Brain Plasticity & Specialization

These flashcards cover essential terms and concepts related to brain plasticity, hemispheric specialization, and language processing, drawn from the lecture notes.

Plasticity

The brain's ability to reorganize and adapt throughout life in response to experiences, learning, and environmental changes.

Synaptic pruning

The process where the brain eliminates weaker synaptic connections while strengthening others to improve the efficiency of its functions.

Hemispheric specialization

The concept that each hemisphere of the brain has specialized functions and abilities.

Contralateral hemispheric organization

The phenomenon where each hemisphere of the brain controls the opposite side of the body.

Broca's area

A region located in the left hemisphere of the brain, specifically in the frontal lobe, responsible for speech production and language processing.

Wernicke's area

A region located in the left hemisphere of the brain, specifically in the temporal lobe, involved in language comprehension.

Broca's aphasia

A language disorder caused by damage to Broca's area, resulting in difficulties in producing fluent speech and forming grammatically correct sentences.

Wernicke's aphasia

A language disorder caused by damage to Wernicke's area, leading to fluent but nonsensical speech and difficulty understanding spoken and written language.

EEG (Electroencephalogram)

A non-invasive neuroimaging technique used to record the electrical activity of the brain.

fMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

A neuroimaging technique used to measure brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow and oxygen levels.

Lesioning

A research technique used to study brain function by intentionally damaging or destroying specific areas of the brain.

Telegraphic speech

Speech characterized by short, fragmented phrases lacking grammatical structure often seen in Broca's aphasia patients.

Neologisms

Creating new or inappropriate words, often associated with Wernicke's aphasia.

Word salad

Grammatically correct but nonsensical speech, commonly observed in Wernicke's aphasia patients.

Neural circuits

Networks of interconnected neurons that work together to process specific types of information.

Neuroimaging techniques

Methods used to visualize and analyze the brain's structure and activity.