Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Psycology 1/2 > Area of Study 2 > Flashcards

Area of Study 2 Flashcards

How are mental processes & behaviour influenced by the brain?  (104 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

What is the brain vs. heart debate?

A

The brain vs. heart debate discusses whether the brain or the heart is the source of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Describe the heart hypothesis (brain vs. heart debate)

A

The heart hypothesis suggests that the heart is the source of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours and the brain has no purpose at all. Early philosophers and ancient Egyptians held this view.De

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Describe the brain hypothesis (brain vs. heart debate)

A

The brain hypothesis suggests that the brain is the source of thoughts, feelings and behaviours. Greek philosophers held this belief, and it is not the accepted view.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

1

What is the mind-body problem?

A

The mind body problem discusses the extent to which the mind and the body are seperate.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is monoism (mind-body)

A

Monoism is the view that the mind and the body are a single, complete entity. (they are one)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the mind? (in terms of the mind-body problem)

A

Mind = Thoughts, consciousness and mental processes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the body? (in terms of the mind-body problem)

A

body = structure of the brain and the neurons it’s made up of

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is phrenology?

A

The study of the shape and size of the human skull to determine personality and mental functioning. The external form of the skull reflects the internal form of the brain.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How is intellect and personality determined (in regards to phrenology)

A

Intellect and personality come from the organisation and size of the different ‘organs’ of the brain.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are Gall’s 3 principles

A
  1. faculties depend on the organisation of the brain
  2. the brain is made up of many ‘organs’ responsible for different mental faculties.
  3. The external form of the skull reflects the internal form of the brain.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Who developed phrenology and in what year?

A

Franz Joseph Gall, 1796

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What type of science is Phrenology considered as?

A

Pseudoscience

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What was an accurate element of Phrenology?

A

The theory of Phrenology correctly introduced the idea that different mental functions are located in different parts of the brain. (An early theory of brain localisation)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is the difference between the mind and the brain?

A

The mind is a concept, whereas the brain is physical.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are 3 first brain experiments?

A
  1. Brain ablation
  2. Brain lesioning
  3. Split brain research
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is brain ablation?

A

Brain ablation is the surgical removal, destruction, or cutting of a region of the brain.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What does brain lesioning involve?

A

brain lesioning involves the damage of brain tissues in animals and observing changes in the animals behaviour

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is split brain research?

A

This involved severing the corpus callosum and observing the effects

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What was split brain research generally performed on?

A

Patients with epilepsy. This helped to treat the condition in addition to aiding research into hemispheric specialisation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Which hemisphere is responsible for language?

A

The left hemisphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is a limitation of brain ablation/lesioning

A

a limitation is that both of these methods of research and usually irreversible and highly invasive, and the potential for great harm.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What does ESB stand for?

A

Electrical Stimulation of the Brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Which two researchers performed ESB (Electrical stimulation of the brain)

A

Gustav Fritsch & Eduard Hitzvig

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is ESB?

A

Electrical Stimulation of the brain involves electrically stimulating a specific area of the brain which results in a response. From this, it is assumed that area is responsible for that action

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What is a key finding of ESB?
5 sites triggered distinct contralateral movements
26
What is a key limitation of ESB
It was primarily used on animals and may not be applicable to humans.
27
What does neuroimaging describe?
Procedures and devices used to scan the brain for information on structure and functioning
28
What are the two main catagories of neuroimaging techniques?
Structural techniques Functional techniques
28
What are structural techniques of neuroimaging used to provide?
Use to provide information on brain structure (what is looks like)
29
What is Computerised Tomography?
(CT)A non-invasive structural technique of neuroimaging developed in the 1970s that uses X-rays to take 2D images of the brain.
29
how does computerised tomography work?
Computerised tomography (CT) involves dye or contrast being injected into the bloodstream.
29
What is Magnetic resonance imaging?
A non-invasive structural imaging technique developed in the 1970s that takes photographs of the brain using magnetic & radio fields.
30
What are functional techniques of neuroimaging used to provide?
Information on brain activity (brain function)
30
What are two structural neuroimaging techniques?
Computerised tomography (CT) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
31
What are two functional neuroimaging techniques?
Positron emission tomography (PET) Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
32
How does magnetic resonance imaging work?
:the atoms in water molecules in the brain's neurons vibrate and generate a signal that creates a computer image of the brain.
33
What is positron emission tomography?
PET is a non-invasive functional neuroimaging technique that uses radioactive glucose and produces coloured images of the brain.
34
How does positron emission tomography show brain function?
By injecting a patient with a radioactive glucose solution which enters the bloodstream, images are produced of the brain where different colours can indicate different levels of brain activity
35
What is functional magnetic resonance imaging?
fMRI is a non-invasive functional neuroimaging technique developed in the 1990s that uses the same methods as MRI but traces the biochemical changes in the brain that are reflected with different colours. (shows function and structure)
36
where is the hindbrain located?
at the base of the brain near the spinal cord
37
What is the hindbrain responsible for?
* Regulation of sleep-wake cycle * Basic survival functions (autonomic functions, breathing, heart rate, digestion) * Coordination of muscle movement
38
what are the three main structures of the hindbrain?
Pons, Medulla, Cerebellum
39
Where is the midbrain located?
Located at the centre of the brain, between the hindbrain and forebrain
40
What is the midbrain responsible for?
* Relaying messages between the hindbrain and midbrain * Filtering and directing sensory information * Regulating arousal * Alertness
41
What is a key structure in the midbrain?
Reticular formation
42
Where is the forebrain located?
Located at the top of the brain
43
What is the forebrain responsible for?
Complex mental processes (decision making, problem-solving) * Attention * Filtering sensory information * Maintaining homeostasis
44
What is homostatis?
The body's stable biological state
45
what are key structures of the forebrain
Cerebrum Thalamus Hypothalamus
46
WHat is the pons responsible for?
Regulates sleep, dreaming and some muscle movements and breathing.
47
What is the medulla responsible for?
Controls internal organs and vital bodily functions (swallowing, heart rate, blood pressure) Regulates cardiovascular and respiratory systems
48
What is the cerebellum responsible for?
the cerebellum coodinates fine muscle movements and regulates posture and balance.
49
What is the reticular formation responsible for?
Helps screen incoming information as not to overload the brain. Alerts higher brain centres to important information. Helps to maintain conciousness.
50
What is the RAS
The retulular activating system regulates alertness and modifies muscle movements, extends into hindbrain and links upper and lower areas.
51
What is the thalamus?
Filters information from almost all of the sensory receptors and relays it to the relevant parts of the brain for analysis
52
What is the hypothalamus? | HYPO
Regulates body's internal environment and hormones, connects the endocrine and nervous system in so they can communicate.
53
What is the cerebrum?
recieves and processes incoming and outgoing information cerebrum and it's outer cortex and primarily responsible for almost everything we think, feel and do. Divided into two cerebral hemispheres connected by the corpus collosum
54
What is the frontal lobe?
enables us to perform complez mental functions responsible for personality and emotional behaviour
55
What is a key part of the frontal lobe?
The primary motor cortex
56
What is the primary motor cortex responsible for?
PMC located at the rear of each frontal obe. The primary motor cortex is the part of the brain that controls voluntary movements by sending signals to the muscles.
57
Which lobe is broca's area located?
frontal lobe
58
what is the broca's area responsible for?
production of articulate speech (clear and fluent) and the coordination of the muscles of the lips, tongue andvocal cords to allow clear speech production
59
What is a result from broca's aphasia?
limit speech
60
What is the parietal lobe?
recieves and processes sensory information from the body, skin senses and other sensory areas in the brain. senses the body's position in space spacial reasoning
61
which love is the primary somato-sensory cortex located in
the parietal lobe
62
what does the primary somatosensory cortex do?
recvieves and processes sensory info allowing us to have bodily sensations like touch, temperature and pressure
63
What is the occipital lobe responsible for?
Selects, organises, and integreates the visual information and integrates that with other information (memory, language, sounds)
64
What is a key area of the occipital lobe?
The primary visual cortex
65
What is the primary visual cortex responsible for?
visual information is recieved and processed, the association areas then organise these into more complex forms to enable interpretation
66
What is the temporal lobe responsible for?
responsible for the recognition of faces and objects, memories (personal experience and events, facts, how to do things) making decisions about features of the environment.
67
What are two key parts of the temporal lobe?
Wernike's area primary auditory cortex
68
What is neuroplasticity?
Neuroplasticity describes the brain's ability to change structure or functions in response to experience
69
What is developmental plascticity?
Developmental plasticity refers to changes in the brain that occur as a result of ageing and maturation (this ability diminishes over time)
70
What is synaptogenesis?
the formation of synapses (aka the production/birth of new neurons)
71
What is synaptopruning?
The elimination of underused synapses
72
What is mylination?
The creation of more efective communications to synapses
73
What is experience-expectant plasticity?
brain change in response to environmental experience that is ordinarily expected occurs mostly during development, describes and "species-wide"
74
What is experience-dependent plasticity?
Experience-dependent plasticity involves brain change that modifies some part of its neural structure that is already present. Depends on unique environmental experiences not time dependent
75
What is a brain injury?
any type of brain damage or disorder that impairs or interferes with the normal brain function
76
What is acquired brain injury
Acquired brain injury is any brain injury that occurs after birth
77
What are three impacts of acquired brain injury?
Traumatic brain injury Aphasia Stroke
78
Describe traumatic brain injury
Caused by a blow to the head, or a sudden force knocking brain from front to back/vice versa
79
What is the leading cause of brain injury?
Falling
80
What is aphasia?
Aphasia is a language disorder resulting from an ABI to an area responsible for language production or processing. 
81
What are the two different types of strokes?
Ischaemic Haemorragic both block blood flow to the area, causing brain cells to die due to lack of oxygen
82
What is the difference between Ischaemic and Maemorragic strokes?
Ischaemic strokes cause blockage, and haemorrhagic strokes cause a weakend blood vessel in the brain to burst
83
What are symptoms of a stroke?
Numbness or weakness in the face, arm, leg, especially on one side of the body speech disturbance trouble seeing in one or both eyes difficulty swallowing nausea or vomiting
84
What is the diagnostic process for a patient who has suffered as stroke?
85
Effects of a stroke
A stroke can lead to permanent brain damage, disability or death.
86
What are some treatments for a stroke?
Rehabilitation helps someone re-learn or find new ways of doing things that were affected by their stroke
87
What are some strategies for maintaining and maximising brain functioning?
Mental stimulation diet Physical activity Social support
88
What does the homunculus represent?
It represents the sensory distribution of the body and
89
What is the pre-motor cortex?
The premotor cortex is a region of the brain involved in planning and coordinating movements before they are executed.
90
what is the pre-frontal cortex?
responsible for higher-level thinking, decision-making, and social behavior.
91
How do the pre-motor cortex, primary motor cortex and somatosensory cortex work together?
The pre-motor cortex coordinates movements before they are executed, the primary motor cortex sends messages to muscles for voluntary movements, and the somatosensory cortex sends signals to these parts of the brain with sensory information
92
Hypothalamus, thalamus and cerebrum are located in the
forebrain
93
Which brain structure regulates the release of hormones?
Hypothalamus
94
Psychology has its roots in______
philosophy
95
The reticular formation helps to maintain______
Consciousness
96
Early researchers found lots of information on the _________ of the brain through post-mortems on damaged brains.
Structure
97
This are in the hindbrain controls vital bodily functions essential for survival such as swallowing, breathing, heart rate, and coughing
Medulla
98
Wilder Penfield mapped the functions of the _______________ using ESB.
Cerebral cortex
99
What is Equipotentiality?
the ability for one part of the brain to take over the functions of an area that has been damaged.
100

Psycology 1/2 (9 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions