Role of the Brain in Mental Processes and Behaviour

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on the role of the brain in mental processes and behavior.

Cerebral Cortex

The outer layer of neural tissue of the cerebrum, involved in complex mental abilities, sensory processing, and voluntary movement control.

Neurons

Individual nerve cells that transmit information throughout the nervous system.

Hemisphere Specialization

The concept that each hemisphere of the brain has specialized functions; for example, the left hemisphere is primarily responsible for language.

Neuroimaging

Techniques used to visualize the brain structure and function, including CT, MRI, PET, and fMRI.

Thalamus

A brain structure acting as a relay station for sensory information, sending it to the relevant areas of the brain for processing.

Hypothalamus

A small but crucial brain structure that regulates bodily functions such as temperature, hunger, and hormones.

Broca's Area

A region in the frontal lobe responsible for speech production.

Wernicke's Area

A region in the temporal lobe important for language comprehension.

Split-Brain Experiment

Research involving patients who had the corpus callosum severed to reduce seizure incidence, allowing for the study of each hemisphere's functions.

Phrenology

A pseudoscience claiming that personality traits could be inferred from the shape of the skull.

Blood-Brain Barrier

A selective permeability barrier that protects the brain from harmful substances while allowing essential nutrients to pass.

Cerebellum

A brain structure that coordinates fine muscle movements and regulates posture and balance.

Ablation

A surgical procedure involving the removal of brain tissue to study the effects on behavior and mental processes.

Electrical Stimulation of the Brain (ESB)

A technique that involves using an electrode to send electrical signals to specific brain areas, resulting in changes in activity or behavior.

Mind-Body Problem

The philosophical question regarding the relationship between mental processes and physical states, particularly whether the mind and body are distinct.

Neuroplasticity

The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life.

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)

A neuroimaging procedure that measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow.

Cerebral Hemispheres

The two halves of the brain, each responsible for different functions and information processing.