cognitive neuropsychology (and language) Flashcards
cognitive neuropsychology, mapping the brain, neuropsychology and language (22 cards)
what is cognitive neuropsychology?
the study of relationship between brain regions and behaviours
aims to assign specific psychological functions to particular brain structures (assuming we accept modularity of function)
how are brains commonly studied?
historically linked to evidence from damaged brains
generally now includes other methods like imaging and lesion studies
how do people damage their brains?
missile wounds (bullets)
tumours (cancer)
impact (road accidents)
injury (traumatic)
surgery (intractable epilepsy)
disease (encephalitis, hydrocephalus, HIV)
strokes (blocks, bleeds)
what is the assumption of cognitive neuropsychology?
brain function is “localised” or “modular” with different structures performing different roles
what are distributed brain systems?
many functions rely on distributed brain systems
language, memory use much of brain
brain regions are specialised to perform roles but these may not map neatly onto ideas of “brain functions”
what is the history of cognitive neuropsychology?
Franz Joseph Gall (1758-1838) and Johan and Spurzheim (1776-1832)
Samuel George Morton
cranioscopy
rise and fall of phrenology
what did Gall and Spurzheim do?
as a youth, Gall annoyed by students with good memory but poor original thinking
recalled these students had large protruding eyes
developed theory of brain function - localisation of function - different parts of brain responsible for variations in individual differences
began collecting data
studied individuals with skills in maths, music, sense of colour, combativeness - discovered “bumps” in some areas
depression in skull indicate underdevelopment
launched phrenology
what is phrenology?
the study of skull structure as indications for mental faculties
who was Samuel George Morton?
wrote Crania Americana (1839)
very racist
what is cranioscopy?
used a method of “personality” assessment
what was the rise and fall of phrenology?
soon invited quackery and ridicule by association
most assessments entirely subjective
outside of skull does not mirror even the inside of the skull, let alone the underlying brain
what was Flourens study?
lesioned parts of cortex of different animals
observed how it behaved
at first - moved very little, refused to eat and drink
later - recovery of function to the point of appearing “normal”
patterns of loss and recovery seemed inconsistent with the assumption of localisation - more akin to specialisation
lesions to parts of brain stem = permanent breathing difficulties
lesions to cerebellum = loss of locomotor coordination
who was Korbinian Brodmann?
1868-1918
German neurologist
died to septic infection after pneumonia
what did Brodmann do?
appearance of cortex under microscope (cytoarchitectonics)
labelled zones based on cell organisation (e.g. density), cell type and number of connections
used natural “creases” (fissures/gyrus) in brain to inform initial decisions
does Brodmann’s map fit onto psychological functions?
yes
who was Jean Baptiste Bouilaud (1796-1881)?
proposed that certain functions were localised and lateralised
physicians noted that damage to left hemisphere resulted in impaired movement on individual’s right
writing also disrupted - language on left?
Bouilaud’s son in law reported a case of a patient who lost the ability to speak when pressure was applied to the exposed frontal lobes
who was Paul Broca (1824-1880)?
received a patient Monsieur “Tan” Leborgne
could only say “Tan” and utter an oath
autopsy revealed a lesion to left frontal lobe
demonstrates lateralisation and localisation
what is Broca’s area?
anterior speech region
syndrome that results from damage to this area = Broca’s aphasia
who was Carl Wernicke (1848-1904)?
investigated region of cortex that receives information from the ear
behind Broca’s area
Wernicke’s patients spoke fluently but with no sense, could hear but not understand what was said to them
what is Wernicke’s area?
region to temporal lobe
syndrome that results from damage to this area = Wernicke’s aphasia
what is Wernicke’s model of language processing?
auditory information sent to Wernicke’s area (sound -> sound images) then sound images transmitted along arcuate fasciculus to Broca’s area (representation of speech movements) and then from here instructions sent to control mouth muscles
what is conduction aphasia?
impairment in the ability to repeat words or phrases despite intact comprehension and fluent speech production
damage to arcuate fasciculus
