structure of the brain

Question 1

what is the brain

Answer 1

a complex structure that controls everything about us from our reflex actions and movements to our thoughts and emotions

Question 2

describe the case of Phineas Gage

Answer 2

damaged his brain when a pole went through his head and damaged his frontal cortex, he was walking again in minutes but then suffered from a semi comature state. he recovered but his behaviour was the inappropriate and he molested children

Question 3

what is the frontal lobe responsible for

Answer 3

planning, controlling our behaviour and emotions, problem solving and decisions

Question 4

what is the parietal lobe responsible for

Answer 4

perception, spelling and knowledge of numbers

Question 5

what is the occipital lobe responsible for

Answer 5

vision, colour identification and visual processing

Question 6

what is the temporal lobe responsible for

Answer 6

understanding language, facial recognising, hearing and speech

Question 7

what is the corpus callous for

Answer 7

joins two hemispheres and links messages between them

Question 8

how is the midbrain associated with aggression

Answer 8

PAG which links to the amygdala and hypothalamus with the prefrontal cortex. role in coordinating and integrating behaviour responses to perceived internal and external stressors. lesions to the PAG have shown an increase in aggression

Question 9

how is the amygdala associated with aggression

Answer 9

centre for emotions, emotional behaviour and motivation integrates internal and external stimuli. prefrontal cortex link is the connection that may lead to aggression

Question 10

how is the hypothalamus associated with aggression

Answer 10

homeostasis through regulation of hormones including sexual function. linked to aggressive behaviour in males via the production of testosterone.

Question 11

strengths of the role of brain structures

Answer 11

• ANDY AND VELAMATI stimulated the hypothalamus and found aggressive seizures measured by hissing and growing suggests the limbic system plays a role in aggression
• DOWNER removed an amygdala in monkeys found aggression then visual input went to the amygdala but calm behaviour when there was no amygdala
• SWANTJE high aggressions showed lower amygdala volume, more lifetime aggression showed smaller amygdala volume.
• support fro human care studies such as PHINEAS GAGE damage to frontal lobe showed increase in aggression. many patients with psychopathic behaviour have similar functioning to those who have suffered amygdala damage
• MRI SCANS gives reliable measurements and can separate brain structures for a study. scientific credibility in findings
• BLANCHARD AND BLANCHARD links in animal findings to humans as there is similarities such as protecting territory and competition for resources

Question 12

weaknesses of the role of brain structures

Answer 12

• animal studies have been used but animals do not have the same pre frontal cortex as humans. this makes generalising difficult