Neuropsychology Lecture Notes

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts in neuropsychology based on the provided lecture notes.

Human Lesion Studies

Studies that involve examining damage to specific areas of the brain to understand the relationship between brain structure and function.

Broca's Area

A region in the frontal lobe associated with speech production; damage can lead to Broca's aphasia, resulting in difficulty forming speech.

Wernicke's Area

A region in the temporal lobe associated with understanding spoken and written language; damage can lead to Wernicke's aphasia, resulting in fluent but nonsensical speech.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

A non-invasive technique that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain and is used for mapping brain function as well as treatment.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)

A form of TMS that delivers pulses at a high frequency to stimulate specific areas of the brain, often used in treating depression.

Electroencephalography (EEG)

A method to record electrical activity in the brain through the scalp; useful for detecting epilepsy and studying sleep disorders.

Event Related Potentials (ERPs)

Voltage changes in the brain in response to specific stimuli; useful for understanding cognitive processing.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

An imaging technique that uses magnetic fields to produce detailed images of organs and tissues in the body, particularly useful for brain localization.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

An imaging method that measures brain activity by detecting changes associated with blood flow, providing real-time images of brain function.

Phineas Gage

A famous case study in neuroscience of a man who survived a severe brain injury, leading to significant personality changes, linked to frontal lobe damage.