Readings Week One

Question 1

What is Traumatic Brain Injury?

Answer 1

A wound to the brain that results from a blow to the head

Question 2

What is an executive function?

Answer 2

Basic cognitive processes needed for everyday living including; attentional control, cognitive inhibition, inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility

Question 3

Define Neuropsychology

Answer 3

The study of the relation between behaviour and brain function

Question 4

Neuropsychology is influenced by what two major hypotheses?

Answer 4

Brain Hypothesis: the idea that the brain is the source of behaviour
Neuron Hypothesis: the idea that the unit of brain structure and function is the neuron (aka nerve cell)

Question 5

What are hemispheres in terms of the brain?

Answer 5

The two near symmetrical halves of the brain (left and right sides)

Question 6

What does cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) do?

Answer 6

Cushions the brain and plays a role in removing metabolic waste

Question 7

What is the outer layer of the brain called?

Answer 7

Cerebral Cortex

Question 8

What are the folds and creases in the brain called?

Answer 8

Folds (protrusion) = gyri

Creases (inversion) = sulci

Question 9

What are the names of the two major brain fissures and what do they divide?

Answer 9

Longitudinal fissure = divides the left and right hemisphere

Lateral fissure = divides each hemisphere into halves

Question 10

What are the names of the four lobes of the brain?

Answer 10

Temporal, Parietal, Frontal, Occipital

Question 11

” The brain’s hemispheres are connected by pathways called ________, the largest of which is the _______________”

Answer 11

“The brain’s hemispheres are connected by pathways called Commissures, the largest of which is the Corpus Callosum”

Question 12

The cerebral cortex is part of the:

a) Forebrain
b) Midbrain
c) Hindbrain

Answer 12

a) Forebrain

Question 13

What are the functions of the forebrain, brainstem, and spinal cord?

Answer 13

• Forebrain mediates cognitive functions
• Brainstem mediates regulatory functions such as eating, drinking, and moving
• Spinal cord is responsible for sending commands to the muscles.

Question 14

What are higher functions?

Answer 14

Functions produced and performed by the forebrain

Question 15

What are lower-level functions?

Answer 15

regulatory and movement producing functions (performed by the brainstem and spinal cord)

Question 16

The Central Nervous System is comprised of ….

Answer 16

The brain and spinal cord

Question 17

What is the main distinguishing factor between the CNS and PNS?

Answer 17

When the CNS tissue is damaged it does not regenerate, unlike PNS tissue.

Question 18

What is the somatic nervous system (SNS)?

Answer 18

A subdivision of the PNS that recieves sensory information and produces muscle stimulation. Consists of afferent nerves (sensory nerves), and efferent nerves (motor nerves).

Question 19

What is the pathway and subdivision that is responsible for controlling organs?

Answer 19

PNS, subdivision: Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Question 20

Who first developed a formal theory of behaviour? What did he/she propose?

Answer 20

Greek philosopher Aristotle
Believed that the psyche (nonmaterial) worked through a person’s heart, and was responsible for a person’s thoughts, perceptions, emotions, actions…etc

Question 21

What does mentalism believe?

Answer 21

Believes that a person’s mind is responsible for their behaviour. The mind is nonmaterial but the brain works as a whole.

Question 22

Continue from page 6

Answer 22

Descartes: The Mind-Body Problem