Chapter 1 - A Brief History of Cognitive Neuro

cognitive science helps us learn the connections between what two things?

the mind and the brain

one of the main findings of cognitive neuroscience is that…

certain brain regions are associated with cognitive functions/behaviors

T/F: brain regions are connected

true

what two fields does cognitive neuroscience combine?

cognitive psychology and neuro

describe some aspects of cognition

critical thinking, decision making, understanding and comprehending, judgement, creativity, intuation, language

what is cognitive psychology

the study of mental function (perception, memory, attention, language, problem-solving, reasoning, decision making)

define neuroscience

the study of how the nervous system is organized and functions

define memory

encoding and retrieving stored info

define cognitive neuroscience

understanding how the brain works, how it is structed and how it functions

describe the original view of the physical brain vs the intangible mind

the original view was that the physical brain and intangible mind are separated

describe Rene Descartes view on the brain

• Descartes believed that our body and thoughts are two different things but that they interact with each other

• he believed that the mind was a nonmaterial thinking substance (not physical)

• the mind and brain are independent and separate but they interact at a single brain structure (the pineal gland)

• dualism!!!

define dualism

the belief that the mind is not a result of machination of the brain, but appears from elsewhere

are the mind and brain separated (reality)?

no

the conscious mind is a __________ of our brain’s physical activity

product

what did brain lesions studies help determine?

that the mind and brain are not separated and that specific parts of the brain have specific functions

define neuropsychology

how the brain affects behavior, emotions and cognition (investigates brain injuries)

neuropsychology led to what viewpoint on the brain?

localization

what was Franz Joseph Gall’s main idea?

localization

describe Gall’s beliefs/ideas

• the brain is the organ of the mind

• each cognitive function is localized in a specific region of the cerebral cortex

• phrenology

• Gall would “read” people’s skulls by touching thier heads

define phrenology

the belief that the shape of your skull provided information about cognitive functions and personalities

(parts of the brain will “grow with use”)

what happened to the idea of phrenology?

it was questioned due to pseudo-science (scientific method not followed)

what was Marie-Jean-Pierre Flourens main idea?

the aggregate field theory (the whole brain participates in behavior)

what did Flourens do to advance his findings?

Flourens tested animals by destroying parts of their brains to see which functions disappeared

what functions could not be pinpointed through Flourens work?

advanced functions, like memory or cognition

causal relationship

one event or variable directly causes another event or variable

what does focal brain damage cause?

specific behavioral deficits

if Broca’s area is damaged, what occurs?

difficulty in producing language, but comprehension is still intact

if Wernicke’s area is damaged, what occurs?

difficulty with language comprehension but production of language remains intact

a = Wernicke’s sensory speech

b = Broca’s area for speech

pc = Wernicke’s area concerned with language comprehension and meaning

define cytoarchitectonics

how cells differ between brain regions

define volition

the power of making your own conscious choices and decisions