Biopyschology Flashcards
(67 cards)
What is localisation of function
Specific functions ( e.g. language and memory ) have specific locations in the brain
What is the frontal lobe
Responsible for decision making
Contains the motor cortex which is responsible for fine movements
Contains the Broca’s area responsible for speech production ( left hemisphere only )
Brocas aphasia = slow speech
What is the parietal lobe
Contains the Somato sensory cortex = sensory info via the skin
What is the occipital lobe
Visual centre = sight and visual perception
What is the temporal lobe
Auditory centre = hearing
Wernickes area ( left only ) = understanding language
Positive evaluation of localisation of function in the brain
+ case studies of brain damaged patients in Broca’s area
Broca’s aphasia where speech looses its fluency - brain damaged patient could only say “tan “
Supports localisation of speech production is in the left frontal lobe
+ brain scan research - Paterson used brain scan research to demonstrate how wernickes was active during a listening task and Broca’s was active during a reading task
Wide range of research showing how different areas of the brain have different functions
Negative evaluation of localisation of function in the brain
- animal research - lashley removed up to 50% of cortex in rats that were learning a maze and found no areas were more important than others in terms of their ability to learn the maze
Learning is too complex to be localised - brain functioning is more complex than localisation suggests
Research shows that the way the brain communicates with each other is more important
Dejerne studied brain damaged patient who lost the ability to read with damage between wernickes + visual cortex , shows complex communication in the brain is required
Describe hemispheric lateralisation
Each hemisphere of the brain is functionally different e.g. left = language
and right= emotion
Aim of sperrys research into hemispheric lateralisation
To look at functions of each hemisphere and the corpus collosum using 11 split brain patients
Sperry research into hemispheric lateralisation
Quasi experiment
Iv = split brain
Controls = blindfolded over one eye, image flashed for 1/10th of a second ( tachtiscopes )
Task 1 = describe what you see - image shown in right visual field = left hemisphere and can say it, image shown in left visual field= right hemisphere and can’t say it
Task 2= show image and select object from under the table - left visual field = right hemisphere and çan grab object with left arm but can’t say why, rvf = left hemisphere and can pick up with right hand
( contralateral control )
Task 3 = composite words - 1 word to each visual field = say the word in the rvf and draw the word in the lvf with the left hand
Findings from sperrys research
There are 2 hemispheres with different functions
They communicate using the corpus collosum
There is contralateral control of the body in the brain
Positive evaluation of hemispheric lateralisation
+ well controlled. Standardised procedures
Eye blinded folded, saw image for 1/10th of a second.
High internal validity
Negative evaluation of hemispheric lateralisation
- flawed. Unusual and limited sample , 11 split brain patients who had epilepsy + drug treatments for different periods of time , strings conclusions into doubt
- too simplistic , oversimplifies the distinction between hemispheres, verbal and non verbal labels are useful, scientists say it is more complicated, issues with credibility of research
- case studies show that language may not only be in the left hemisphere, SW developed the ability to speak out of the right hemisphere, info presented to either side of the brain
Refutes research by sperry, left hemisphere may not be solely responsible for language
lateralisation may change over time, research found lang more to left as children turn to adults, decreased after 25 each decade, more complex
Describe plasticity
The ability of the brain to change and adapt due to experiences and learning, this occurs at any age
Due to synaptic pruning we strengthen regularly used neural connections and destroy unused ones
It is more likely to occur if we see spontaneous recovery- early recovery as this suggests the brain is already reviving itself
What is involved in plasticity
Use of homogeneous areas- similar areas in the opposite hemispheres that take over a function
We can develop secondary neural pathways- new pathways that allow areas of the brain to communicate
Most likely occurs after injury to a specific part of the brain after a stroke etc
Can be due to physical changes : atonal sprouting = new nerve endings forming new connections / breaking ; reformation of blood vessels = blood is then re supplied to areas of the brain
Positive evaluation of plasticity
+ human research - Maguire used an mri scan for London taxi drivers
Found more grey matter in the posterior hippocampus
Positive correlation with the amount of time they’ve worked as a London taxi driver
Human brain can adapt as a result of new learning and experience
+ animal studies - kempermann found rats placed in a complex environment had a higher number of new neurons than rats in a simple cage
Rats in the complex environment had adapted and formed new neurons - the brain can change and adapt as a result of new experience
Negative evaluation of plasticity
- recovery from brain trauma is far more complex - certain individuals have more of an ability to recover from brain trauma than others
Elbert - adults require more intensive training to recover than children do
People who had college education were more likely to recover than drop outs
A number of factors contribute, makes it complex - negative consequences - 60-80% of amputees suffer with phantom limb syndrome , thought to be due to reorganisation in the somato sensory cortex as a result of limb loss
Causes pain
Factors affecting plasticity
Age = occurs at any age but worse after 40 + declines faster 5 years after recovery after 40
Boyke - 60 yr olds learning juggling show plasticity - more grey matter in visual cortex
Declines when no practise
Gender = more likely in women due to less generalisation, testing cognitive skills
Men better at visual analytical skills , women better at working memory, attention and language
What are ultradian rhythms
A cycle in biological or psychological activity that occurs MORE than once every 24 hours e.g. stages of sleep
what makes up the central nervous system
the brain
the spinal cord - extension of the brain responsible for relaying information between the brain and the rest of the body
describe the peripheral nervous system
transmits messages via neurons to a from the CNS
function = to relay nerve impulses from the CNS to the to the rest of the body, and from the body back to the CNS
it is divided into two nervous systems: somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system
what is the somatic nervous system
controls voluntary actions
this is achieved by receiving info from the senses and carrying sensory and motor information to and from the CNS
what is the autonomic nervous system
governs vital functions in the body such as breathing and heart rate and sexual arousal
controls involuntary actions
via internal organs and glands around the body
carries only motor info to and from the CNS
subdivided into sympathetic and parasympathetic
what is the sympathetic nervous system
involved in responses that help us deal with emergies
prepares the body for flight or fight
causes the body to release stored energy, pupils dilate, HR increases, etc
less important bodily processes are slowed, such as digestion and urination
