PSY 3313 - Anatomy and Research Methods Study Notes

Overview of Neuroimaging and Brain Anatomy

  • Neuroimaging Techniques
    • Electroencephalogram (EEG): Measures electrical activity; good temporal resolution, poor spatial resolution.
    • Magnetoencephalogram (MEG): Measures magnetic fields; good temporal/spatial resolution, expensive.
    • Computerized Axial Tomography (CT): Uses X-rays for structural images; identifies tumors.
    • Positron Emission Tomography (PET): Measures glucose metabolism; requires radioactive injection.
    • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Measures electromagnetic changes; good spatial resolution, no functional measurement.
    • Functional MRI (fMRI): Measures blood flow; good temporal resolution, poor spatial resolution compared to MRI.
    • Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI): Analyzes white matter integrity; important for network assessments.

Nervous System

  • Central Nervous System (CNS): Includes brain and spinal cord.
  • Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): Includes all external nerves.

Brain Structure

Major Divisions

  1. Hindbrain: Autonomic functions, balance, coordination.
  2. Midbrain: Movement regulation, auditory and visual processing.
  3. Forebrain: High-level functions, sensory processing, emotions.

Cranial Nerves

  • Twelve pairs involved in various sensory and motor functions (e.g., smell, vision, hearing, neck movement).

Anatomy of Cerebral Cortex

  • Lobes of the Brain:
    1. Frontal Lobe: Intelligence, decision-making, personality.
    2. Parietal Lobe: Sensory information, spatial processing.
    3. Temporal Lobe: Auditory processing, memory, facial recognition.
    4. Occipital Lobe: Vision; known as primary visual cortex.

Brain Hemispheres

  • Left Hemisphere: Language processing, Broca's and Wernicke's areas.
  • Right Hemisphere: Spatial processing, facial recognition.
  • Hemispheres communicate via the corpus callosum.

Brain Function and Intelligence

  • No significant correlation between brain size and intelligence; brain-to-body ratio may be more relevant.

Study and prepare for the upcoming exam based on these essential concepts.