Readings Week One Flashcards
What is Traumatic Brain Injury?
A wound to the brain that results from a blow to the head
What is an executive function?
Basic cognitive processes needed for everyday living including; attentional control, cognitive inhibition, inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility
Define Neuropsychology
The study of the relation between behaviour and brain function
Neuropsychology is influenced by what two major hypotheses?
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)
What are hemispheres in terms of the brain?
The two near symmetrical halves of the brain (left and right sides)
What does cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) do?
Cushions the brain and plays a role in removing metabolic waste
What is the outer layer of the brain called?
Cerebral Cortex
What are the folds and creases in the brain called?
Folds (protrusion) = gyri
Creases (inversion) = sulci
What are the names of the two major brain fissures and what do they divide?
Longitudinal fissure = divides the left and right hemisphere
Lateral fissure = divides each hemisphere into halves
What are the names of the four lobes of the brain?
Temporal, Parietal, Frontal, Occipital
” The brain’s hemispheres are connected by pathways called ________, the largest of which is the _______________”
“The brain’s hemispheres are connected by pathways called Commissures, the largest of which is the Corpus Callosum”
The cerebral cortex is part of the:
a) Forebrain
b) Midbrain
c) Hindbrain
a) Forebrain
What are the functions of the forebrain, brainstem, and spinal cord?
- Forebrain mediates cognitive functions
- Brainstem mediates regulatory functions such as eating, drinking, and moving
- Spinal cord is responsible for sending commands to the muscles.
What are higher functions?
Functions produced and performed by the forebrain
What are lower-level functions?
regulatory and movement producing functions (performed by the brainstem and spinal cord)
The Central Nervous System is comprised of ….
The brain and spinal cord
What is the main distinguishing factor between the CNS and PNS?
When the CNS tissue is damaged it does not regenerate, unlike PNS tissue.
What is the somatic nervous system (SNS)?
A subdivision of the PNS that recieves sensory information and produces muscle stimulation. Consists of afferent nerves (sensory nerves), and efferent nerves (motor nerves).
What is the pathway and subdivision that is responsible for controlling organs?
PNS, subdivision: Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
Who first developed a formal theory of behaviour? What did he/she propose?
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
What does mentalism believe?
Believes that a person’s mind is responsible for their behaviour. The mind is nonmaterial but the brain works as a whole.
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Descartes: The Mind-Body Problem
