Module 02: Brain Structure and Function

Question 1

general purpose of areas in the hindbrain

Answer 1

sends info between spine and brain

life support functions and balance

most primitive structures

Question 2

2 parts in the hindbrain and what they do

Answer 2

medulla – transmits info from spinal cord to brain and regulates life support functions

pons – the neural relay center, cross over of info between different sides of the body, balance and processing of visual and auditory info

Question 3

the cerebellum

Answer 3

balance, general motor behaviour and coordination

governs balance

contains neurons that coordinate muscular activity

Question 4

damage to what part of the brain causes irregular and jerky movements and inability to shift attention between visual and auditory stimuli

Answer 4

the cerebellum

Question 5

the midbrain

Answer 5

contains tectum – relays info between other brain regions

rectular formation – awake and alert, responding to threats

Question 6

what four lobes are the cerebellum and describe them

Answer 6

frontal — motor cortex (fine motor movements), executive functioning (planning, decisions, inhibits inappropriate behaviour, mood, personality)

parietal – attention and spatial info

occipital – visual info

temporal – auditory info, recognizing stimuli like faces, memory

Question 7

cerebral cortex

Answer 7

in the forebrain

neurons with white matter, carries info between different parts of the cortex

Question 8

corpus callosum

Answer 8

separates the left and right cortex

Question 9

who is franz gall

Answer 9

early localization theory

faculty psychology: different mental abilities independent and autonomous functions carried out in different parts of the brain

Question 10

define phrenology

Answer 10

psychological strengths and weaknesses correlated to relative sizes of brain regions (not true)

Question 11

what is broca’s area

Answer 11

damage to left frontal lobe

results in broca’s aphasia

causes disruptions of expressive language (can understand but has trouble speaking)

Question 12

define wernicke’s aphasia

Answer 12

damage to temporal lobe

impairment with understanding speech

Question 13

what did karl lashley when removing parts of the brain of rats

Answer 13

maze running impairment related to total amount of cortex removed (not specific to removal area)

Question 14

brain platsicity

Answer 14

brain regions can adapt to take over parts of damaged brain

Question 15

double dissociation

Answer 15

brain damage and behaviour disassociated from each other, show opposite mirror image patterns

Question 16

laterization of function

Answer 16

idea that two cerebral hemisphere play different roles in cognitive functions

right: visual, auditory, spatial, navigation, musical ability

left: language, serial processing, analytical processing

Question 17

what scans show neuroanatomical info

Answer 17

MRI and CAT

Question 18

what scans show dynamic info about how blood flows during various cognitive activities

Answer 18

PET SPECT FMRI

Question 19

what scans show electrical activities during cognitive tasks

Answer 19

MEG EEG ERP

Question 20

static vs dynamic imaging

Answer 20

static – structure of the brain

dynamic – function of the working brain

Question 21

CAT scan

Answer 21

x rays passed through body at different angles

diff densities of body organ deflect rays differently

pinpoint areas of brain damage

Question 22

EEG

Answer 22

detect different stages of consciousness

electrodes placed on scalp

measures brain activity by measuring electrical activity

Question 23

MEG

Answer 23

changes in magnetic fields generated by electrical activities of neurons

more precise

Question 24

ERP

Answer 24

measures area of brain’s response to specific events

Question 25

PET

Answer 25

injecting radioactive compound that admits gamma radiation which is detected by devices outside the head blood flow to diff regions of the brain, byproduct of neuroactivity

Question 26

MRI

Answer 26

strong magnetic fields collect info on how hydrogen atoms are aligning clear picture, info about neuroanatomy

Question 27

fMRI

Answer 27

active brain regions show change in ratio of oxygenated to deoxygenated blood BOLD (blood oxygenated level dependent functions)

Question 28

subtraction technique

Answer 28

means of isolating brain regions whose activity varies in a task state compared to a control state. relative amount of activation in a particular brain region needed for a given cognitive task can be measured by subtracting a control state (responding to a light) from a task state (discriminating colour)