PSYC 3307 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Neocortex, Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography, Cantor Set

• School: Carleton University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 3307
• Professor: Brian Tansley

Document Summary

Brain behaviour relationships are derived from dynamic*,non-linear+, complex# systems. Undergraduate neuropsychology training++typically does not demand competence in the analysis tools needed to study such systems. *dynamic system: varies with time; thus requires differential and difference equations for their characterization. +non-linear refers to a non-proportional input/output relationship in a system. #complex system behaviour depends upon the interactions of many interrelated components. ++ including related training programs derived from experimental psychology such as neuroscience , cognitive science, etc. Approaches to studying signaling vs. nonsignaling cortical processes. Signaling processes refer to intraneuronal (ie. , action potential production) and interneuronal (i. e. , neurotransmission) communication processes. Nonsignaling processes are generally assigned to housekeeping needs (e. g. biosynthesis or proton leaks) and maintenance of resting cell membrane potentials, which generally do not change significantly with brain activity. Primary purpose of cerebral cortex is that of information processing (involving computing and communicating through the use of neural signaling).