5 THE HEAD Flashcards
(62 cards)
What was the primary focus of Cesare Lombroso’s work?
The nature of the criminal
Lombroso believed that criminals exhibited anatomical features that indicated their criminal instincts.
How long can a brain function after decapitation?
Estimates range from two seconds to seven seconds
This is assuming a clean removal, which is not always the case.
What did observers claim to have seen in decapitated heads?
Evidence of consciousness
Examples include blinking or moving lips, and a man named Terier turning his gaze after fifteen minutes.
What two disciplines rose in the nineteenth century regarding the study of the head?
Phrenology and craniometry
Phrenology correlated skull bumps with mental attributes, while craniometry focused on precise measurements.
Who was Barnard Davis and what was his contribution?
A doctor and craniometry enthusiast who built the world’s largest skull collection
He produced numerous books on craniometry and collected 1,540 skulls.
What was Davis’s fundamental ambition regarding race?
To prove that dark-skinned people were created separately from light-skinned people
He believed that intellect and moral qualities were determined by skull shape and race.
What condition did John Langdon Haydon Down describe in 1866?
Down’s syndrome
He referred to it as ‘Mongolism’ and associated it with an inferior ethnic regression.
What did Cesare Lombroso theorize about the physical appearance of criminals?
Criminals had anatomical features indicating evolutionary throwbacks
Features included the slope of the forehead and ear shapes.
What significant discovery did Pierre Paul Broca make?
The brain’s speech center in the frontal lobe
This discovery linked a specific brain area to the function of speech.
What did Charles Darwin’s 1872 work focus on?
Expressions of emotions in humans and animals
He argued that certain expressions are common across all peoples.
How many facial expressions can humans make according to estimates?
Estimates range from 4,100 to 10,000
More than forty muscles are involved in facial expressions.
What did Paul Ekman conclude about facial expressions?
Six expressions are universal: fear, anger, surprise, pleasure, disgust, and sorrow
A smile is the most universal expression.
What are ‘microexpressions’?
Flashes of emotion lasting no more than a quarter of a second
They reveal true inner feelings regardless of controlled expressions.
What anthropological feature is unique to humans?
The chin
Its purpose is not clearly understood.
What is notable about human noses compared to other mammals?
Humans have round, projecting noses instead of snouts
This adaptation has helped with breathing efficiency and thermoregulation.
What is the function of eyebrows in humans?
To convey feelings and keep sweat out of the eyes
Eyebrows send various messages through their movements.
What did the experiment with digitally doctored photographs reveal about eyebrows?
Subjects found it harder to identify celebrities without eyebrows than without eyes
This highlights the importance of eyebrows in facial recognition.
What is the primary function of human facial features?
To help us interpret the world through our senses
Humans have more than five senses, including balance and proprioception.
What is unique about the human chin?
It is unique to humans, and its purpose is not clearly understood
The chin may be perceived as aesthetically pleasing.
How many systems do humans have that help them understand their environment?
As many as thirty-three systems
This includes senses beyond the traditional five.
What percentage of the cerebral cortex is engaged with vision?
About one-third
Vision is a complex and critical sense for humans.
What is the technical name for the phenomenon of seeing white sparks in a blue sky?
Scheerer’s blue field entoptic phenomena
This phenomenon is caused by white blood cells in capillaries.
What are floaters in the eye caused by?
Clumps of microscopic fibers in the vitreous humor
Floaters are generally harmless but can indicate retinal issues.
What does the cornea do?
Protects the eye and does two-thirds of the eyeball’s focusing
The lens only does about one-third of the focusing.
