PSYC1110 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Grey Matter, Brain Size, White Matter
7 Oct 2015
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Document Summary
Brain plasticity, developmental and experimental changes in the brain. Thought becomes more abstract, flexible and less egocentric. Do universal developmental changes in cognition change brain structure or do the evelopmental changes occur because of the brain change. Amount of connections in the brain: einstein had many connections between neurons. Gray matter: areas of nervous system with a high density of cell bodies and dendrites. White matter: areas of the nervous system containing mainly the axons of neurons. The action potential is considered explosive because the pumps are voltage depenedent. Those used more often are stronger, while those used less often are weak or could even be lost. Decrease in gray matter as one ages. Brain is more precisely wires and unused connections go away (neuron pruning) as one ages. Cerebral cortex: outer layer of cerebral hemispheres; thin layer protecting the brain. Mri: measures oxygen and blood flow in the brain.
