Aristotle
What was Aristotle’s theory of mentalism?
The concept that the mind controlled behaviour.
What is the name of Descartes theory regarding the brain and the mind?
Dualism.
What is Broca's area?
A specific part of the brain that produces speech and language.
What part of neuropsychology did Brodmann theorize about?
Brain mapping.
How did physicians attempt to treat epilepsy during the 1930s and 50s?
Removed parts of the cortex suspected to be the cause.
Where did Aristotle claim thoughts and emotions came from?
The heart
What inspired Descartes’ theory?
Moving statues in the gardens of Paris that moved when certain sidewalk blocks were depressed
What is Wernicke's area?
A specific part of the brain that stores sound representations.
What specific field of study did Brodmann make use of during his time?
Cytoarchitectonics.
What is the sensory homunculus?
A topographical mapping of different cortical regions involved in mediating sensations.
Historically, what was significant about Aristotle’s theory about the mind?
It was the first documented theory of behaviour and how it is controlled.
What is the structure Decartes believed the mind resides in, and where is it in the body?
Pineal body (now called pineal gland) high up in the brainstem.
How are Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas connected (physically and functionally)?
Wernicke’s area stores sound representations, then sends this information through the arcuate fasciculus to Broca’s area, which articulates them over the motor pathway to produce speech.
What is the relevance of brain mapping?
Looking at how different parts of the brain are engaged in different functions.
What region of the body was found to have significantly more sensation?
The face (i.e. the lips, nose, tongue, etc.).
According to Aristotle, what was significant about the size of an individual’s brain?
Aristotle believed intellect was connected to the size of the brain (i.e. a bigger brain meant increased intelligence).
What did Decartes believe were key indications of the presence of the mind?
Language and reason.
What is the effect of Broca’s aphasia?
Loss of speech movements without loss of sound representations; can understand language but cannot produce the motor movements required for speech.
How is Brodmann’s work still relevant today?
His work has been cited thousands of times with the advent of new imaging techniques that can map the brain.
What part of Patient H.M.’s brain was removed and how did this affect him?
The hippocampus. After removal, H.M was not able to form long term memories.
What was incorrect about Aristotle’s theories regarding the mind?
The cardiac hypothesis. He believed that the mind resided in the heart.
Through what mechanism did Descartes believe the mind controlled the rest of the body?
Fluid in the body that flowed through tubes.
What is the effect of Wernicke’s aphasia?
Loss of sound representations without loss of speech movements; cannot understand language, but can produce speech that is mostly nonsensical.
How many layers did Brodmann identify and what did they indicate?
The 6 layers of the brain indicated different regions and layers engaged in different functions.
Why is Patient H.M. significant?
His case taught scientists a lot about how the brain creates and stores memories.