Psychology

Question 1

What is lateralisation of function?

Answer 1

• left hemisphere specialisation for language
• right hemisphere specialisation for visuospatial functioning
  BUT rare to have absolute specialisation

Question 2

What is emotion?

Answer 2

An inferred behavioural state
- a conscious, subjective feeling that is internal
- we can never know how someone else is feeling but can infer affect from others based on behaviour
Is also a psychophysiological state

Question 3

What are core emotions?

Answer 3

Certain emotions are culturally universal

- happiness, anger, fear, sadness, disgust

Question 4

What is the limbic system?

Answer 4

Theoretical construct containing the amygdala, septal area, nucleus accumbens and orbitofrontal cortex

Question 5

What is executive function?

Answer 5

An umbrella term that describes inter-related processes responsible for goal directed, purposeful behaviour
- includes emotional and social behaviour as well as cognition

Question 6

What are the functions of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex? What is the blood supply?

Answer 6

“Traditional” executive functions - working memory, response selection, planning and organising, hypothesis generation, flexibility maintaining of shifting set, insight, moral judgement
Thinking/cognitive functions
Supplied by the middle cerebral artery

Question 7

What are the functions of the medial pre-frontal cortex and what do you get if this is damaged? What is the blood supply?

Answer 7

Emotional-motivational interface 
- at most extreme get akinetic mutism 
- apathy, lack of initiative, indifference 
Has a role in self awareness
Supplied by the anterior cerebral artery

Question 8

What are the functions of the orbitofrontal pre-frontal cortex? What is the blood supply?

Answer 8

Ability to inhibit responses, impulsivity

Supplied by the anterior cerebral artery and middle cerebral artery

Question 9

What is memory?

Answer 9

The processes that are used to acquire, store, retain and later retrieve information

Question 10

What is retrograde amnesia?

Answer 10

Loss of memory-access to events/information learned before an injury or onset of a disease

Question 11

What is anterograde amnesia?

Answer 11

Loss of ability to form new memories after the injury/onset of a disease

Question 12

What is episodic memory and how is it assessed?

Answer 12

Autobiographical, events in a personal context

- assessed by arbitrary associations

Question 13

What is transient global amnesia?

Answer 13

Striking anterograde amnesia with no disruption to “self-identity”
- happens for 24 hours or so then got back to normal