P2.B Brain and Neuropsychology — Topic Overview
Neuropsychology examines the relationship between the brain and behaviour. Understanding the brain is essential for explaining both normal psychological processes and what goes wrong in psychological disorders.
Brain structure and function
The brain is divided into specialised regions, each controlling different functions:
| Region | Function |
|---|---|
| Cerebral cortex | Higher thinking, reasoning, language |
| Frontal lobe | Planning, decision-making, personality, voluntary movement |
| Parietal lobe | Sensory processing, spatial awareness |
| Temporal lobe | Hearing, memory, language comprehension |
| Occipital lobe | Vision |
| Cerebellum | Balance, coordination, fine motor skills |
| Brain stem | Automatic functions: breathing, heart rate, sleep |
The brain is divided into two hemispheres connected by the corpus callosum. In most people the left hemisphere controls language and logical reasoning; the right hemisphere is involved in creativity and spatial tasks.
Brain scanning techniques
| Technique | Principle | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEG | Measures electrical activity via scalp electrodes | Excellent time resolution | Poor spatial resolution |
| fMRI | Blood oxygenation → active areas | High spatial resolution; non-invasive | Expensive; slow; noisy |
| PET | Radioactive glucose uptake | Shows metabolic activity | Radioactive tracer; expensive |
Neuropsychology
Case studies of patients with brain damage illuminate brain function:
- Phineas Gage: frontal lobe damage → personality change; impulsiveness; poor decision-making
- HM (Molaison): hippocampal removal → anterograde amnesia; inability to form new explicit memories
Neuroplasticity
The brain can change in response to experience — neuroplasticity. London taxi drivers (Maguire et al.) had larger hippocampi, attributed to spatial navigation demands. This supports the nurture side of the nature-nurture debate.
Exam focus
- Name and locate four lobes; state one function each
- Evaluate at least two brain scanning techniques
- Explain what case studies of brain-damaged patients tell us about brain function
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