Week 1 History and Theoretical Perspectives Flashcards
Who put forward the idea that the brain was the seat of the intellect; that it controlled senses and movement; that lesions affected the contralateral side?
Hippocrates
Who observed brain injury in gladiators; noted that nerves project to and from the brain
Galen
Who found that language is a function that can be damaged separately from other cognitive processes; function is localisable?
Broca
Who found that language can be further sub-divided – speech recognition; speech production; conceptual knowledge?
Wernicke and Lichteim
What does neuropsychology comprise of?
Looks at the effects of brain damage on brain function. By seeing what is affected, we can infer the function of the damaged brain region.
What are Haemodynamic methods?
related to blood flow
What are Electro- or Magneto- physiological methods?
related to the electrical and magnetic fields of the brain.
Explain Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI).
Measures the oxygen in the blood, reports this measurement as the BOLD contrast (Blood Oxygen Level Dependent). Assumes that a stronger signal reflects greater demand for oxygenated blood, and therefore greater activity occurring in the more oxygen-rich region.
Explain Positron Emission Tomography.
Involves injection of a radioactive tracer into a biologically active molecule (normally a type of glucose). The concentration levels of the tracer in the brain are measured.
Explain Electroencephalography.
EEG records the electrical activity of neurons that is picked up from the scalp.
Explain deep brain stimulation.
implants a ‘brain pacemaker’, this pacemaker sends an electrical signal to parts of the brain that need to be stimulated. Common treatment for Parkinsons, fully reversible and has few side effects.
Explain Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS).
Delivers direct current to a brain region through electrodes placed on the scalp.
Anodal (positive) current stimulation increases neuronal excitability of cortex below the electrode, and makes neurons more likely to fire.
Cathodal (negative) current stimulation decreases neuronal excitability of cortex below the electrode, and makes neurons less likely to fire.
Explain Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).
Applies rapidly changing electromagnetic fields to induce electrical currents. When applied repetitively (rTMS) it can increase or decrease cortical excitability. Low-frequency stimulation inhibits, high-frequency stimulation activates.
