Neuropsychology Flashcards
What is the difference between sensation and perception?
Sensation refers to the sensori-neural encoding of incoming physical information, whilst perception involves the meaningful transformation and interpretation of that information
What does “cognition” mean in the field of neuropsychology? Give some examples
Refers to information processing and application of knowledge (e.g. memory, speed of processing, language, planning, problem solving, attention)
How is function lateralised in the brain in most people?
Left hemisphere: language
Right hemisphere: visuospatial functioning
Describe the localisation of function in the four lobes of the brain
Frontal: planning, execution and regulation of behaviour
Temporal: audition, language, music, memory, emotion
Parietal: somatic and visuospatial representations
Occipital: vision
What are the three basic “units” of the CNS in Luria’s brain-behaviour theory and what are their associated roles?
Brainstem and associated areas: regulation of arousal and muscle tone
Posterior cortical regions: reception, integration and analysis of sensory information
Anterior cortical regions (frontal and prefrontal lobes): planning, executing and verifying behaviour
What is the role of the primary zones in the posterior cortical regions?
Responsible for basic level processing of sensory information
Zones are topologically organised with high modal specificity (somatosensory, auditory, or visual)
What is special about the tertiary zones of the posterior cortical regions?
They are only evident in humans
When do the tertiary zones of the posterior cortical regions mature?
At ~7 years of age
What is the role of the secondary zones in the posterior cortical regions?
Involved in perception (“gnosis”) of sensory information
Decreased modal specificity
What is the role of the tertiary zones in the posterior cortical regions?
Integrates information across multiple sensory modalities
“Supramodal” (association cortex)
Add meaning to information coming in
What is the predominant afferent layer of the primary zones of the posterior cortical regions?
Layer IV
What is the predominant afferent layer of the secondary zones of the posterior cortical regions?
Layers II, III
What is the role of the primary zone in the anterior cortical regions?
Execution of movement (motor cortex)
Zone is topologically organised
What is the role of the secondary zone in the anterior cortical regions?
Organisation of movement (premotor cortex)
What are the 4 main roles of the tertiary zone in the anterior cortical regions?
Prefrontal cortex, involved in higher level cognition, including: Planning goal-directed activities Intent and behaviour programming Self-monitoring and regulation Cortical alertness
When does the tertiary zone of the anterior cortical regions mature?
In ~adolescence
Describe the 3 aspects of “pluripotentiality” in terms of Luria’s principles of functional systems
1) Each area of the brain operates in conjunction with other areas
2) No area is singly responsible for voluntary human behaviour
3) Each area may play a specific role in many behaviours
What neural systems are involved in emotion?
The limbic system, a circuit of structures including the hippocampus, cingulate gyrus, hypothalamus, amygdala, septal area, nucleus accumbens and orbitofrontal cortex
What is the amygdala and what is its role?
The amygdala is an almond-shaped structure located in the medial temporal lobe
Involved in implicit emotional learning
What is Kluver-Bucy syndrome?
A behavioural syndrome resulting from bilateral anterior temporal lobectomy
Symptoms include tameness or loss of fear, hypersexuality, inability to differentiate food from other objects
List 3 conditions possibly associated with amygdala dysfunction
Kluver-Bucy
Depression
Anxiety
What is the main role of the orbitofrontal cortex?
Identification and expression of emotion