U1AOS4 Understanding The Brain

Question 1

Brain vs Heart debate

Answer 1

A historical date as to whether the heart or the brain is responsible for mental processes, brain hypothesis is now universally accepted

Question 2

Mind body problem

Answer 2

The question of whether our kind and body are distinct, seperate entities or whether they are one and the same thing

Question 3

Dualism

Answer 3

The belief that the human mind and body are seperate and distinguishable from one another

Question 4

Monism

Answer 4

The belief that the human mind and body are together a singular complete entity

Question 5

Phrenology

Answer 5

The study of the shape and size of the skull to determine personality and mental functioning

Question 6

Brain ablation experiments

Answer 6

Cutting out and removing part of the brain to observe effects

Question 7

Brain lesioning

Answer 7

The practice of inducing and/or studying the effects of damage to an area of the brain

Question 8

Name of man who lost his frontal lobe

Answer 8

Phineas gage

Question 9

Split brain experiments

Answer 9

Cutting of strands of the nerve tissue to disconnect the two hemispheres to study the different functions of each hemisphere

Question 10

Left hemisphere

Answer 10

• analytical processing
• language
• logic and planning
• right vision and motor skills

Question 11

Right hemisphere

Answer 11

• spatial and visual thinking
• emotional recognition and thought
• creativity
• left field vision and motor skills
• imagination

Question 12

Structural neuroimaging techniques

Answer 12

MRI and CT

Images of the anatomy of the brain

Question 13

Functional neuroimaging techniques

Answer 13

PET and fMRI

View the brain live during a response and provide information about both function and structure

Question 14

Amygdala physicality

Answer 14

Within the temporal lobe in the middle of the brain as a small almond shape structure

Question 15

Amygdala function

Answer 15

Processing of emotions and memories associated with fear and triggers flight, fight or freeze response

Question 16

Hippocampus physicality

Answer 16

Small seahorse shaped structure located in the middle of the brain

Question 17

Hippocampus function

Answer 17

Involved in learning and forming new memories and helps to consolidate explicit aspects of emotionally significant memories

Question 18

Basal ganglia

Answer 18

Stores procedural memories, those related to performing specific tasks or skills. Become ingrained in our behaviour and may form unconscious habits or behaviours

Question 19

Cerebellum

Answer 19

Receives info about spatial awareness and planned motor movements as well as balance and posture

Question 20

Neocortex

Answer 20

Structure covering the outer layer of the brain that plays a crucial role in encoding, storing and retrieving memories, specifically explicit memories

Question 21

Neurons

Answer 21

Nerve cells that enable the communication of information around the body by receiving, transmitting and processing information

Question 22

Dendrites

Answer 22

Receive neuronal messages

Question 23

Myelin

Answer 23

Insulates the neuron and prevents disturbances from other neurons

Question 24

Axon terminals

Answer 24

Send neuronal messages to the next neuron

Question 25

Synaptic gap

Answer 25

Tiny space between two neuron’s where they communicate with each other