A
Agnosia
Agnosia is a neurological condition where a person has difficulty recognizing objects, faces, or sounds despite having normal sensory abilities. This condition occurs due to damage in specific areas of the brain responsible for processing sensory information.
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Anosognosia
Anosognosia is a condition where a person is unaware of their own disability or illness. This lack of awareness can occur in various neurological disorders, making it difficult for individuals to recognize their need for treatment.
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Anterograde Amnesia
This condition is a type of memory loss that affects a person's ability to form new memories after the event that caused the amnesia. People with anterograde amnesia can remember things from before the incident but struggle to remember new information.
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Aphasia
Aphasia is a communication disorder that affects a person's ability to speak, understand, read, or write. It often occurs after a brain injury or stroke, impacting how individuals express and comprehend language.
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Apraxia
A motor disorder, apraxia affects a person's ability to perform purposeful movements, even when they have the desire and physical capability to do so. This condition is often linked to brain damage, particularly in areas responsible for planning and executing movements.
A
Attention Deficit (neuropsychology)
Attention Deficit refers to a condition that affects a person's ability to focus and pay attention. It is often associated with difficulties in organizing tasks and managing time, impacting daily activities and learning.
B
Brain Stimulation
It is a technique used to stimulate specific areas of the brain to influence its function. This can help with various conditions, enhance cognitive abilities, or improve mood.
B
Broca's Area
A key part of the brain involved in speech production and language processing is known as Broca's Area. It helps us form words and sentences, playing a crucial role in how we communicate.
C
Capgras Syndrome
A person with Capgras Syndrome believes that someone they know, usually a close friend or family member, has been replaced by an identical imposter. This condition is often linked to brain injuries or mental health disorders.
C
Central Executive Network
The Central Executive Network is a part of the brain responsible for managing attention, decision-making, and problem-solving. It helps coordinate various cognitive tasks and is crucial for effective planning and execution of actions.
C
Confabulation
Confabulation is a memory error where a person creates false memories without intending to deceive. It often occurs in individuals with brain injuries or certain psychological conditions, leading them to fill in gaps in their memory with fabricated details.
C
Contralateral Control
Contralateral control refers to the brain's ability to control movements on one side of the body using the opposite side of the brain. This means that the left hemisphere of the brain typically governs the right side of the body, and vice versa. It plays a crucial role in how we coordinate our actions and respond to our environment.
C
Corpus Callosum
The corpus callosum is a thick band of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain. It allows communication between the two sides, enabling coordinated functions and processing of information.
D
Default Mode Network
The Default Mode Network (DMN) is a group of brain regions that are active when a person is not focused on the outside world, often during daydreaming or self-referential thought. It plays a key role in processes like memory retrieval and planning for the future.
E
Executive Dysfunction
This term refers to difficulties in managing thoughts, actions, and emotions. It affects a person's ability to plan, focus, and complete tasks.
F
Frontal Lobe Syndrome
This condition involves a range of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral changes due to damage in the frontal lobes of the brain. It can affect a person's ability to plan, make decisions, control impulses, and interact socially.
H
Hemispheric Lateralization
Hemispheric Lateralization refers to the specialization of the left and right hemispheres of the brain for different functions. Generally, the left hemisphere is associated with language and analytical tasks, while the right hemisphere is linked to creativity and spatial abilities.
K
Korsakoff Syndrome
This syndrome is a chronic neurocognitive disorder caused by thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, often linked to alcohol misuse. It primarily affects memory and can lead to significant cognitive impairments.
L
Left Brain / Right Brain
The terms 'Left Brain' and 'Right Brain' refer to the idea that the two hemispheres of the brain have different functions. The left hemisphere is often associated with logical thinking and analytical skills, while the right hemisphere is linked to creativity and intuition.
L
Lesion Studies
Lesion studies are research methods used to understand brain functions by examining the effects of brain damage. They help scientists learn how specific areas of the brain contribute to behaviors and cognitive processes.
M
Motor Cortex
The motor cortex is a part of the brain responsible for planning, controlling, and executing voluntary movements. It plays a crucial role in how we move our bodies and interact with our environment.
N
Neglect Syndrome
This condition involves a lack of awareness or attention to one side of space, often following a brain injury. It can significantly impact daily activities and quality of life.
N
Neuroimaging (psychology)
Neuroimaging in psychology is a set of techniques used to visualize the structure and function of the brain. These methods help researchers and clinicians understand how different brain areas are involved in mental processes and behaviors.
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Neuropsychological Assessment
A neuropsychological assessment is a process used to evaluate how a person's brain functions in relation to their behavior and cognitive abilities. It involves a series of tests that measure various mental functions such as memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. This assessment helps identify any cognitive impairments or changes due to injury, illness, or developmental issues.
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Neuropsychology
This field studies how the brain and nervous system affect behavior and cognitive functions. It combines psychology and neuroscience to understand how injuries or diseases impact mental processes.
P
Phineas Gage
Phineas Gage was a railroad construction foreman who survived a severe brain injury when an iron rod accidentally pierced his skull. This incident is significant in psychology as it provided early evidence of the relationship between brain function and personality.
P
Prosopagnosia
This condition is a neurological disorder characterized by the inability to recognize faces. People with this condition can see and describe a person's features but struggle to connect them to a familiar face.
R
Retrograde Amnesia
This type of amnesia involves the loss of memories that occurred before a specific event, often due to brain injury or trauma. Individuals may struggle to recall personal experiences or facts learned prior to the incident.
S
Salience Network
The Salience Network is a group of brain regions that help detect and respond to important stimuli in our environment. It plays a crucial role in deciding what we should pay attention to and is vital for emotional and cognitive processing.
S
Somatosensory Cortex
The somatosensory cortex is a part of the brain that processes sensory information from the body, such as touch, temperature, and pain. It helps us understand what we feel and where sensations come from. This area is crucial for our ability to interact with the world around us.
S
Split-Brain Research
Split-Brain Research studies the effects of severing the connection between the brain's two hemispheres. This research helps us understand how each hemisphere processes information differently and how they communicate.
S
Stroop Test
The Stroop Test is a psychological assessment that measures a person's ability to control their attention and manage conflicting information. It typically involves naming the color of ink used to print words that represent different colors, which can create a mental conflict.
T
TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation)
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. It is primarily used to treat depression and other mental health conditions by influencing brain activity.
T
Trail Making Test
The Trail Making Test is a neuropsychological assessment that measures cognitive flexibility, attention, and processing speed. It involves connecting a series of numbered and lettered circles in a specific order, testing a person's ability to switch between tasks.
V
Visual Cortex
The visual cortex is a part of the brain responsible for processing visual information. It helps us interpret what we see, allowing us to understand shapes, colors, and movement.
W
Wernicke's Area
This area of the brain is crucial for understanding and producing language. It is located in the left hemisphere, typically in the temporal lobe, and plays a key role in how we communicate.
W
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test
The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test is a psychological assessment that measures a person's ability to think flexibly and adapt to changing rules. It helps evaluate executive functions, which are crucial for problem-solving and decision-making.
t
tDCS
tDCS is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that uses a low electrical current to modulate neuronal activity. It is often used in research and therapy to enhance cognitive functions or treat neurological conditions.