PSYC327 Neuropsychology Dr. Carolyn Wilshire EA314, ext EA314, ext Course website:

Don’t Forget: Fill in lab preference sheet, and hand to me or Psyc 327 box (outside EA402) by Wed 5pmFill in lab preference sheet, and hand to me or Psyc 327 box (outside EA402) by Wed 5pm Class lists avail. Thurs 2pm on Third year notice board and website. Class lists avail. Thurs 2pm on Third year notice board and website. Textbooks have arrived at Book Centre!Textbooks have arrived at Book Centre! Lab manual: Available tomorrow morningLab manual: Available tomorrow morning

Today’s Lecture 1. What is Neuropsychology? - Scientific discipline vs. clinical profession - Relation to biological psychology 2. The Neuron - Basic structure - Transmission within and between neurons Weds and Thurs: gross anatomy of the brain Weds and Thurs: gross anatomy of the brain

What is Neuropsychology? Ref: BanichCh. 1 pp A scientific discipline 2. A clinical profession

1. A scientific discipline: What functions are supported by frontal lobes?What functions are supported by frontal lobes? Do the left and right hemispheres support different abilities?Do the left and right hemispheres support different abilities? How does temporal lobe damage affect human function?How does temporal lobe damage affect human function? -> relating anatomy to function -> relating anatomy to function

Which parts of the brain are involved in visual processing?Which parts of the brain are involved in visual processing? Memory impairments - which memories are most/least affected?Memory impairments - which memories are most/least affected? What types of language problems can occur? What can these tell us about language?What types of language problems can occur? What can these tell us about language? -> relating function to anatomy 1. A scientific discipline:

Relationship to Other Fields Biological Psyc /Brain and Behaviour: –All aspects of behaviour(sex, hunger, learning, attention, motivation, sensation, etc.) –Animal and human models Neuropsychology: –Emphasis on higher level functions e.g. high-level perception, memory, language –Largely human models : brain damage & imaging

2. A Clinical Profession: Patient with problems recognizing objects - which region is damaged?Patient with problems recognizing objects - which region is damaged? Scans show damage to left frontal lobe - which abilities should be assessed?Scans show damage to left frontal lobe - which abilities should be assessed? P can't recognize faces- what can his/her family expect?P can't recognize faces- what can his/her family expect? P has difficulties finding words - use cognitive models of word retrieval to plan therapy P has difficulties finding words - use cognitive models of word retrieval to plan therapy

The Neuron Demonstration: Ref: BanichCh. 1 pp

Transmission within Neurons Transmission is Electrical: When sufficiently stimulated, cell "fires“When sufficiently stimulated, cell "fires“ Positive charge transmitted down axonPositive charge transmitted down axon Demonstration: 1.1.1, 1.2.4

The Synapse

Transmission between Neurons Transmission is Chemical: Transmission is Chemical: Charge releases neurotransmitters (NT's)Charge releases neurotransmitters (NT's) Demonstration: 1.4.1, NT's bind to receptorsNT's bind to receptors

Neurotransmitters Types:acetylcholineTypes:acetylcholineserotonin noradrenalin (norepinephrine) dopamine Receptors are specific for certain NT'sReceptors are specific for certain NT's e.g. dopamine binds to dopamine receptors NT's can have excitatory or inhibitory effectsNT's can have excitatory or inhibitory effects - > increase or decrease likelihood of firing

Neuron Parts are Colour-coded: Axons are whiteAxons are white Cell bodies are greyCell bodies are grey Grey Matter = areas with many cell bodiesGrey Matter = areas with many cell bodies e.g. cerebral cortex (outside layer of the brain) e.g. cerebral cortex (outside layer of the brain) White matter = areas with many axonsWhite matter = areas with many axons e.g. connecting fibres between areas of cortex e.g. connecting fibres between areas of cortex

Neuron Parts are colour coded: