neuro exam 1 important terms

Dualism

The idea that the mind and body are separate; the body is material and the mind is nonmaterial.

Phrenology

The belief that the shape of the skull reflects mental abilities and personality traits.

Localization of function

The idea that specific brain regions are responsible for specific functions.

Results of Flourens’ experiments

Damage affected overall behavior rather than specific functions.

Neuron doctrine

The idea that neurons are discrete, individual units of the nervous system.

Cytoarchitecture

The organization of the brain based on cellular structure.

What brain structure was critical in H.M.’s impairment?

The hippocampus.

Types of cells in the brain

Neurons and glial cells.

Parts of a neuron

Soma (cell body), dendrites, axon, synapse.

Synapse

The site where one neuron communicates with another neuron.

Key difference between chemical and electrical synapses

Chemical synapses use neurotransmitters and are slower but flexible; electrical synapses are faster and less flexible.

Basic synaptic transmission

An action potential causes neurotransmitter release, which binds receptors on the postsynaptic neuron and changes its membrane potential.

Medial

Toward the midline of the brain.

Lateral

Away from the midline of the brain.

Lateral view of the brain

View from the side.

Medial view of the brain

View of the inner surface between hemispheres.

Association cortex

Areas of cortex involved in integrating information rather than primary sensory or motor processing.

Cognitive psychology

The study of mental activity as an information-processing problem.

Independent variable (IV)

The variable the researcher manipulates.

Dependent variable (DV)

The outcome the researcher measures.

Lesion patients (neuropsychology)

Using naturally occurring brain damage to infer which brain structures are necessary for specific cognitive functions.

Stroop effect

Slower reaction time and more errors when the word meaning conflicts with ink color.

Stroop relevant vs irrelevant representations

Relevant = ink color; irrelevant but automatic = word meaning.

ERP

A time-locked EEG response to a stimulus or event, extracted by averaging across trials.

EEG/ERP main advantage

Excellent temporal resolution (milliseconds).

EEG/ERP main limitation

Poor spatial localization due to signal distortion and the inverse problem.

EEG vs MEG (main difference)

MEG has better spatial localization than EEG and magnetic fields are less distorted by skull/scalp, but MEG is more expensive and less available.

ECoG advantage

Excellent spatial and temporal resolution with direct human brain recording.

ECoG limitation

Highly invasive and electrode placement is limited by medical needs.

What does DTI measure?

Structural connectivity (anatomical pathways), not neural firing.