Penfield's study of the interpretive cortex

Question 1

what is the Montreal technique

Answer 1

a technique penfield developed to treat epilepsy and target neutrons to destroy

Question 2

what did penfeild aim to do

Answer 2

to describe psychological responses when parts of the brain were electrically stimulated

Question 3

what method did penfield use

Answer 3

• conscious patients lay on an operating table
• an anaesthetic was used and parts of the brain were electrically stimulated using the Montreal procedure
• he recorded patients responses for 1000 cases during 30 years

Question 4

what were the results (3 lobes)

Answer 4

• when stimulation was applied to the visual area patients reported outlines, shadows and colours
• when stimulation was applied to the somatosensory area patients reported tingling sensations and false sense of movement

–when stimulation was applied to the temporal lobe patients reported 2 responses

• they recalled living memories from the past over and over again
• they recalled the feelings associated with those experiences

Question 5

what was the conclusion of the study

Answer 5

• the temporal lobe had a role in storing memories
• they are stored in 2 ways: the facts of the experience and the emotions linked to it

this area is the interpretive cortex

Question 6

what is the interpretive cortex

Answer 6

an area in the temporal lobe that stores information about previous memories and the emotions linked with it

Question 7

what is a strength of this study PEE

Answer 7

• a precise method was used
• penfield developed the Montreal procedure, this means that he could study different parts of the brain when electrically stimulating them, the method was precise in triggering different memories linked to the area
• this is important because it shows how the method used was valid as it was thoroughly planned

Question 8

what is a weakness of this study PEE

Answer 8

• sample was unusual
• to test his theory penfeild used a sample of patients with severe epilepsy, the disease may have affected the structure and localisation of function in the brain when compared to a healthy person
• this is important because it shows the study has low ecological validity when it comes to generalising the findings to everyone