outcome 2- sac 1 Flashcards
(32 cards)
What is the mind and body problem?
The complex philosophical question as to whether our mind is separate and distinguishable from our body or whether they are one integrated entity.
The mind refers to our thoughts, consciousness and mental processes
The body refers to the structure of our brain and the neurons that it is made up of.
There are two opposing sides
Monism:
The belief that the human mind and body are together a singular complete entity.
Dualism:
The belief that the human mind and body are separate and distinguishable from one another.
What is phrenology?
The study of the shape and size of the human skull to determine personality and mental functioning.
What is pseudoscience?
Consists of practices that claim to be both scientific and factual, but do not follow the scientific method; they are ‘fake’ sciences.
What is the heart vs brain debate?
A historical debate as to whether the heart or the brain is responsible for mental processes, such as thoughts, emotions, and behaviour.
The brain vs. heart debate asks what is the source of our thoughts, feelings and behaviours, our brain or our heart?
There are two opposing sides of the debate
The heart hypothesis:
The heart was the source of all thoughts, feelings and behaviours, and the brain had no purpose at all.
Early philosophers and Ancient Egyptians held this view.
The brain hypothesis:
The brain was the source of all thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
Greek philosophers held this view.
This is now the accepted view.
What is split brain research?
The serving of the corpus collosum to study the function of each side of the brain.
What is an neuroimaging technique?
A range of techniques used to capture images of the brain’s structure, function, and activities.
What is an MRI ( magnetic resonance imaging)?
A neuroimaging technique that uses magnetic and radio fields to take two-
and three-dimensional images of the brain.
BENIFITS:
better at telling the difference between types of soft tissues and between normal and abnormal soft tissues.
Provides clearer images than X-rays or CT scans; safer for frequent imaging tests
DRAWBACKS:
Noisy; takes 30 minutes or more to conduct; may be uncomfortable for people with claustrophobia; magnetic field can affect certain medical devices or implants
What is a pet( positron emission tomography)?
A neuroimaging technique that uses a scanning device to take coloured images of the brain, showing its functional activity
by tracing the levels of a radioactive substance in the brain.
Benefits:
Early Disease Detection
Accurate Staging
Drawbacks
PET is relatively expensive and not widely available.
What is the medulla and its function?
The medulla is a continuation of the spinal cord, connecting it to the brain.
Functions:
Controls vital, automatic bodily functions essential for survival:
swallowing
breathing
heart rate
blood pressure
vomiting
salivating
coughing
sneezing
What is the function of a hypothalamus?
maintaining the body’s internal environment (e.g. temperature) by regulating the release of hormones
influences behaviours associated with basic biological needs (e.g. hunger, thirst and sleep).
involved in emotions such as anger and fear.
What is the cerebrum and what is its function?
The cerebrum is the largest and most complex part of the brain with the cerebral cortex as its outer layer.
Functions:
complex mental abilities
receives and processes incoming and outgoing information
primarily responsible for almost everything we consciously think, feel and do.
What are the function of the of the frontal lobe?
Reasoning, judging, planning, initiative, including expression of characteristics related to personality and emotional behaviour. Higher order thinking and metacognition.
What are the functions of the parietal lobe?
Touch, spatial sense and navigation (proprioception).
What is the function of of the occipital lobe?
Responsible for processing visual information
What are the functions of the temporal lobe?
The primary functions of the temporal lobe include auditory perception, facial recognition, language comprehension, speech, memory, and emotional responses.
What is the Broca’s area and the issues faced with its damage?
Broca’s area deals with language production
If Broca’s area is damaged we will not be able to speak
What is the Wernicke’s area and the issues faced with its damage?
Wernicke’s area deals with language comprehension
If Wernicke’s area is damaged we will be able to speak fluently, but none of it will make sense.
What is neuroplasticity?
The ability of the brain to change in response to experience or environmental stimulation.
What is developmental and adaptive plasticity?
Developmental plasticity: changes in the brain that occur in response to ageing and maturation.
key processes: synaptogenesis, synaptic pruning, myelination
Adaptive plasticity: the brain’s ability to restore adequate neural functioning over time after sustaining injury.
key processes-sprouting, rerouting
What is syaptogenesis?
Synaptogenesis: the formation of synapses between neurons as axon terminals and dendrites grow.
Synaptic pruning: the elimination of underused synapses.
Myelination: the formation and
development of myelin around
the axon of a neuron
What is Synaptic pruning?
Synaptic pruning: the elimination of underused synapses.
What is myelination?
Myelination: the formation and
development of myelin around
the axon of a neuron.
What is sprouting?
Sprouting is a neuron’s ability to develop new branches on the dendrites or axons.
What is rerouting?
Rerouting is a neuron’s ability to form a new connection with another undamaged neuron.
