All Flashcards
What is the significance of Phineas Gage's case?
Provided insights into the role of the frontal lobe in personality and behavior.
What did Roger Sperry's research reveal about the brain?
Advanced our understanding of hemispheric specialization through split-brain studies.
Why is understanding the brain crucial?
Because it's the control center for everything we do, think, and feel.
What does the left hemisphere specialize in?
Language, logic, linear thinking, math, and analytical thinking; controls the right side of the body.
What does the right hemisphere specialize in?
Visual-spatial processing, music, art, emotional processing; controls the left side of the body.
What information does a CT scan provide?
Detailed images of the brain's structure, useful for identifying tumors or injuries.
What information does an fMRI provide?
Measures blood flow changes to show which brain areas are active during specific tasks, combining structure and function.
Why are case studies useful?
Particularly useful when studying rare or unusual phenomena.
What is the main purpose of lesioning?
To understand the function of a specific brain area by observing the resulting behavioral changes after its destruction.
What is the purpose of brain stimulation?
To activate specific brain areas to observe the responses, helping to understand their function.
How are EEGs used in real-world applications?
Studying sleep patterns, seizures, and overall brain activity.
How are PET scans used in medical diagnosis?
To identify areas of high metabolic activity, such as tumors or areas affected by Alzheimer's disease.
How can lesioning be applied in medical treatments?
In some cases, lesioning is used to treat severe epilepsy by destroying the brain tissue causing seizures.
How is fMRI used in cognitive research?
To identify brain areas involved in specific cognitive processes like memory, language, and decision-making.
How are case studies applied in clinical psychology?
To understand and treat rare psychological disorders or unique patient cases.
How can brain stimulation be used therapeutically?
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) can be used to treat depression by stimulating specific brain areas.
How is CT scanning used after a head injury?
To quickly identify any structural damage like fractures, bleeding, or swelling in the brain.
How is MRI used in diagnosing multiple sclerosis?
To detect lesions or plaques in the brain and spinal cord, which are characteristic of MS.
How are split-brain studies applied to understanding consciousness?
By revealing how each hemisphere can function independently, providing insights into the neural basis of consciousness.
How is EEG used in sleep studies?
To monitor brain wave patterns during different stages of sleep, helping to diagnose sleep disorders.
Compare CT and MRI scans.
CT uses X-rays for structural images; MRI uses magnetic fields for more detailed soft tissue images.
Compare PET and fMRI scans.
PET uses radioactive glucose to track activity; fMRI measures blood flow for more precise functional imaging.
Compare EEG and fMRI.
EEG measures electrical activity with electrodes, good for sleep studies; fMRI measures blood flow for detailed functional images.
Compare lesioning and brain stimulation.
Lesioning destroys brain tissue to observe effects; brain stimulation activates regions to observe responses.
Compare case studies and experimental studies.
Case studies are in-depth analyses of individuals; experimental studies involve manipulating variables to find cause-and-effect relationships.
Compare the information provided by CT and MRI scans.
CT scans provide two-dimensional images of the brain using X-rays, while MRI scans provide more detailed images of the brain's soft tissues using magnetic fields and radio waves.
Compare the spatial resolution of PET and fMRI scans.
fMRI scans have higher spatial resolution than PET scans, allowing for more precise localization of brain activity.
Compare the invasiveness of PET and fMRI scans.
PET scans are more invasive than fMRI scans because they involve exposure to radiation.
Compare the temporal resolution of EEG and fMRI scans.
EEG scans have higher temporal resolution than fMRI scans, allowing for the detection of rapid changes in brain activity.
Compare the use of CT scans and MRI scans in diagnosing stroke.
CT scans are typically used to quickly rule out bleeding in the brain after a stroke, while MRI scans can provide more detailed information about the extent of brain damage.