Biopsychology Lesson 10 Localisation and plasticity of the brain, brain investigation and split brain research.

Localisation and Function of the brain

Learning aims and objectives Localisation of the brain Explain what is meant by localisation of function Describe one study investigating localisation of function Evaluate the extent to which brain functions are localised Plasticity and functional recovery Define what is meant by plasticity Outline and evaluate research into plasticity of the brain You could have an essay for these topics

Brain Models- Playdough Create and label your brain You have ten minutes – no notes Checking of flipped work- Brain construction using play dough In pairs or threes learners construct a brain and label using cocktail sticks & sticky labels or post- its Learners present their brains on their desks and students move round assessing the brains against the image on the ppt- learners vote for the best one (polleverewhere?) prize?

Assessment Art Gallery Auditory area Broca’s area Motor area Somatosensory area Visual area Wernicke’s area Occipital lobe Frontal Lobe Parietal Lobe Temporal Lobe Broca – production of speech Wernickes – understanding Hemispheres of brain (two) and Cerebral Cortex (subdivided into 4 lobes- frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal) Frontal= motor which controls movement Parietal= somatosensory which represents sensory info Occipital= visual cortex sent information from the eye Temporal= auditory analysing speech- Broca and Wernickes areas

Consider the following and discuss “Clive Wearing had impaired semantic memory but his procedural memory was unaffected” “The Case of Phineas Gage recovered as the rest of his brain compensated for the damage.” “Lashley (1950) conducted work on rat’s brains and did not find a specific area for memory” “Evidence from individual case studies demonstrate specific deficits such as loss of speech function” Now decide: Is the brain localised or multifunctional throughout? Task 1: Is the brain localised or multifunctional throughout? Localisation – Wearing/individual case studies - Semantic – memory procedural – doing Phineas gage/Lashley – multifunctional

Localisation or holistic theory Task 2: Individually, elaborate the following evaluation points that could be used for the localization and function of the brain Evaluation activity 2- Localisation vs Lateralisation (holistic) Elaboration activity – (QR CODES HAVE BEEN PRINTED) QR codes are placed around the room Learners scan their code which will take them to an evaluation point. Learners must elaborate on this point in their note books and go to the teacher and show them. This continues until they have written up 5 evaluation points as a pair. If finish - Learners write up two evaluation points on handout scientific evidence- support = validity/reliability In a study using neurosurgery, Dougherty et al (2002) found that lesioning the cingulate gyrus improved symptoms of OCD - support for localisation The case of Phineas Gage is difficult to draw general conclusions from. case study Lashey (1950) conducted research on learning processes in rats and found that higher cognitive function is distributed in the brain and requires every part of the cortex supports a holistic theory but animal research The notion of Plasticity describes that when a brain is damaged the rest of the brain reorganises itself to adapt. supports holistic theory and challenges locatlisation

5 minute essay plan- Wallboards Construct a bullet point essay plan for the following “ Discuss the extent to which brain functions are localised. Refer to evidence in you answer” (16 marks)

Essay Plan- The Extent to which brain functions are localised Ao1 Outline- (6 marks = 6 points) Localisation vs holistic theory - define Hemispheres of brain (two) and Cerebral Cortex (subdivided into 4 lobes- frontal, parietal, occipital, temporal) Frontal= motor which controls movement Parietal= somatosensory which represents sensory info Occipital= visual cortex sent information from the eye Temporal= auditory analysing speech- Broca and Wernickes areas A03 Evaluate (potential content) (10 marks) Remember- 3 good elaborative points are better than 5 weaker points Supportive research- Case studies (Phineas Gage/ Clive Wearing) Supportive research- Neurological studies (Peterson et al) Evaluation of research- Case study methods   or lab experiments   Challenging research- Lashey/ Phineas Gage? Challenging theory- Plasticity Application- Mental health disorders/ Memory

Split brain research

Hemispheric lateralisation What do we mean by this? Information seen in left visual field or felt in our left hand is processed by the ????? hemisphere Information seen in right visual field or felt in our right hand is processed by the ????? hemisphere Corpus callosum What is this? Split brain surgery involves…..?

Sperry’s procedure Based on your knowledge of Sperry’s procedure: On mini-whiteboards - Describe what is happening in the picture. This is a T scope (tachistoscope). P focuses on central point of screen and image or word is flashed to one or both visual fields. They then will be asked to do several tasks, including saying what they saw or picking up objects that are hidden from view (as seen in picture).

Sperry’s findings The following slides are recapping some of the key findings you have looked at. These can be tricky to get your head around but hopefully by the end of this task you will feel more confident. The activities to follow are designed for them to get their heads around the research findings as it can be mind-bendy!

Can you point to (with your left hand) what you saw? Imagine you are one of Sperry’s split brain patients RVF LVF Can you point to (with your left hand) what you saw? Left Hemisphere Right Hemisphere What did you see? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Imagine you are one of Sperry’s split brain patients RVF LVF Left Hemisphere Right Hemisphere What did you see? A happy face!

TWO different words displayed e.g. KEY and RING Describe what is happening in this picture. When two different words are displayed at the same time the split-brain participant will be say they saw the word ring but when asked to pick up the object they saw with their left hand will pick up a key.

Draw (with your left hand) what you saw. $ ? RVF LVF Draw (with your left hand) what you saw. Left Hemisphere ? Right Hemisphere $ What did you see? A question mark $

Tactile tasks (could not see objects) RH = Objects could be named. Why? As speech is processed in left hemisphere it can only be named by the p when picked up with the right hand. LH = Objects could not be named. Why? However, LH could pick out the object When it was placed with others in a grab bag

Evaluation of Split Brain Research Strengths of the methodology Weaknesses of the methodology Issues with control group Data came from artificial situation Small samples used. Use of specialist equipment. Use of standardised procedures Complete Task 4 and 5 on split-brain research

Exam focus Q1. Split brain patients show unusual behaviour when tested in experiments. Briefly explain how unusual behaviour in split brain patients could be tested in an experiment. [2 marks] Q2. Briefly evaluate research using split brain patients to investigate hemispheric lateralisation of function. [4 marks]

Possible answers – Q1 plausible experimental situation/set-up – eg split visual field plausible stimulus – visual, faces, words, auditory, digits, music etc plausible task for patient – verbal or visuospatial response, eg drawing, matching etc

Possible answers – Q2 The comparison groups were not considered to be valid as they were often people with no history of epileptic seizures The data were artificially produced as in real life a severed corpus callosum can be compensated for by the unrestricted use of two eyes Research relates to small sample sizes. The research has added to the unity of consciousness debate

Investigating the Brain

FMRI Watch this video on fMRI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rb_mdzgw-Jc (stop at 2 minutes 41 seconds) What does fMRI stand for? What does it mean when a brain area is more active? What are the problems with trying to measure brain activity from the scalp? What happens to oxygen levels when a neuron becomes more active?

EEG Watch this video on EEG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3j2VrhqTAA (stop at 4 minutes 40 seconds) Why do we use EEG Why is EEG a good method What does temporal resolution mean How does EEG work, on a basic level? What is the most important part of the kit? How many electrodes does it have What happens to the brain waves when the individual blinks?

ERP/Post-Mortem Read the handout and answer the questions

Apply your knowledge A psychologist wants to investigate: Brain waves triggered by being tickled on the hand Brain waves during different stages of sleep (REM-dream sleep and N-REM) Difference in frontal lobe activity of psychopaths and normal controls Structure of the brain of a girl called Genie (who was locked in a room with no contact for the first 8 years of her life) and has now passed away. Which would be the best method of investigation for each of these examples? Explain why this method is more suitable for this particular example, than the other methods?