Unit 3 (Module 13): Differences in the Brain & Consciousness Mr. Debes A.P. Psychology

The Brain’s Plasticity Plasticity: Plasticity: The brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience The brain’s ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after damage or by building new pathways based on experience Neurogenesis: Neurogenesis: The formation of new neurons The formation of new neurons

The Divided Brain Lateralization: Lateralization: The brain’s left and right hemispheres serve different physiological and cognitive functions The brain’s left and right hemispheres serve different physiological and cognitive functions Most apparent after brain damage Most apparent after brain damage Left hemisphere damage seemed to cause more significant/more major problems Left hemisphere damage seemed to cause more significant/more major problems Right hemisphere damage seemed to cause less significant/more minor problems Right hemisphere damage seemed to cause less significant/more minor problems Left hemisphere dominant/right hemisphere subordinate? Left hemisphere dominant/right hemisphere subordinate?

The Divided Brain Corpus Callosum: Corpus Callosum: The large band of neural fibers connects the two brain hemispheres and carries messages between them The large band of neural fibers connects the two brain hemispheres and carries messages between them

The Divided Brain Split Brain: Split Brain: A condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the corpus callosum A condition resulting from surgery that isolates the brain’s two hemispheres by cutting the corpus callosum

Visual Perception

Left Visual Field: Right half of each eye Right hemisphere Right Visual Field: Left half of each eye Left hemisphere The two hemispheres communicate to coordinate visual information from the left & right visual fields This communication doesn’t happen in individuals with split brain

Testing the Divided Brain Roger Sparry & Michael Gazzaniga: Roger Sparry & Michael Gazzaniga: Studied split brain individuals (their corpus callosums had been severed to treat severe epilepsy) Studied split brain individuals (their corpus callosums had been severed to treat severe epilepsy) Presented different visual images to the left & right visual fields Presented different visual images to the left & right visual fields When each hemisphere of the brain was given a chance to report what it had seen (verbally and physically indicating), each hemisphere gave a different answer When each hemisphere of the brain was given a chance to report what it had seen (verbally and physically indicating), each hemisphere gave a different answer

Testing the Divided Brain

Right-Left Differences in the Human Brain Left Brain: Left Brain: Logical Logical Sequential Sequential Rational Rational Analytical Analytical Objective Objective Looks at parts Looks at parts Right portion of body Right portion of body Academic Strengths: Academic Strengths: Language (Written/Spoken) Language (Written/Spoken) Science & Math Science & Math Right Brain: Right Brain: Random Random Intuitive Intuitive Holistic Holistic Synthesizing Synthesizing Subjective (Emotion) Subjective (Emotion) Looks at wholes Looks at wholes Left portion of body Left portion of body Academic Strengths: Academic Strengths: Art & Music Art & Music Creativity Creativity

Points to remember While certain activities seem to be localized in one hemisphere or another, there is no activity to which only one hemisphere makes a contribution. While certain activities seem to be localized in one hemisphere or another, there is no activity to which only one hemisphere makes a contribution. The Brain’s plasticity may allow it to compensate for damage to an area of the brain The Brain’s plasticity may allow it to compensate for damage to an area of the brain In studies involving rats with brain damage, brain cells surrounding the damaged area underwent changes in their function & shape that allowed them to take on the functions of the damaged cells. In studies involving rats with brain damage, brain cells surrounding the damaged area underwent changes in their function & shape that allowed them to take on the functions of the damaged cells. Although this phenomenon has not been widely studied in humans, data indicate that similar (though less effective) changes occur in human brains following injury Although this phenomenon has not been widely studied in humans, data indicate that similar (though less effective) changes occur in human brains following injury

The Brain and Consciousness Consciousness: Consciousness: Our awareness of ourselves and our environment Our awareness of ourselves and our environment Cognitive Neuroscience: Cognitive Neuroscience: The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition: The interdisciplinary study of the brain activity linked with cognition: Perception Perception Thinking Thinking Memory Memory Language Language

Dual Processing Dual Processing: Dual Processing: The principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks The principle that information is often simultaneously processed on separate conscious and unconscious tracks Example-Vision Example-Vision Visual perception track-enables us to think about the world (unconscious) Visual perception track-enables us to think about the world (unconscious) Visual action track-guides are moment-to-moment movements (conscious) Visual action track-guides are moment-to-moment movements (conscious)

Conscious processing: our minds take deliberate actions we know we are doing Examples: problem solving, naming an object, defining a word Unconscious processing: our minds perform automatic actions, often without being aware of them Examples: walking, acquiring phobias, processing sensory details into perceptions and memories Automatic processing: Conscious “visual action” track says, “I saw a bird!” Unconsciously, we see: 14 Dual Processing

Review Which hemisphere of the brain is usually more verbal? Which is usually better at recognizing emotion? Which hemisphere of the brain is usually more verbal? Which is usually better at recognizing emotion? What is “dual processing?” What is “dual processing?”