PSYC327 PSYC327

NeuropsychologyNeuropsychologyDr. Carolyn WilshireDr. Carolyn Wilshire

EA314, ext. 6036 EA314, ext. 6036

Email Carolyn.Wilshire@vuw.ac.nzEmail Carolyn.Wilshire@vuw.ac.nz

Course website: Course website:

http://pavlov.psyc.vuw.ac.nz/327http://pavlov.psyc.vuw.ac.nz/327

Don’t Forget:Don’t Forget:

• Fill in lab preference sheet, and hand to me or Fill in lab preference sheet, and hand to me or Psyc 327 box (outside EA402) by Psyc 327 box (outside EA402) by Wed 5pmWed 5pm

Class lists avail. Thurs 2pm on Third year Class lists avail. Thurs 2pm on Third year notice board and website.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

1.1. What is Neuropsychology?What is Neuropsychology?

- Scientific discipline vs. clinical professionScientific discipline vs. clinical profession

- Relation to biological psychologyRelation to biological psychology

2.2. The NeuronThe Neuron

- Basic structureBasic structure

- Transmission within and between neuronsTransmission within and between neurons

• Weds and Thurs: gross anatomy of the brainWeds and Thurs: gross anatomy of the brain

What is Neuropsychology?What is Neuropsychology?

Ref: BanichRef: Banich Ch. 1 pp. 4-6Ch. 1 pp. 4-6

1.1. A scientific disciplineA scientific discipline

2. A clinical profession2. A clinical profession

1. A scientific discipline: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 Do the left and right hemispheres support different abilities?different abilities?

• How does temporal lobe damage affect human How does temporal lobe damage affect human function?function?

-> relating anatomy to function-> relating anatomy to function

• Which parts of the brain are involved in visual Which parts of the brain are involved in visual processing?processing?

• Memory impairments - which memories are Memory impairments - which memories are most/least affected?most/least affected?

• What types of language problems can occur? What types of language problems can occur? What can these tell us about language?What can these tell us about language?

-> relating function to anatomy-> relating function to anatomy

1. A scientific discipline:1. A scientific discipline:

Relationship to Other FieldsRelationship to Other Fields

Biological Psyc /Brain and Behaviour:Biological Psyc /Brain and Behaviour:

– All aspects of behaviourAll aspects of behaviour(sex, hunger, learning, (sex, hunger, learning, attention, motivation, sensation, etc.)attention, motivation, sensation, etc.)

– Animal and human modelsAnimal and human models

NeuropsychologyNeuropsychology::

– Emphasis on higher level functions Emphasis on higher level functions e.g. high-level perception, memory, languagee.g. high-level perception, memory, language

– Largely human models : brain damage & imagingLargely human models : brain damage & imaging

2. A Clinical Profession:2. A Clinical Profession:• Patient with problems recognizing objects - Patient with problems recognizing objects -

which region is damaged?which region is damaged?

• Scans show damage to left frontal lobe - which Scans show damage to left frontal lobe - which abilities should be assessed?abilities should be assessed?

• P can't recognize faces- what can his/her family P can't recognize faces- what can his/her family expect?expect?

• P has difficulties finding words - use cognitive P has difficulties finding words - use cognitive models of word retrieval to plan therapymodels of word retrieval to plan therapy

The Neuron The Neuron

Demonstration: 1.1.1Demonstration: 1.1.1

Ref: BanichRef: Banich Ch. 1 pp. 41-46Ch. 1 pp. 41-46

Transmission within Neurons

Transmission is Transmission is ElectricalElectrical::

• When sufficiently stimulated, cell "fires“When sufficiently stimulated, cell "fires“

• Positive charge transmitted down axonPositive charge transmitted down axon

Demonstration: 1.1.1, 1.2.4Demonstration: 1.1.1, 1.2.4

The Synapse

Transmission Transmission betweenbetween Neurons Neurons

Transmission is Transmission is ChemicalChemical::

• Charge releases neurotransmitters (NT's)Charge releases neurotransmitters (NT's)

Demonstration: 1.4.1, 1.4.2Demonstration: 1.4.1, 1.4.2

• NT's bind to receptorsNT's bind to receptors

Neurotransmitters• Types:Types: acetylcholineacetylcholine

serotoninserotoninnoradrenalin (norepinephrine)noradrenalin (norepinephrine)dopaminedopamine

• Receptors are specific for certain NT'sReceptors are specific for certain NT's

e.g. dopamine binds to dopamine receptorse.g. dopamine binds to dopamine receptors

• NT's can have excitatory or inhibitory effects NT's can have excitatory or inhibitory effects

- > increase or decrease likelihood of firing- > 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 cortexe.g. connecting fibres between areas of cortex

Neuron Parts are colour coded: