Week One Flashcards
What is behaviour?
- Output from the nervous system (consisting of the purposeful action of muscles and /or glands)
- Convulsion; un-purposeful movement (eg; seizures)
What is cognition?
Being able to acquire and store information obtained from sensory/perceptual processes making it possible to build and maintain a working model of the world as well as interact with the environment.
What is experience?
- Being aware of the ongoing present, of internal and external environments of thoughts and emotional states
-Recalled memories
Clinical neuropsychology
Trained in evaluating brain function in brain damaged patients. Involves testing patients cognitive processes such as memory, attention, problem solving and emotion
Neuropsychology
Extensive evaluation of the brain / behaviour relationship through:
- behavioural assessment of functions associated with specific brain regions
- Monitoring local brain electrical activity and/or metabolism during tasks
- alternating local brain activity; using drugs, cooling, electrical stimulation, etc.
Neurobehavioural Disability
- disturbances of cognition, mood, and behaviour
- recovery from it is a complex, time consuming, effortful process
- can be expensive (acute and chronic care hospitals and rehab centres) as well as professional help (eg; physicians, therapists, neuropsychologists, family)
Brain Injury causing neurobehavioural disability
TBI - caused by a rapid acceleration of the head (eg; head being hit)
Non traumatic brain injury (Acquired brain injury or ABI) - caused by lack of oxygen to the brain, viral / bacterial infection, metabolic abnormality.
Philosophical foundations of neuropsychology
- emerged in the mid 19th century - mainly in Germany and England
- matter is the fundamental natural substance
- behaviour and consciousness are result of material interactions of the nervous system (eg; products of chemical processes in the brain)
