Cognitive Neuropsychology
It is something more than just studying the nervous system.
In computer-brain analogy, hardware is analogous to the nervous system.
We need to study cognitive neuropsychology because description of cognition at the hardware level lays the foundation of understanding cognition at software level.
A lot of visual processing and a lot of auditory processing takes place at hardware level as well.
Higher level cognitions will remain a mystery as far as the hardware level is concerned and we need a software level description.
There is difficulty studying neuropsychology because we cannot open the brain and see what is inside it.
Neuropsychological Methods
The traditional way to look at the neuropsychology was to actually look at the structures involved in the nervous system.
Structures involved in the nervous system are the spinal cord and the brain.
Spinal cord is usually responsible for the basic motor processes that reflects like transmission or sensation but nothing very deep or complicated.
Reflex action is controlled by spinal cord.
Brain is not mind
Brain is not the same thing as mind. Mind is an abstract concept which does not exist physically.
Mind is a software level concept. It is a concept which cannot be realized “physically”. It does not physically exist.
The skull protects the brain.
How to study the brain?
Neuropsychological methods include studying people who had different types of brain injuries.
Brain has two hemispheres:
Right Hemisphere:
(Controls the left side of the body)
Left Hemisphere:
(controls the right side of the body)
Corpus callosum – connects right and left hemisphere
If is the corpus callosum is damaged then two hemispheres cannot communicate.
This results in strange behaviour.
Spatial processes – Vision, artistic ability, creative tendency, ability to understand visual images is determined by the right brain..
Language , verbal skills are determined and controlled by the left hemisphere.
Visual perception is done in the right hemisphere and the language is controlled by the left hemisphere.
Left brain function:
- Number skills
- written language
-Reasoning
- Spoken Language
- Scientific skills
- Right hand control
Right Brain function:
- 3-D forms
- Insights
- Art awareness
- Imagination
- Music Awareness
- Left hand control
Visual perception is done on the right hemisphere and language is controlled by the left hemisphere.
A common technique is to study the brains of dead people
We can study the brains of dead people but the shortcoming is that we cannot understand living behaviour.
Neuroimaging
- What is an X-Ray?
- We use x-ray a lot when people have accidents
By doing x-ray of the brain we can get some information.
It is not a very good method though.
x-rays can be used to study the brain but it is not very useful method in cognitive psychology.
MRI Scan
Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI is a painless and safe diagnostic procedure that uses a powerful magnet and radio waves to produce detailed images of the body’s organ and structures, without use of x-rays radiation.
Neuropsychological Methods
Animal studies are very important in neuropsychological methods.
There is a lot of evidence that man is similar in many ways to animals.
Animals can be studies to understand the functioning of the brain.
Animals do not possess language so we cannot use animals to understand the language.
Anima; studies are still important ways to understand the hardware.
Ethical Issues:
There are serious ethical issues in studying animals for cognitive neuropsychology because lethal and cruel practices are performed on animals.
Some radioactive or other dangerous chemicals may be injected in the body or brain of the animals. Animal rights activists have a lot of concern related to these issues.
Nervous System
Components of Brain:
1- Cerebrum
2- Cerebellum
3- Medulla Oblongata
Cerebellum is responsible for learning behaviour or classical conditioning type . Evidence of classical conditioning is in cerebellum.
If we see the cerebellum after conditioning and before conditioning, there are some changes in how it is working.
Classical conditioning type is in cerebellum.
Most higher level processes originate in cerebrum. If there is software level type of activity, it happens in cerebrum.
Different parts of the brain
At the top we have the forebrain which contains:
- Cerebrum
- Thalamus
- Hypothalamus
Towards centre, we have structure called the midbrain.
Below is the hindbrain. Hindbrain has:
- Pons
- Medulla Oblongata
- Cerebellum
Cerebral cortex – all interesting activity takes place. Related to attention, imagery and language.
If you are planning what all you will do tomorrow the most active area of your brain will be ‘cerebral cortex’.
If you do a little experiment that you are explained the way to home to someone the you will notice some changes. What changes those will be one cannot predict. Then cerebrum will have some activity going on.
Structure of neuron
source: morphonix.com
When we talk of cerebellum, we talk of firing of neurons.
Our whole body is made of cells. All living beings are made up of cells. Neurons are specialized cells which are found in the nervous system.
There are so many neurons that we may never be able to know what exactly happens when we are thinking one thought and then we are thinking another thought. So, every image, every thought cannot undergo neuronal one-to-one mapping.
We can see some processes happening through which neurons transmit and transfer information.
We can see some processes happening through which neurons transmit and transfer information.
Dendrite receives information.
Nucleus is the center and the control system of every cell.
Axon – takes the information processes in a neuron
How do neurons exchange/transmit information with each other?
The axon is connected with the dendrite of the other neuron through a Synapse. They do not touch each other physically.
A synapse means a connection usually neurons do not directly touch each other. The axon of one connects to the dendrite of other. They do not connect by physical touching and there is a slight gap between them.
They are intertwined but at a distance. b/w them is a fluid/
The fluid helps in transmission. It is known as a neurotransmitter.
Due to chemical changes in neurotransmitters, the axon transmits information to the dendrite.
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