Neural Basis of Cognition

Question 1

Capgras Syndrome:

Answer 1

• Can recognize other people, but is convinced these people are not who they appear to be (imposters)
• Facial recognition involves 2 separate systems in the brain
◦ Cognitive appraisal (I know what they look like, and I know you look like him)
◦ Emotional appraisal (You look familiar and trigger a warm response in me)
• Emotional processing disrupted (recognition without emotional response, therefore you must be someone else)

Question 2

Brain and Capgras Syndrome:

Answer 2

• Right temporal lobe damage disrupts circuits involving the amygdala, resulting in lack of emotional response
  
  • Right prefrontal cortex also damaged (important for planning or analysis), results in Capgras patients not being able to keep track what is real, what is sensible

Question 3

Hindbrain:

Answer 3

• On top of spinal cord
• Important for controlling automatic functions (heart rate, breathing), balance, alertness
• Cerebellum
◦ Largest part of hindbrain
◦ Important for coordination and balance

Question 4

Midbrain:

Answer 4

Important for coordinating movements, relating auditory information, pain perception

Question 5

Forebrain:

Answer 5

Longitudinal fissure separates left and right cerebral hemispheres
Limbic System
Corpus Callosum

Question 6

Limbic System

Answer 6

System of connected structures important for learning and memory
Hypothalamus
Thalamus

Question 7

Thalamus

Answer 7

◦ Underneath cortex of forebrain

◦ Relay station for sensory information

Question 8

Hypothalamus

Answer 8

◦ Right under thalamas

◦ Important for motivated behaviours

Question 9

Corpus callosum

Answer 9

Thick bundles of fibers that carry info between 2 hemispheres

Question 10

Neuropsychology:

Answer 10

• Study of brain structures and how to relate to brain function
• Clinical neuropsychology
◦ Study of function of intact, undamaged brains from case studies

Question 11

Computerized Axial Tomography:

Answer 11

• CT scans
  
  • Studies brain’s structure
  • Uses X-rays

Question 12

Positron Emission Tomography:

Answer 12

• PET scan
  
  • Studies brain activity
  • Involves tracking a radioactive tracer through the brain

Question 13

Magnetic Resonance Imaging:

Answer 13

• MRI

* Uses magnetic properties of atoms in brain tissue to create pictures of brain

Question 14

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging:

Answer 14

• fMRI
  
  • Measures oxygen in content in blood flowing through each region of brain
  • Can’t tell you when exactly activity took place

Question 15

Electroencephalography:

Answer 15

• Recording of voltage changes occurring at the scalp that reflects activity in the brain underneath
  
  • Creates electroencephalogram (EEG)

Question 16

Electroencephalogram

Answer 16

EEGs used to study broad rhythms in brain activity
Alpha rhythm
Delta rhythm
Event related potential
an’t tell you where the activity took place precisely

Question 17

Alpha rhythm

Answer 17

◦ Activity level rising and falling 7-10 times per second

◦ Observed when someone is awake but calm and relaxed

Question 18

Delta rhythm

Answer 18

◦ Activity level rising and falling 1-4 times per second

◦ Observed when someone is sleeping

Question 19

Event-related potential

Answer 19

Measure changes in EEG before, during, and after event to measure brain activity over a shorter period of time

Question 20

Fusiform Face Area:

Answer 20

• FFA

* Part of brain that becomes active whenever a face is being perceived

Question 21

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation:

Answer 21

• TMS

* Strong magnetic pulse at specific location causes a temporary disruption in brain region (temporary disabled)

Question 22

Primary sensory projection areas

Answer 22

Arrival points for signals coming into the cortex

Question 23

Somatosensory area

Answer 23

◦ Info from skin projected to parietal lobe

◦ Stimulation results in tingling sensation

Question 24

Temporal area

Answer 24

Stimulation results in hearing clicks, buzzes, hums

Sensory area

Question 25

Visual area

Answer 25

Info projected to occipital lobe
Stimulation results in seeing flashes of lights or visual patterns
Sensory Area

Question 26

Similarities between sensory areas

Answer 26

◦ Provides a map of the sensory environment
◦ Cortical space is governed by function not anatomical proportions
◦ i.e. Touch- sensitive areas get more cortical area than less sensitive areas even if they cover more area on the body

Question 27

Primary motor projection areas

Answer 27

Departure points for signals leaving the cortex

Question 28

Contralateral control

Answer 28

Stimulation to left hemisphere leading to movements on right side of body, and vice versa

Question 29

Association Areas:

Answer 29

• Portion of cerebral cortex that is not motor or sensory areas
  
  • Consists of frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes

Question 30

Apraxias:

Answer 30

• Disruptions in ability to identify familiar objects due to lesion in parietal or occipital lobe
  
  • Usually only affects either vision or touch (can recognize a fork by touch but not by looking)

Question 31

Neglect Syndrome:

Answer 31

Lesion in parietal lobe that results in the individual ignoring half the visual world

Question 32

Aphasia:

Answer 32

Lesion in areas near lateral fissure (fissure that separates frontal and temporal lobe) results in disruption in language capabilities