Neuropsych Chapter 1 Part 2 : Neural Streams

What caused D.F. to go into a coma?

poisoned by carbon monoxide emitted from a faulty space heater - caused her brain to become deprived of oxygen

What condition did D.F. develop due to damage to her visual cortex?

Visual cortical blindness

- did not have a problem with her eyes but a problem with her visual cortex in the brain

What is visual form agnosia?

A deficit where a person cannot visually recognize objects by their shape but can identify them based on color and previous associations/memory

How did D.F. demonstrate her ability to interact with objects despite her visual impairment?

She could accurately reach for and grasp a pencil, indicating some level of visual processing when she was able to preform voluntary motor task along with it

What is the difference between visual agnosia and visual ataxia?

Patients with visual agnosia cannot recognize objects but do well with motor tasks, while those with visual ataxia can accurately describe objects but make errors in motor behaviors.

What neural pathway is damaged in/is connected to visual agnosia?

The ventral stream which projects from the visual cortex in occipital lobe to the temporal lobe

What is the function of the ventral stream in visual processing?

the "what pathway" - helps with object identification

D.F could not identify objects X

What is the function of the dorsal stream in visual processing?

the "where/how pathway"- helps with actions and motions relative to objects in our visual field

D.F could use motion relative to vision :)

What did Goodall and Miller propose about the ventral and dorsal streams?

The ventral stream mediates actions controlled by conscious visual perception, while the dorsal stream mediates actions controlled by unconscious visual processes

Ex. Dorsal stream - being able to quickly catch something falling without thinking

What are the two major classes of cells in the nervous system?

Neurons and glial cells.

What is the primary function of neurons?

Neurons produce behavior and mediate the brain's plasticity.

What role do glial cells play in the nervous system?

Glial cells support neurons by holding them together, delivering nutrients, and removing waste.

What is the typical ratio of neurons to glial cells in the human brain?

Approximately 1:1, with about 85 billion neurons and 86 billion glial cells.

What are the main parts of a neuron?

The cell body (soma), dendrites, and an axon.

What is the function of dendrites in a neuron?

Dendrites increase the neuron's surface area for synaptic connections with other cells.

What is the Big Brain Project?

It is a high-resolution, three-dimensional atlas of the brain created by slicing a brain into more than 7000 sections.

What is the primary mode of communication between neurons?

Neurons communicate using electrical signals and produce chemical signals for interaction.

What is the core region of a neuron called?

The cell body or soma.

What happens when the ventral stream is damaged?

The individual may struggle with object recognition while still being able to perform actions related to those objects.

How does visual agnosia illustrate the complexity of visual processing in the brain?

It shows that visual perception is not localized to one area but involves multiple pathways and processes.

What is the role of the occipital lobe in visual processing?

The occipital lobe processes visual information before it is sent to other parts of the brain.

What is the difference between conscious and unconscious visual processes?

Conscious processes involve deliberate recognition and identification, while unconscious processes involve automatic spatial computations and pattern recognition.

What is the significance of the orientation/posting of the card test?

D.F struggled with lining up/ correctly orienting the card to the slot, but when she was asked to actually post the card through the slot she was much more successful

- the motor action made her dorsal stream take over (relates to how we use information to do an action)

What does the term 'visual ataxia' imply?

It refers to a condition where individuals can verbally describe objects but struggle with motor actions related to those objects.

What is meant by 'neuron theory'?

The theory that neurons are the basic units of the brain's structure and function and are responsible for behaviour

• are discrete, autonomous cells that interact with each other but not physically connected