PSYCHOLOGY U1 AOS 2

How are mental processes and behaviour influenced by the brain

Brain Protection

• covered by three transparent membranes
• hard bony skull
• Cerebrospinal fluid provides cushioning
• blood-brain barrier limits entry of potentially harmful substances

4 ventricles of the brain

• produce cerebrospinal fluid and transport it around the cranical cavity
• trillions of neuron pathways

Brain vs heart debate

A debate about whether the brain or the heart is the source of our thoughts

mind-body problem

Are mind and body separate and distinct

phrenology

mental abilities

ablation

invlolves the destruction or removal of part of the brain

lesioning

involves damaging the normal structure or function of the brain

split-brain surgery

involves cutting the main band of nerve tissure connecting the two hemispheres

neuroimaging techniques

• a technique that captures a picture of the brain
• CT (computerised tomography)

Medulla structure

• part of brain stem
• lowest part of brain
• continuation of the spinal cord

medulla function

• controls vital bodily functions that occur automatically

cerebellum structure

• small brain found under the large brain attached the brain stem

cerebellum function

• coordinates volutary fine muscle movement

thalamus structure

a relay station between hind and forebrain

thalamus function

• filters and selectively attends all sensory info before transmitting to appropriate area for processing
• damage results in lower arousal levels

midbrain structure

central part of brain

midbrain function

• processes visual

Pons structure

• part of brain stem
• found above the medulla

Pons Function + Damage

• involved in sleep

Hypothalamus structure

• part of limbic system

Hypothalamus Functions + Damage

• mainstains homeostasis
• regulates the release of hormones
• inability to maintain homeostasis

Cerebrum Structure

cerebral cortex + cerebrum

Cerebrum Function + Damage

• where conscious thoughts

Reticular Formation Structure

centre og hindbrain

Reticular Formation Function + Damage

• screens incoming info

Cerebral cortex

• two hemispheres
• 4 lobes in each hemispheres

4 Lobes

• Frontal
• Pariental
• Occipital
• Temporal

Similarities of each lobe

• has a cortex involved with sensory and motor functions
• an association area that processes info

Frontal Lobe

• located behind the forehead
• involves reasoning

Primary motor cortex

• intiates and controls voluntary skeletal movements
• controls movement for oppposite side of body

Broca's area

• produces clear and fluent speech
• found in only left front lobe to primary cortex
• coordinates movement of the lips

Parietal lobe

• processes info about touch

Primary Somatosensory cortex

is situated at the front of each pariental lobe

Contralateral organisations

• the amount of cortex devoted to each body

Neuroplasticity

the way the brain changes in response to ability

• experience expectant plasticity (EEP)
• experience dependent plascity (EDP)

EDP

• refers to the brains capacity to change in response to environmental experiences

EEP

• describes the normal generalised devlopment of neuron connections in the brain that occurs as a result of common experiences that all humans or other species are exposed to
• if this experience does not occur when expected (senstive period) brain development may not occur as it should

Neurogenesis

• is the production of new neurons
• occurs in the hippocampus
• neurons then migrate to other brain areas

Brain injury

any type of brain damage or disorder that interferes eith the normal functioning of the brain either temporarily or permanently

Acquired brain injury

used to differentiate brain injuru from disorders that a person is born with (autism)

Traumatic brain injury

• acquired brain injury

Aphasia

is a language disorder that results from an acquired brain injury to an area responsible for language produciton or processing

Types of Aphasia

• Non fluent
• Fluent
• Pure

Fluent Aphasia

speech is easily produced and flows freely

Non fluent Aphasia

difficulties speaking clearly

Pure Aphasis

specific impairments of reading

Broca's Aphasia

• person will have difficulty producing speech

Wernicke's aphasia

• person has difficulty understanding spoken or written language and speaking in a meaningful way
• can speak fluently

Stroke

• occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted

Types of Strokes

• ischemic
• hemorrhagic

Ischaemic

• blood suplly is restricted or stopped in a blood veels due to blockage

Haemorrhagic

when a blood vessel supplying the brain becomes weak and bursts causing bleeding of the brain

Symptoms of strokes

• FAST
• headaches
• dizziness
• trouble walking
• nausea
• facial weakness
• speech slurred

concussion

• a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head
• neural structure and functioning is affected and may damage brain tissue
• short term effects (not life threating)

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)

• caused by repeated blows to the head
• progressive brain degeneration (life threating)

Symptoms of concussion/CTE

• intially mild but become more severe
• motor impairments
• loss of memory
• difficulty in thinking
• mood changes
• confusion

Diagnosis/Treatment for CTE

CTE

• No medical or psychological test to diagnose
• Recognition of CTE during an autopsy remains limited
• supportive treatments for neurodegenerative brain disorders
• diagnosis only occurs after death