scans show neuroanatomical info
MRI and CAT
what scans show dynamic info about how blood flows during various cognitive activities
PET SPECT FMRI
what scans show electrical activities during cognitive tasks
MEG EEG ERP
static vs dynamic imaging
static – structure of the brain
dynamic – function of the working brain
CAT scan
x rays passed through body at different angles
diff densities of body organ deflect rays differently
pinpoint areas of brain damage
EEG
detect different stages of consciousness
electrodes placed on scalp
measures brain activity by measuring electrical activity
MEG
changes in magnetic fields generated by electrical activities of neurons
more precise
ERP
measures area of brain’s response to specific events
PET
injecting radioactive compound that admits gamma radiation which is detected by devices outside the head
blood flow to diff regions of the brain, byproduct of neuroactivity
MRI
strong magnetic fields
collect info on how hydrogen atoms are aligning
clear picture, info about neuroanatomy
fMRI
active brain regions show change in ratio of oxygenated to deoxygenated blood
BOLD (blood oxygenated level dependent functions)
subtraction technique
means of isolating brain regions whose activity varies in a task state compared to a control state.
relative amount of activation in a particular brain region needed for a given cognitive task can be measured by subtracting a control state (responding to a light) from a task state (discriminating colour)
