Neuropsychology Flashcards
lateralisation of function
the different jobs done by each half of the brain
CNS
brain & spinal cord, which relays messages from the brain to the rest of the body
peripheral NS
system of nerves that connect the NS to the skin, muscles and organs in the body
synapse
a gap between two neurons that allow neurotransmitters to pass from one cell to another
corpus callosum
thick bundle of nerve fibres connecting the hemispheres together so they can communicate
frontal lobe
decision making, impulsive control, problem solving, concentration
temporal lobe
hearing and understanding, understand & creating speech, control memory control
parietal lobe
perception, sense of touch
occipital lobe
ability to see, processes visual information, helps us to make sense of what we see
cerebellum
movement, coordination, balance, info from spinal cord & other parts of brain for behaviour
right hemisphere
spatial awareness, creativity, recognition of faces
left hemisphere
logics thinking, speech, language
women
better language skills, thicker CC (multi-tasking ability)
men
better spatial skills, use one hemisphere for one activity
damasio (1994)
aim: investigation of phineas gage skull, which part of brain was affected
procedure: pics & measurements taken of skull, 3d replica made, investigate possible exit & entry
findings: likely that damage in both hemispheres of frontal lobe, unable to pass neural messages
conclusion: ventromedial area of frontal lobe important for impulse control, sensible descions, explains gage’s personality change
sperry (1968)
aim: monitoring how split brain patients process information
procedure: 11 split brain patients given tasks to carry out, tasks included sensory info being sent to both hemispheres, then asking brain to respond using opposite hemisphere
results: strong evidence given of task controlled by each hemisphere, brains cannot share info using CC
conclusion: each hemisphere can work without connection, couldn’t share memories without CC
evaluation of damasio
