Unit 1 AOS 2 - How are mental processes and behaviour influenced by the brain?

Phrenology

The study of the relationship between the skull’s surface features and a person’s personality and behavioural characteristics

Brain ablation

Involves the permanent destruction or removal of part of the brain

Brain lesioning

Involves temporarily disrupting or damaging the normal structure or function of part of the brain

Invasive brain research techniques

Involve physical contact with the brain, like removing brain tissue

Non-invasive brain research techniques

Involve the examination of the brain through digital methods like an MRI

Electrical Stimulation of the Brain (ESB)

Involves a small, electrified wire being inserted into or placed on a specific area of the brain to detect or stimulate electrical activity

Split-brain surgery

Involves cutting the main band of nerve tissue that connects the two hemisphere — the ‘corpus callosum’

Structural neuroimaging

Techniques that produce images, or scans that show brain structure and anatomy

Functional neuroimaging

Techniques that provide views of some aspect of brain function by showing images of the brain ‘at work’, as well as brain structure

CT

Uses X-Ray equipment to scan brain structure at different angles

MRI

Generates a computer image of the brain. It is clearer and more detailed than a CT and can be produced in full colour. However, it cannot reveal brain function

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The brain and the spinal cord

The function of the brain in the CNS

The brain is a network of cells that plays a vital role in processing information from the body’s external and internal environments and in directing responses. Brain cells are organised into specific regions that have specialised functions

The function of the spinal cord in the CNS

The spinal cord is a long, thin bundle of nerve tissue that extends from the base of the brain to the lower back. Its two major functions are to receive sensory information from the body and send these messages to the brain and receive motor information from the brain and send it to the body

Spinal reflex response

Rapid, involuntary responses to specific stimuli that are mediated by the spinal cord without requiring input from the brain

Function of the PNS

The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) is the entire network of nerves located outside the CNS that send and receive messages from the CNS to the rest of the body

Somatic Nervous System

A network of nerves that carry sensory information to the CNS and motor information from the CNS

Autonomic Nervous System

Controls the functioning of internal organs. It is particularly active when we experience an emotion in an extreme form such as fear, anger, and exhilaration

Sympathetic Nervous System (PNS)

Quickly arouses the body for an immediate response in an emergency. This is an adaptive reaction called the fight, flight or freeze response

Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS)

Helps to maintain the internal body environment in a steady, balanced state of normal functioning. It restores the body to a state of calm once the need for SNS activation has passed

Fight, Flight or Freeze