PSY 324 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Fluid Compartments, Cerebral Hemisphere, Hypertonia
Document Summary
If an area was larger it meant you used it more. Experimental ablation: research method in which the function of the part of the brain is inferred by observing the behaviours an animal can no longer perform after that part of the brain is removed/damaged. Investigated localization of function: which parts of the brain do what. Removed cerebral hemispheres and found that the removal of them led to changes in animal"s judgments and perception, and reasoning. Also removed cerebellum (back of head), found by removing it, it affected the animals equilibrium and motor coordination, sense of balance. Also caused destruction to animal"s brain stem (medulla oblongata) animals died: this area of the brain is important for respiration and other important primitive functions. Cerebral hemispheres lead to higher cortical function. Unable to find regions important for memory, and certain cognitive processes: there are some processes that are distributed through other areas of the brain.
