Unit 1 Topic 2 - The Role of the Brain

Question 1

Summarise mind-verus-body problem referring to Galen and Descartes (1.2.1.1)

Answer 1

Galen - investigated effect of behavior of head injuries on gladiators - brain does effect behavior - pressure to brain effects behavior (monism)
Descartes - mind is the body/consciousness - thoughts/feelings can be observed (dualist)

Question 2

Describe Phrenology and Brain Experiments (1.2.1.2)

Franz Gall, 1997) + (Flourens, Sperry & Penfield, 1997

Answer 2

Gall - phrenology - different parts of the brain do different things - shapes, sizes of parts of the brain, lost creditability
Flourens - ablation - burning, cutting & removing parts of the brain - cerebellum controls movement, brain stem controls breathing - unethical
Sperry - split brain - cutting nerves between hemispheres - showed localisation of function
Penfield - electrical stimulation - maps the cerebral cortex, specific areas involved with specific actions

Question 3

Explain neuroimaging techniques including -

PET, MRI, fMRI, EEG (1.2.1.3)

Answer 3

PET - tracks blood flow, disease progression, brain function for certain areas
MRI - magnetic fields + radio waves, high quality 3D image, identify disease
fMRI - magnetic fields + radio waves, real time brain activity through blood flow, highest resolution
EEG - no picture, shows brain activity, measures impulses from the head

Question 4

Outline the basic structure of the human nervous system (1.2.1.4)

Answer 4

CNS - brain, spinal cord

PNS - autonomic, somatic

Question 5

Construct a diagram of a neuron labelling: (1.2.1.5)

• Axon
• Dendrites
• Cell Body
• Synapse

Answer 5

Image on Google:

https://scx2.b-cdn.net/gfx/news/hires/2018/2-whyareneuron.jpg

Question 6

Distinguish between sensory, motor and interneurons (1.2.1.6)

Answer 6

Sensory - receive and carry all information
Motor - effects the movement
Inter-Relay - links the neurons together

Question 7

List the discrete areas of the brain and basic purposes (1.2.1.7)

Answer 7

Hindbrain - supports vital bodily functions
Midbrain - sleep regulation, motor movement, arousal
Forebrain - personality

Question 8

Describe the role of: (1.2.1.8)

• Broca’s Area
• Wernicke’s Area
• Geschwind’s Territory

Answer 8

Broca’s Area - ability to speak
Wernicke’s Area - interpreting sounds and speech
Geschwind’s Territory - connects the areas