History
Who created the theory of Dualism?
Decartes
Stripes or columns of neurons that respond preferentially to visual input from your left or right eye
What did Luigi Galvani's "frog experiment" support?
Galvani's stimulation of amputated frog legs demonstrated the electrical messages that travel through the body (neural signaling/action potentials)
What is blindsight?
What is the relationship between the hippocampus and space? What type of cells do they contain?
The hippocampus aids in spatial cognition by forming "cognitive maps" of an animal's environment. The hippocampus also contains place cells that respond to particular locations in space.
What is trepanation?
A procedure conducted in ancient societies that included surgically removing a particular bit of one's skull. Eases mental stress? Releases evil spirits?
What are orientation columns?
Orientation columns are groups of neurons that respond to certain angles of light (light at specific orientations)
What did the "eye-patch cat" study do?
In the eye patch cat study, researchers covered one eye of a young cat. They observed that the ocular dominance columns of the UNCOVERED eye overtook columns normally associated with the covered eye (due to the uncovered eye receiving visual input while the covered eye did not). This demonstrates the MOVE IT OR LOSE IT/ competitive nature of the developing visual system!
Karen has prosopagnosia meaning her brain can't process faces visually (she can't distinguish between them). This disease is likely due to damage to what brain area?
The fusiform face area
What are critical periods of development?
early periods of neurodevelopmental during which the brain is especially sensitive to the environment (environmental stimulation is imperative for healthy neurodevelopment). Disruptions can cause permanent deficits. Hard start and stopping point.
What did Galani's study reveal?
Galvani's stimulation of amputated frog legs demonstrated the electrical messages that travel through the body (neural signaling/action potentials)
Why do we called the visual system a "grand competition"/ a "competitive system"?
During development, the development of the visual system is dependent on the visual stimuli an individual is exposed to. In this sense, the neurons in the visual system are based on a "move it or lose it" scenario (think of the cat eye patch experiment).
How did cats contribute to our knowledge of orientation columns?
Researchers placed young cats into chambers with only one orientation (or angle/degree of light). After a few weeks, they observed the cats and noticed that cats could only process light in the same degree as the light they were exposed to in the chamber. This demonstrated the presence of orientation columns in visual processing and the "move it or lose it" nature of the visual system during critical periods.
Tim underwent surgical removal of
visual portions of the inferotemporal lobe. What visual deficits would you expect?
The inferotemporal lobe is a part of the ventral pathway meaning that there would be issues processing shapes and objects (deeper in this pathway would result in issues processing more complex objects like faces)
What is transduction?
The process of converting one form of energy into another. As it relates to psychology, transduction refers to changing physical energy into electrical/chemical signals (neural impulses) that can make their way to the brain.
Describe "Mind-Body Dualism" theory. What is the opposite theory and which theory is widely believed today?
This theory proposes that the mind and the body are completely separate entities (completely distinct). The opposing theory "monism" states that the mind instead controls the body through electrical signaling (monism is widely supported and believed today).
What are the two MAJOR visual processing pathways extending from V1?
The Ventral pathway (goes into the temporal lobe) processes objects, shapes, etc.
The Dorsal pathway (goes to the parietal lobe) processes motion and space.
Briefly explain the "three-eyed frog" experiment. What did it demonstrate?
The "three-eyed frog" experiment was an experiment in which the researchers inserted a third eye between the frog's original two eyes. The researchers then used a tracer to observe the effects of a third eye on the optic tectum. They observed ocular dominance columns on one side of the optic tectum (this was due to input from the original and third eye receiving stimuli). This experiment provided more evidence for how the visual system is competitive!
Susan underwent bilateral, surgical removal of visual portions of the parietal lobe. What visual deficits should she expect?
The parietal lobe is where the dorsal pathway is located. This means Susan would struggle visualizing movement and space.
What is topographic organization? (mention the visual and/or sensory system)
Topographic organization in the visual system means that an object's position in space will be reflected by a neuron's position in the visual cortex. Objects that are close to each other in space will have neurons (that will respond to each object) that are also close to each other. This means the map of one's space is reflected by the brain's organization.
Who was Luigi Galvani?
A scientist that stimulated amputated frog legs with electricity. This highlighted the nature of neural signaling!
Extra points (5) if you mentioned Frankenstein!
What are 2 differences between M ganglion (Magnocellular) and P (Parvocellular ganglion cells?
P Cells have smaller receptive fields and process more finely tuned details and color. P cells are also much slower than M cells. M cells are much larger than P cells and have larger receptive fields. They respond to movement, are low contrast, and not as detailed.
Explain the Ungerleider and Mishkin experiment. Why is it so important for our class?!
In the Ungerleider and Mishkin experiment, researchers lesioned the parietal or temporal lobes and assessed monkeys' visual capabilities using object discrimination and landmark discrimination tasks. Monkeys with parietal lesions struggled on the landmark task while animals with temporal lesions struggled on the object discrimination task. This demonstrated visual parallel pathways, where each pathway resides , and what they process!
A patient brings in their child with a lazy eye. What would you recommend to correct the child's lazy eye? Why?
The child should wear an eye patch over the dominant (non-lazy eye) which would force the lazy eye to work harder (thus receiving more input of visual stimuli) and that eye's ocular dominance columns to grow stronger.
What are egocentric and allocentric reference frames? Example?
Egocentric- where something is in relation to yourself (or a person) (e.g. that book is to my left)
Allocentric- where something is located in space (e.g. the sink is in the back of the room)