Aantekeningen college 1a
Examination
Quiz 1: 20 MC questions
- CH 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Quiz 2: 30 MC questions
- CH 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15
Exam: 40 MC questions
- CH all + zebras, wolpaw
Introducing cognitive neuroscience (CH1)
CN (cognitive neuroscience) aims to provide a brain-based account of c. processes. Made
possible by technological advances in studying the brain that are safer and less crude than
Penfield's method.
For a long time, the studies of this field were built on studying behavioural changes rather
than the actual functioning of the brain. Only when computers became highly advanced as
they are now, this second part of CN arose.
There’s an ongoing debate about the relationship between the mind and the body:
- Dualism → The mind and body are two separate substances
- Dual-aspect theory → The mind and body are two levels of explanation of
the
same thing (like wave-particle duality).
- Reductionism → The mind eventually is explained solely in
terms of
biological theory.
A very influential man within this field of study is Wilder Penfield, with the Penfield
procedure. Where patients’ skulls were opened and direct electrical signals were sent
through to see the effects of it.
A pseudoscience that was fairly popular in the past is called phrenology. This
pseudoscience had five main principles:
1. The brain is the organ of the mind.
2. The mind consists of about three dozen faculties, which are either intellectual or
emotional.
3. Each faculty has its own brain location.
4. People have different amounts of these faculties. A person that has more of a certain
faculty will have more brain tissue at that location.
5. Because the shape of the skull is similar to the shape of your brain, it’s possible to
measure the skull to assess these faculties (bs).
Some of these rules are quite accurate, especially the theory of functional specialization
(different regions of the brain serve different functions).
,However, phrenologists were, much like flat earthers, eager users of conformational biased
research. Where only the desired outcomes are published.
,Aantekeningen college 1b
Introducing cognitive neuroscience (CH1)
Some highly interesting facts about the brain:
- The brain has about 86 billion neurons
- Each neuron may connect with 10000 other ones
- If all neurons connected, our brains would need to be 20 km in diameter
- Neurons make up only 10% of brain cells (glia = glue, comprise rest)
- We lose one cortical neuron every second
- The brain constitutes only 2% of body weight, but 25% NRG consumption
- Men have larger brains, women have more folded brains
Brain anatomy
It was thought that the ventricles of the brain, which are filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF),
were the essential components of thinking processes. Turns out, they’re not. These
ventricles provide a protective cushion and carry certain substances like waste products and
hormones.
Directions are given with the following names.
The brain consists of three main parts:
- The brain stem → containing the medulla and the pons dorsally
respectively
- The cerebellum → responsible for motor learning tasks
- The cortex → responsible for cognitive processes
Cortex/cerebrum
The cortex consists of 11 parts:
1. Occipital gyri
2. Inferior temporal gyrus
3. Medial temporal gyrus
4. Superior temporal gyrus
5. Inferior frontal gyrus
6. Middle frontal gyrus
, 7. Superior frontal gyrus
8. Precentral gyrus
9. Postcentral gyrus
10. Superior parietal lobule
11. Inferior parietal lobule → SMG, AG
The cortex
The cortex has four main functions
The ventral anterior lobe is responsible for hearing and smelling.
The dorsal anterior lobe is responsible for elaboration of conscious thought
The ventral lateral lobe is responsible for vision
The dorsal lateral lobe is responsible for the senses
The subcortex contains 10 different areas:
1. Pituitary gland → Master gland of endocrine system
2. Medulla → Controls breathing, swallowing, heart rate
3. Hypothalamus → Controls, hunger, temperature and other
visceral functions
4. Cerebrum → Voluntary movement and consciousness
5. Corpus callosum → Band of fibers connecting two hemispheres
6. Thalamus → Relay station to cortex for sensory information
7. Midbrain → Conduction and switching center
8. Cerebellum → Balance and coordination
9. Reticular formation → Arousal and reflexes
10. Spinal cord → Conduction paths for motor and sensory impulses
The hippocampus (sea horse) plays an important
role in memory. At the ends of the hippocampus,
one can find the amygdalae. These structures
are responsible for fear and anxiety.
The motor cortex
This part of the brain is responsible for voluntary
skeletal muscles movement and perception. This
part of the brain can be subdivided into two
lobes: The motor homunculus and the sensory
homunculus. These two lobes work together to
give rise to senses in combination with motoric
function.
Cells within the brain
There are different types of cells present within the brain:
- Neurons → Contain dendrites, nucleus and axons
- Astrocytes (GC) → Star shaped cells, remove waste and help firing
system
- Oligodendrocyte (GC) → Create the infamous myelin sheets of speed