Neuroscience Exam 3 Study Guide

Episodic memory

A category of long-term memory that involves the recollection of specific events, situations and experiences

How does this differ from a "critical period"

A critical period is defined as a special class of sensitive periods where behaviors and their neural substrates do not develop normally if appropriate language stimulation is not received during a restricted period of time

Describe the concept of a "sensitive period" for language development

A limited time window in development during which the effects of language experience on the brain are unusually strong

Semantic memory

A network of associated facts and concepts that make up our general knowledge of the world

Working memory

A newer understanding of short-term memory that involves conscious, active processing of incoming auditory and visual-spatial information, and of information retrieved from long-term memory.

Associated social functions of the Insula

Activity in this area correlates with self-reflection

What is affective blindsight and how does it work

Affective blindsight is the inability to recognize emotions on faces consciously, but still be able to respond correctly, above chance level, to visual, emotional expressions shown in the area of blindness

Function of Geschwind's Territory

Area where sound, sight, and body sensation come together

Lateral nucleus of the amygdala

Assists in learning conditioned emotional responses

Provide an example of an aphasia. Describe the symptoms associated with the aphasia as well as the brain area impacted

Broca's aphasia: Damage to Broca's area, difficulty articulating words and stringing words together, and abnormal tone and rhythm. Wernicke's aphasia: Damage to Wernicke's area, inability to understand language, general comprehension issues, and lack of deficiency awareness

Identify brain areas activated during pronunciation

Broca's area, primary motor cortex, primary auditory cortex

How does empathy differ from compassion

Compassion is less destructive than empathy because it allows for people to feel less pain when seeing other peoples pain and allows for more effective resolutions to the problems

Which comes first, comprehension or production

Comprehension precedes production of language

What structures are involved in the extinction of an emotionally conditioned response

Conditioned fear responses from the amygdala never fully disappear but are instead inhibited by the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) after repeated exposure to associated fear stimuli without the bad event

Function of Arcuate Fasciculus

Connects Wernicke's and Broca's area

Central nucleus of the amygdala

Critical region for fear response, supports "freezing" during an emotionally stressful event

What neurological changes are associated with Alzheimer's disease

Degeneration of hippocampus, association areas of frontal and temporal lobes and other regions. Sulci widen (loss of cortex)

What factors influence the development of false memories or memory construction errors

During reconsolidation, new information can be added to a memory which makes the memory less accurate

Compare and contrast emotions as a state of feeling and a response pattern

Emotions are discrete sets of patterned responses, but are experienced as a state of feeling

Identify brain structures that support the consolidation, storage and access of the aforementioned memory types

Episodic memory is accessed by the cortical areas, frontal lobes activity ensures that memories are not confused with real life, and the hippocampus consolidates events to memories here. Semantic memories are activated by frontal lobe areas that draw on stored knowledge to guide behavior. Encoding of factual information occurs in the temporal lobes and activity in these areas is a marker of facts being recalled. The hippocampus participates in the consolidation of semantic memories as well. The pre-frontal cortex is critical to working memory. This information is only held for short periods but is essential for planning responses to immediate situations

Presumably, why is facial symmetry often a predictor of perceived attractiveness

Facial symmetry is often a predictor of perceived attractiveness because face symmetry is an indication of health. Facial symmetry is a sign of good genetics as well as a possible indication of better biological coping in response to environmental stressors

What lessons did Genie's case study provide, regarding development of vocabulary and grammar acquisition

Genie's case showed that early exposure to reading, vocabulary, and grammar are required to perform these skills proficiently

Associated social functions of the mPFC

Helps to moderate emotions in social situations

Function of Wernicke's Area

Interpreting words

Identify Sternberg's 3 dimensions of love

Intimacy, commitment, and passion

What is the role of the Posterior Superior Temporal Sulcus in supporting Theory of Mind (ToM)

It helps in simulating the mental processes of others to support the function of empathy

What factors influence the onset of Wernicke-Korsakoff's syndrome

Lack of vitamin B1, a deficiency commonly caused by alcohol abuse

What are the characteristics associated with a language

Language is symbolic, open, culturally transmissible, and has a set of rules (grammar, syntax)

How and where are memories stored within the brain

Long term potentiation allows for the storage and retrieval of memories. Long term potentiation is when the connections between neurons are strengthened over time when they are simultaneously stimulated multiple times. Memories are stored all across the brain in specific areas related to the memory being recalled.

Implicit memory

Memories we don't deliberately remember or reflect on consciously

Associated social functions of the vPFC

Modulates the Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC)

Identify methods of testing for ToM

One test is where a person is asked where a person will think an item is if they initially placed it somewhere, but someone else moves it to a different place. If one has Theory of Mind (ToM) they would accurately say that the person would think the item is where they originally placed it

According to Tania Singer's (2004) original study, how is empathy registered in the brain

Pain-sensitive parts of the brain are activated when we empathize with others who are in pain

Define memory

Persistence of learning over time through the storage and retrieval of information

Describe the mating patterns of montane voles and prairie voles

Prairie voles form long lasting monogamist relationships while male montane voles have sex with female montane voles, leave, and then never come back

Identify brain areas activated during passive reading

Primary visual cortex, Broca's area

Oxytocin as they pertain to attraction, attachment and sex

Produced during physical intimacy; associated with orgasm and satisfaction

Function of Broca's Area

Production of speech

What symptoms are associated with Alzheimer's disease

Progressive memory loss, cognitive impairment, confusion/disorientation, change in mood/personality

What is long-term potentiation

Refers to synaptic strengthening following simultaneous neuron activation

Identify symptoms associated with damage to the hippocampus

Results in specific memory deficits for facts and episodes. New memories can't be formed

Identify symptoms associated with damage to the cerebellum

Results in specific memory deficits for skills and classically conditioned associations

Associated social functions of the Anterior Cingulate Cortex

Social rejection causes this to activate which contributes to a sense of pain

Describe the relationship between stress and memory

Stress can aid in memory formation. Heightened emotions and stress can create a vivid and/or persistent memory (flashbulb memories)

Generally speaking, what are the functions of the amygdala

Surveying incoming information for emotional significance, the storage of emotionally charged memories, and allows for reflexive action without thought when experiencing emotionally significant or hardwired events

Define empathy

The ability to feel what another person is feeling

Identify neurological advantages associated with bilingualism

The brain has increased density in neocortical grey matter which can prevent neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimers

What is the relevance of close proximity between the amygdala and hippocampus

The close connections between the amygdala and hippocampus allow for the formation of flashbulb memories

Define Theory of Mind (ToM)

The cognitive capacity to attribute mental states to one's self and others

The limbic system and frontal lobe are interconnected. Why is this of importance to our experience of emotion? In other words, what types of functions does this interconnectivity support

The connection between the limbic system and frontal lobe allows for consciousness of emotion, connections between thoughts and emotions, inhibition of emotional response and recognition of emotions in others

Procedural memory

The gradual acquisition of skills as a result of practice, or "knowing how" to do things

Describe the neural structures and functional significance associated with the low road and high road of emotional processing

The high road is slow and accurate while the low road is quick and dirty. In both roads, the thalamus first receives input from the sensory organs. In the high road, the information is then sent to the sensory cortex which assists with stimulus recognition and then to the hippocampus which encodes new, consciously perceived info. In the low road, the information is sent to the amygdala where it quickly and unconsciously surveys the data. The information is then sent to the hypothalamus which triggers an emotional response

What is the relationship between neocortex and social group size

The larger the neocortex, the larger the social group size

Provide examples of how language is lateralized across the left and right hemispheres

The left hemisphere deals with articulating language, comprehending language, and word recognition. The right hemisphere deals with recognition of tone, rhythm, stress, and intonation, recognizing the speaker, and recognizing gestures.

Identify lateralized language functions across the right and left hemispheres

The left hemisphere deals with articulating language, comprehending language, and word recognition. The right hemisphere deals with the recognition of tone, rhythm, stress, and intonation, recognizing the speaker, and recognizing gestures

Describe the relationship between facial symmetry and attraction

The more symmetrical a face is the more attractive it is because it is an indicator of good genetics and health

What is the function of the motor cortex in emotion recognition

The motor cortex assists in understanding emotions through facial recognition

Arguably, which neural pathway for moral reasoning was the first to evolve

The neural circuitry that supports emotional moral judgements

At the neurological/neurochemical level, how do montane and prairie voles differ

The neuropeptides oxytocin in females and vasopressin in males are needed to facilitate long lasting bonds. These are present in prairie voles while they are not present in montane voles

Identify brain areas activated during listening

The primary auditory cortex, Wernicke's area, Primary Motor cortex

Identify brain areas activated during reading for comprehension

The primary visual cortex, Wernicke's area, Broca's area

Identify the role of the vmPFC when an individual is engaging in emotional, moral decision-making

The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) causes an emotional reaction which causes people to object to actions that would be emotionally and morally stressful

Recall distinct neural pathways for moral reasoning

There are emotional and rational moral decision making pathways that are distinct from each other

Endorphins as they pertain to attraction, attachment and sex

They are natural painkillers that produce a sense of security, tranquility, and calm

PEA, Dopamine, Norepinephrine as they pertain to attraction, attachment, and sex

They produce euphoria and elation

Predict typical responses within an individual with vmPFC damage

Those with damage to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) are more likely to make morally and emotionally stressful decisions than those without damage to this area

Identify memory processes

Utilizing past experiences to inform future action, support the development of knowledge, personal growth, sense of self, and daily efficiency

Recognize the contributions of nonhuman animal models such as Washoe

Washoe showed that primates could learn a language, understand it, and teach it to others when he learned approximately 350 words in sign language and taught other chimps sign language. Alex the Parrot showed that nonprimates could language and understand it by learning about 150 words

Which brain regions are implicated in Wernicke-Korsakoff's syndrome

Wernicke and Korsakoff's territory, thalamus, hypothalamus, and mammillary bodies