Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J.

Sternberg
Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Cognitive Neuroscience

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Basic Unit of Brain: Neuron

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Neurotransmitters

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Methods to Study the Brain

Postmortem studies Animal Studies Electrical Recordings Static Imaging Techniques Metabolic Imaging

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Postmortem Studies

Identify disorder and then examine after

death
Young, Holcomb, Yazdani, Hicks & German (2004)

Found depression is associated with a greater

number of nerve cells in the Thalamus being devoted to emotional regulation Supported idea that structural abnormality may lead to depression

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Animal Studies: In Vivo

Monitor activity of a single neuron

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Animal Study: Single Neuron Monitoring

Disterhoft & Matthew (2003)

Young versus old rabbits compared in learning of eyeblink conditioning Hippocampal pyramidal neurons were monitored Typically aging animals cannot learn the task Metrifonate, galanthamine, and CI-1017 injected into the aging rabbits This led aged rabbits to learn as quickly as young controls

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

EEG-Human Studies
Electroencephalograph Research Example Dehaene-Lambertz, Pena, M., Christophe, & Landrieu (2004) Examined the language abilities of infants using EEG

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Radioactive material is injected or

inhaled Participant is then scanned to produce an image of the brains activity

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Strong magnetic field passed through the skull Uses the detection of radio frequency signals produced by displaced radio waves in a magnetic field Creates a detailed anatomical image of the brain

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

fMRI imaging takes a series of images of the

brain in quick succession and then statistically analyzes the images for differences among them Brain areas with more blood flow have been shown to have better visibility on MRI images Better visibility is thought to be correlated with brain activation

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Anatomy of the Brain

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Anatomy of the Brain

Forebrain
Cerebral cortex Basal ganglia

Motor movement
Limbic system Thalamus Hypothalamus

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Anatomy of Limbic System

Amygdala
Involved in anger, & fear

Hippocampus
Is important in the formation of memories Korsakoffs syndrome

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Anatomy of Limbic System

Thalamus
Relay sensory information to the cerebral cortex Hypothalamus Important to metabolic behaviors, eating, drinking, sexual behaviors, and regulating emotions

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Function of Limbic System

Controls Mood and

attitude Stores highly charged emotional memories Controls appetite and sleep cycles

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Midbrain

Location
The midbrain extends from the pons to the lower portion of thalamus

Reticular activating system

Controls respiration, cardiovascular function, digestion, alertness, and sleep

Brain Stem
Vital in basic attention, arousal, and consciousness

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Hindbrain

Medulla Oblongata
Breathing, swallowing and digestion Pons Relay station Cerebellum Motor co-ordination, posture, and maintaining balance.

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Cerebral Cortex Principles

Contralaterality
Right side of brain controls left side of body Left side of brain controls right side of body

Corpus Callosum
Neural fibers connecting left and right lobes Allows communication between right and left sides of the brain

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Cerebral Cortex Principles

Localization of function
Specific mental processes are correlated with discrete regions of the brain

Hemispheric Specialization
Each lobe of the brain has specialized functions

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Evidence for Specialization of Left lobe

Wernickes area
Speaks fluently but nonsensically Not coherent, contains lexical and grammatical errors

Brocas area
Can understand everything said Patient can only respond in monosyllabic words

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Split Brain Studies

Sperry (1960 - 1998)

First to study patients with a split corpus callosum Two lobes function independently

Gazzaniga (1980s- current)

Two lobes function complimentarily

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Split Brain Methodology

Corpus callosum severed Techniques used test each half-brain

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Hemispheric Specialization

Left Lobe
Language functions (speech, song) Logical thought (writing, logic)

Right Lobe
Spatial-relation functions Perception of rhythm, abstract or intuitive thought

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Split Brain Demonstration

What would a split brain patient say they saw? What would a split brain patient point to with their left hand?

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Lobes of the Cerebral Cortex

Frontal
Reasoning & Planning

Parietal
Touch, Temperature, Pain, & Pressure

Temporal
Auditory & Perceptual processing

Occipital
Visual processing

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Brain Disorders

Stroke
Flow of blood to brain is disrupted Damage depends on severity and location

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Brain Disorders

Brain Tumors
Benign versus Malignant Detected by CAT scan or MRIs

Cognitive Psychology, Fifth Edition, Robert J. Sternberg

Chapter 2

Brain Disorder

Head Injuries
Closed head versus Open head injuries Loss of consciousness is a primary symptom