structure of the brain and brain damaged paitents

Question 1

Human brains have a complex outer layer called the cortex. what is the role of the cortex?

Answer 1

• The cortex handles a lot “higher” brain functions, such as conscious thought and interacting with the world around us.
• It is divided into a number of areas with different functions, the most important being the four lobes.

Question 2

what are the four lobes?

Answer 2

• frontal
• temporal
• occipital
• parietal

Question 3

what is the hypothalamus?

Answer 3

it has a balancing role. Regulates arousal, including the ANS, including fight of flight

Question 4

what is the Occipital lobe?

Answer 4

Occipital lobe – visual processing centre

Question 5

what is the role of the Temporal lobe

Answer 5

Temporal lobe – auditory perception`

Question 6

what is the role of the Parietal region (angular gyrus and bilateral superior parietal region)

Answer 6

integrates sensory information

Question 7

what is the role of the Frontal lobe?

Answer 7

Frontal lobe – controls cognitive skills such as problem solving and language

Question 8

what is the cerebellum ?

Answer 8

Cerebellum – stores memory/learning of practical skills

Question 9

what is the role of the Limbic system?

Answer 9

It controls response to emotions rather than thinking. It is linked to the ANS which responds automatically to danger rather than in a planned way.

Question 10

what is the “reward pathway?”

Answer 10

This isn’t a literal “path” but it is a route through the brain used by a neurotransmitter called DOPAMINE.

Question 11

what did Downer 1961 find?

Answer 11

when removing the Amygdala from monkeys brains they reacted calmly and more placid suggesting the amygdala is involved with producing aggressive behaviour.

Question 12

what is a weakness of the research methods used to study the brain?

Answer 12

• animal studies such as downer which lacks generalisability.

Question 13

what is ethical issues with some of the ways the role of the brain in aggression is studied?

Answer 13

• Some argue that research on animals is unethical as animals are harmed during these experiments, for example by having their brains lesioned.
• Others would argue that these studies benefit humans and so they should be used.

Question 14

what case study supports this theory?

Answer 14

• There is some support from case studies such as Phineas Gage.
• The Phineas Gage study showed that damage to the frontal lobes seemed to cause an increase in aggression.

Question 15

what did Raine et al find?

Answer 15

murders showed much less activity in the pre-frontal cortex than non-murders

Question 16

how is the way this area is researched a strength?

Answer 16

Use of scanning methods give reliable findings because they are easy to repeat and it is more objective. As this is
more scientific, it adds to the credibility of the research.