U1AOS4 Understanding The Brain Flashcards
Brain vs Heart debate
A historical date as to whether the heart or the brain is responsible for mental processes, brain hypothesis is now universally accepted
Mind body problem
The question of whether our kind and body are distinct, seperate entities or whether they are one and the same thing
Dualism
The belief that the human mind and body are seperate and distinguishable from one another
Monism
The belief that the human mind and body are together a singular complete entity
Phrenology
The study of the shape and size of the skull to determine personality and mental functioning
Brain ablation experiments
Cutting out and removing part of the brain to observe effects
Brain lesioning
The practice of inducing and/or studying the effects of damage to an area of the brain
Name of man who lost his frontal lobe
Phineas gage
Split brain experiments
Cutting of strands of the nerve tissue to disconnect the two hemispheres to study the different functions of each hemisphere
Left hemisphere
- analytical processing
- language
- logic and planning
- right vision and motor skills
Right hemisphere
- spatial and visual thinking
- emotional recognition and thought
- creativity
- left field vision and motor skills
- imagination
Structural neuroimaging techniques
MRI and CT
Images of the anatomy of the brain
Functional neuroimaging techniques
PET and fMRI
View the brain live during a response and provide information about both function and structure
Amygdala physicality
Within the temporal lobe in the middle of the brain as a small almond shape structure
Amygdala function
Processing of emotions and memories associated with fear and triggers flight, fight or freeze response