...Phineas Gage Paper The brain is one of the key role players in cognitive functioning. There are many different areas in the brain but only a few certain areas have an influence on cognitive functioning. A man named Phineas Gage showed the key elements in the specific areas in the brain that do support these cognitive functions. In 1848 Phineas gage suffered a traumatic brain injury which has aided in understanding the human brain in the fields of cognitive and neuropsychologists. This paper will help to better explain the role of cognitive functioning and the brain. One will better understand the importance of Phineas Gage’s injuries and how they have helped to aid cognitive functioning and neuropsychology. The Brain and Cognitive Functioning The brain plays and important role in cognitive functioning. The ability to process thoughts and information is cognitive functioning (Willingham, 2007). Learning, memory, and perception are all examples of cognitive functioning (Willingham, 2007). Different areas of the brain support different cognitive functions. The amygdala, hippocampus, and the rhinal cortex are all responsible for memory. Emotional memory and memories which are prompted by emotional behavior are all stored in the amygdala. The hippocampus is responsible for receiving information from the senses and then translating them into an individual’s short-term memory. Learned information is recalled from the rhinal cortex. “The cerebral cortex is what is studied, photographed...
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...together to control the common functioning of the brain. Since the brain controls all other functioning of the body, if the region organ is injured, poor-body function will follow. If the head suffer an injury disorders of brain may follow including but not limited to, accidents, hereditary, or due to other unsafe environmental conditions. According to research, “failure of communication of the nerves and neurons in the brain can result to development of a brain disorder” (Cannon TD, Cornblatt B, McGorry P (May 2007). Many brain disorders have no cure, and if there is treatment, they leave adverse effects to the person the remainder of their life. Schizophrenia is known as a disorder of the brain. This paper will take a microscopic look at the origin, pathology, treatment options, and diagnostic research associated with schizophrenia. The Origin Schizophrenia is an extremely severe disorder of the brain that causes warp thinking, The human body is created with many different organs that work together to control the common functioning of the brain. Since the brain controls all other functioning of the body, if the region organ is injured, poor-body function will follow. If the head suffer an injury disorders of brain may follow including but not limited to, accidents, hereditary, or due to other unsafe environmental conditions. According to research, “failure of communication of the nerves and neurons in the brain can result to development of a brain disorder” (Cannon TD, Cornblatt...
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...Brain Injuries Learning Team A University of Phoenix PSY 340 Biological Foundations of Psychology 28 March 2016 Abstract Thesis Statement: In this paper we will discuss different kinds of brain injuries, the functions of neural plasticity and the limitations of neural plasticity. The first thing that is discussed in the paper in different brain injuries. We go into depth about five different brain injuries that include blood clots, hematomas, concussions, strokes and cerebral edema. Once we have covered brain injuries we discuss the functions of neural plasticity in brain injuries. An important thing that is discussed with neural plasticity is the recovery from a brain injury, what is required during recovery and how long recovery from a brain injury can take. The last thing that is discussed in this paper is the limitations of neural plasticity with brain injuries. Keywords: brain, injuries, plasticity, neural “Each year, traumatic brain injuries (TBI) contribute to a substantial number of deaths and cases of permanent disability. TBI is a contributing factor to a third (30.5%) of all injury-related deaths in the United States.” (cdc.gov) Robert has experienced a traumatic brain injury that is going to affect him for the rest of his life. Brain injuries are serious, and should be treated as such. For some people brain injuries go unnoticed and untreated leaving it to be deadly, but for others it is caught and treated but the healing process is extensive. In...
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...Phineas Gage The discussion of this paper is the role of cognitive brain functions and Phineas Gage. The amazing story of Phineas Gage will be analyzed and the explanation of cognitive functioning in regard to his situation is very interesting and is also a major topic in this paper. Cognitive brain functions will be thoroughly examined in this paper as well. Cognitive functioning is when an individual has the ability to use mental processes to learn, reason, problem solve, make decisions, and comprehend. It also helps in focusing your attention and remembering events. Without cognitive processing humans would not be able to function properly. We use these processes to eat, sleep, work, go to school, plan events, and teach. Our daily functions such as cooking, eating, completing hygiene, cleaning, washing clothes, and other life skills heavily depend on cognitive functioning. What are the cognitive functions of the brain? To answer this question we must first examine what the brain is made of and what structures in the brain create a variety of cognitions. The brain has a set of structures called the limbic system. This system is made up of the cerebrum, diencephalon, midbrain, hippocampus, amygdalae, anterior thalamic nuclei, septum, limbic cortex, and the fornix. This system helps with the functions of emotion, behavior, motivation, and long term memory. The four lobes of the brain are important for the brain’s cognitive functioning. The four lobes are the frontal lobe...
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...The human brain is exposed. Not exposed as in not protected. The protection provided is some of the best. When I speak of the brain being exposed I am talking about the amount and types of injuries that can be caused to the brain. Injuries that are more prevalent in certain types of brain injuries. Different injuries to the different lobes and parts of the brain will give you different signs and symptoms. In this paper we will explore these signs and symptoms of different brain injuries and how they affect the human body and nervous system. In this paper we will discuss injury to the temporal lobe of the brain, and the affects there of. We will touch on the injuries to the parietal lobe of the brain. I will also be sharing with you some of the signs, symptoms and injuries related to the medulla oblongata. As I stated previously different parts of the brain produce different results when it comes to injuries within the cranium. Some of the most life altering difficulties that can take place in a person’s lifetime are traumatic brain injuries. Unlike most common wounds which have the potential to fully heal in only a matter of time; brain injuries often have permanent and, life-changing consequences that affect functioning, behavior, and even a person personality itself. Although the brain is enclosed in three layers of protective fluid called the meninges and is then further protected by the human skull, it still can sustain damage. In cases of an open head injuries, an object...
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...Phantom limb pain is described as a, “pain that feels like it's coming from a body part that's no longer there” (“Phantom pain”). Countless patients have complained about the intense pain experienced when they have had a limb amputated. As of now there has been no cure of treatment for those experiencing phantom limb pain. Many researchers have speculated at what causes this pain in the absence of the limb and some have concluded that the pain is caused by the brain reorganizing neurons and their pathways. This reorganization could be why the brain believes that limb is still attached to the body and why there is so much pain associated with it ("Cause of Phantom Limb Pain in Amputees, and Potential Treatment, Identified”). Dr. Dumaniam of...
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...Wilson PSY 360 10/15/14 Robert Goodnight Phinea's Gage Paper From past to present the study of psychology has lead researcher's to uncover scientifically based studies about human brain power that can manipulate numerous functions related to cognition. The human brain is responsible for memory, perception, learning, and emotions that contribute to how information is gathered; in addition, environmental factors can determine how information is recorded and utilized. The brain is a huge operating system of which human cognitive skills and abilities depend on proper brain functioning that regulate particular biological processes. Cerebral Cortex The Cerebral Cortex is a region of the brain predominantly responsible for identifying human language; environmental perception and methods of which the brain will process information retrieved. The cerebral cortex is divided into a right and left hemisphere that contains four lobes; parietal, frontal, occipital and temporal. Within the cerebral cortex each lobe controls a particular bodily function that allows us to see, hear, smell, and touch. The executive functioning happens within the frontal lobe which controls human thinking and the method of which we reason and make judgments. "The frontal lobe is susceptible to injury because of the position inside of the skull. This area of the brain is responsible for motor function, solving problems, socialization, and impulse control to...
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...A Tour of the Brain XXXXXXXXXXXXXX Rasmussen College Author Note This paper is being submitted on XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX General Psychology. A Tour of the Brain The brain is the control center of the human body. It is protected by the skull and is made up of three main parts, the cerebrum, the cerebellum and the Brainstem. The brain is the boss of the body, it runs the show and controls just about everything one does, even when one’s asleep. (Kidshealth, n.d.) During this brief tour guide of the brain, one will see how the brain fits into the Central Nervous System, how the main parts work together, and what would happen if one of those main parts were damaged. In humans, the nervous system is divided into the central nervous system (CNS), which consist of the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system (PNS), which contains all the nerves that run everywhere in the body. The brain and the spinal cord serve as the main processing center for the entire nervous system, and control all the workings of the human body. They work together to let messages flow back and forth between the brain and the body. The biggest part of the brain is cerebrum. The cerebrum is the thinking part of the brain and it controls the voluntary muscles, the ones that move when you want them to. When one is thinking hard, trying to solve a math problem or trying to figure out a video game, one is using the cerebrum. (Kidshealth, n.d.) The cerebrum is made up two...
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...Cognitive Development and Aging Paper Psych/640 Cognitive development and Aging Paper As people age their bodies go through a lot of changes physically as well as psychologically. As humans age normally they undergo changes in their brain which affect cognitive functioning and development. Each person is different so the age-related changes in the structure of the brain and in its function as well as in cognition and cognitive domains are not uniform across the whole brain, nor are the uniform across individuals. This means that some of the changes that a person goes through due to aging another person may not experience. The two basic cognitive functions that are affected most by a person aging is attention and memory (Glisky, 2007). The thing that a person needs to know is that memory and attention are not unitary functions; there are multiple parts to both functions some of which may not be affected by a person aging while others are affected. According to the Glisky (2007), perception in a person as the person ages declines due to declining sensory capacities which can impact the cognitive functions later in a person. Perception is a person’s senses such as touch, sight, taste, and smells which is why some people believe that it is actually a precognition function. According to Anderson (2010), perception is the sensory experience of the world around individuals which involve recognition of environmental stimuli as well as actions in response to the stimuli. What...
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...Gage Paper Stacy M Fender psy/360 July 14 2014 Brenda Edmons Phineas Gage Paper September 13, 18348 a man by the name of Phineas Gage was in a terrible railway construction accident. Phineas was in the town of Cavendish in the state of Vermont; he was tampering iron; these are around three feet long. Buy the chance the iron was fired, and it went through his head, after a CT scan which was cutting edge technology in its time, this showed the iron had gone through his cranium, destruction of his left frontal lobe. Even though he had a painful mishap, Phineas Gage made a remarkable improvement; he was alive for 12 years. He moved to San Francisco, and on the date of May 21, 1860 he died of epilepsy difficulties. The brain has been studied for many years by researchers trying to find the role cognitive functions play in the brain. Phineas was given the diagnosis of traumatic brain injury also known as TBI; this gives comprehension of how TBI's shape cognitive functions. It’s unfortunate that Phineas went through his tragic accident, but it did help researchers find the crucial knowledge of the brain and the areas that show proof of cognitive functions and how traumatic brain injury (TBI) happens. A person's cognitive abilities can foresee functional aftermath after a TBI (traumatic brain injury). The degree of concurrent rational abilities influences the significance of the functional renewal. The changes of a person's social, emotional, and behavioral functioning, is the...
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...Brain Functions and Psychology Abstract Different specialties within the field of psychology are interested in various divisions of the human brain due to its elaborate and multifaceted relationship between behavior and the brain. The brain or encephalon can be divided in to a varying number of divisions that are explored by different specialty groups within the field of psychology including biological psychologists, cognitive neuroscientist, cognitive psychologists, neuropsychologists, and general research psychologists. Research performed by different psychology professionals on the brain offers a venue for gaining further understanding of certain conditions such as multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer's. This paper concludes by discussing personal reasons for wanting to research memory and the opposing factor of forgetfulness. Part 1: Psychological Interest in the Human Brain Different specialties within the field of psychology are interested in various divisions of the human brain due to its elaborate and multifaceted relationship between behavior and the brain. The first part of this paper will be looking at the divisions of the brain which appeal to research and cognitive psychologists. The second part of the paper will be looking at the division of the brain which this counselor is interested in researching further and the thought process for choosing said particular division. Scientific Interest in the Brain The brain...
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...Psychology Paper Individual Week 1 Psy 340 Biological Psychology Paper Individual Week 1 Since man first began to think, he asked the question of how, where, and why. Man wanted to know how and why the thought process occurred. We want to know where we actually live. Where is conscious thought? It was once believed that our thoughts and soul were housed in our hearts. As man began to understand and study the human body, these beliefs changed. We now know that every thought, emotion, belief, and impulse begins in the brain. The primary focus of biopsychology is to understand the mind versus brain relationship. Biological psychology is a sub-field and combination of two separate academic areas of scientific study. Biology literally means the study of life. Physiology is the study of how the body functions. Human psychology studies the mind and the resulting behavior of people (Pinel, 2009). The fields of psychology and physiology are studied together in order to achieve a better understanding of each area and their interdependent functioning and relationships. Biological psychology is also known as: biopsychology, neuroscience, neurobiology, and even behavioral science (Bickhard, 2009). Historically, biological psychology began with the ancient Greeks. Theorists and philosophers across time have added to biology and psychology. Plato, Socrates, Descartes, Galen, and Galvani have all given life to this field. Descartes thought that pineal gland of the brain is where...
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...Their success throughout the academic year is dependent on their level of dedication and commitment to their curriculum. Students who have excellent time-management skills, and are disciplined, may perform better academically than their counterparts, who are neither disciplined nor focused on their studies. There are several bad habits which may hinder children from performing at their optimal level. They include: Procrastination Putting off homework and projects for the last minute may seem to be a good idea for some children, but it does adversely affect the outcome of their academic performance. Waiting until the last minute to do assignments increases the possibility of making more errors and submitting a mediocre paper. Excellent papers and projects go through several drafts and editing; rarely are they completed in one draft. Encourage your children to develop a schedule for studying and working on assignments, and help them to stick to it. This not only build time-management skills, but it also helps them to spend more time on their schoolwork, which often results in better grades. Too much television and social networking sites Children who watch too much television or spend too much time on sites such as Facebook, perform poorly, academically, compared to children who spend less than two hours engaged in these activities. The more television and social networking sites are viewed, the less time is focused on studying and completing homework. Limit the...
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...the article “Bionic Brains and Beyond,” the author describes the case of a child that got a brain implant to treat seizure disorder and ADHD. She becomes a spelling prodigy in addition to the intended effects of the implant and went on to win the National Spelling Bee. This patient received a treatment but in addition was also enhanced in the process. She is no longer on an even playing field as other children in her age group, but she had been at a disadvantage prior to receiving the implant. Brain implants that can treat disorders and restore people back to a normal level of functioning should be allowed. A person is defined as having a malady in the Culver et al. article “if and only if he or she has a condition other than a rational belied or desire, such that he or she is suffering, or at increased risk of suffering, and evil (death, pain, disability, loss of freedom or opportunity, or loss of pleasure) in the absence of a distinct sustaining cause. A person that has a panic disorder, based on the above definition, has a malady. Having a brain implant that will rid them of panic disorder is a treatment for the malady that they are suffering. There is a line between treatment and enhancement, however, because to treat the malady would be restoring them to “normal” functioning, which in this case, would be to eliminate panic disorder. I do not think there is anything wrong with treating this malady. I do, however, have concern if the brain implant were to go beyond...
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...Left Brain Vs. Right Brian The brain is an incredibly complex organ with differentiated parts that work in mysterious ways. It’s also a self-organized structure that is highly connected. According to Eric Jensen, author of The New Paradigm of Teaching, “Much of the original work of Nobel Laureate Roger Spietry, who discovered the functioning differences between the left and right hemispheres of the brain, remains valid today. But the spin put on his research also remains today (Eric J. 2008).” Today research still goes on trying to achieve more knowledge about the brain. Ask you, how the left does and right brain impacts learning. In this paper I’ll be sharing with you the fact from research and how it impacts our learning. Research identifies the left-brain as the “academic brain,” because educators generally emphasize its processes in the traditional everyday classroom, resulting in certain groups using hemisphere specialization to explain limitations of traditional learning. Although the left brain may be more dominant for calculation, math and logical abilities, it has no biological mandate for language, but it does contain soft biases in information processing that are preferential to language skills. The right brain is the side that is most known for its intuitive, holistic, and synthesizing. The right hemisphere is intuitive and responds to demonstrated instructions. It also problem solves with hunches and looks for patterns and configurations. The...
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