Cognitive chapter 2

CT (computerized Axial Tomography)

Takes hundreds of x-ray to create a 3d image through cross-sectional imaging. It measures anatomical structure. Quick and painless

PET (positron-Emission Tomography)

Radioactive tracer, usually administered through consumption of liquid → metabolic activity. Regional brain metabolism

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

Using radio waves plus magnetic field. To produce high resolution anatomy of the brain; typically loud machine and costly

EEG (electroencephalogram)

Using a cap topped with electrodes to detect electrical activity in the brain. It measures brains waves; typically used to see what part of the brain lights up when doing an activity

TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation)

Uses magnetic pulse to induce areas of the brain. Its purpose is causal manipulation of cortical activity; only surface area so cannot see inner activity

fMRI (functional MRI)

It measures blood flow changes during tasks to see what area are active during said task; BOLD (Blood-oxygen-level-dependent) response

Peterson et al.

Relates to PET scans to examine cortical activity of single-word processing

Golby et al.

Relates to a study that used fMRI, which measures blood flow in the brain, on subjects while performing memory task.

It should that language activates the left side of the brain more, faces activate the right side, and scene and pattern activate both sides about the same

Frontal lobe

Located at the top left/ front of the brain. Executive functions, planning, and motor control

Parietal lobe

Located top right of the brain. Spatial perception, touch perception, and body sense

Occipital lobe

Located bottom right/back of the brain. Visual processing; eyes

Temporal lobe

Located at the bottom; touching to the brain stem. It does hearing and language decoding, long-term memory, and face/object identification

Corpus callosum

Connects the two halves of the brain, allowing communication between them

Hippocampus

Memory, specifically making short term memory into long term memory

Amygdala

Emotion processing, especially fear

Cerebellum

Coordination and timing of movement

Thalamus

Sensory relay station; hearing, sight, taste, and touch (but not smell)

Neurotransmitters

Are chemical substances that activate or inhibit connecting neurons; it is how they communicate with each other

Contra-lateral principle

Each brain hemisphere primarily controls the opposite side of the body; left hemisphere controls the right side of your body and right hemisphere controls the left side of your brain

Lateralization

Certain functions are dominant in one hemisphere; for example language in the left hemisphere; hemispheric specialization

Brain plasticity

Refers to the brain’s ability to heal from damage. It happens in two ways: neurogenesis and synaptogenesis

Neurogenesis

Is generation of new neurons; most neurons from prenatally (before birth), but in area like hippocampus and olfactory bulb (an area just above your nasal cavity; processes smell)

Synaptogenesis

Generation of new synapses; learning creates new synapses (new connections) , not new neurons, and this occurs for a life time