Neuroscience for Communicative Disorders Review

A set of 35 vocabulary flashcards covering neuroimaging, history, directional terms, and anatomical concepts from SPTH 5000-01.

Trephination

A prehistoric procedure dating to 3500 BCE designed to release pressure in the skull.

Hippocrates

Ancient Greek figure who recognized the concept of contralateral control.

Aristotle

Ancient Greek philosopher who advocated for the localization of mental function in the heart.

Galen

Ancient Roman scientist who associated mental functions with the brain's ventricles.

Vesalius

Creator of detailed brain anatomy drawings who is known as the father of modern anatomy.

Phrenology

A discredited theoretical perspective associated with Gall.

Flourens

Modern era researcher who supported a holistic view of brain function.

Broca's area

Brain region associated with speech production.

Wernicke's area

Brain region associated with language comprehension.

Penfield

20th-century researcher known for conducting cortical mapping.

Sperry

20th-century researcher known for conducting split-brain research.

Golgi stain method

Staining technique that randomly stains about 5% of neurons in a slice to view patterns against a background.

Myelin stains

Stains taken up by fatty myelin insulating axons to help identify neural pathways.

Nissl stains

Stains taken up by neurons to identify cell bodies.

2-deoxyglucose (2-DG)

A radioactive sugar tracer taken up by neurons to trace where it went.

Structural imaging

Imaging approach focused on viewing the anatomy of the brain.

Functional imaging

Imaging approach focused on viewing the physiology of the brain.

Computerized Axial Tomography (CT)

Structural imaging technique using X-ray beams that reflect off body tissues to form 2D images renderable into 3D.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Structural imaging technique using magnetic currents to alter proton alignment in water molecules to create detailed 3D cross-sectional images.

Angiography

Invasive method for imaging the vascular system using injected iodine and X-rays.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Functional imaging technique measuring glucose metabolism in the brain using radioactive sugar emitting gamma rays.

Electroencephalography (EEG)

Functional electrophysiological method developed in 1929 by Hans Berger recording electrical activity via scalp electrodes with 1 millisecond temporal resolution.

Event-Related Potential (ERP)

Averaged electrical activity around a specific event, established by repeating stimuli many times.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

Imaging technique that measures blood oxygenation during stimulus presentation to show both brain structure and function without contrast.

Temporal resolution

The precision of an imaging technique regarding time, highest in electrophysiological techniques (EEG and MEG) and lowest in PET.

Spatial resolution

The precision of an imaging technique regarding location, highest in fMRI, followed by PET, and lowest in electrophysiological techniques.

Anatomical position

Standard anatomical posture defined as body erect, palms out, arms forward, and face forward.

Coronal section

Body plane, also known as frontal, that splits a structure into front and back portions.

Sagittal section

Body plane, also known as lateral, that splits a structure into left and right portions.

Transverse section

Body plane, also known as horizontal, that splits a structure into upper and lower portions.

Ipsilateral

Directional term meaning located on or affecting the same side of the body.

Contralateral

Directional term meaning located on or affecting the opposite side of the body.

Adduct

Muscle action referring to bringing structures together, such as vocal folds during phonation.

Abduct

Muscle action referring to moving structures apart, such as vocal folds during breathing.

Supine

Position where a person lies with their face or ventral surface facing up.